Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-27

dispense with dress-coat In Paris. he
resigned himself therefore, with a sign
and sent an adiutant to the court tailor.
you must make for his Majesty a
dress-coat In the latest Partisan fasnlOn'
commanded the adjutant.
Very WELL" replied the tailor.
The court tailor was capable OF cut
ting the uniforms of his imperial custo-
mer, but by some strange chance ne
was ignorant In regard to the latest
Partisan fashion. He refused 10 execute
the order until he was thoroughly con-
versant with the necessary details. There
fore he sent to Paris to find out the
latest fashions in dress-suits. A few days
| afterward his messenger returned TO 81.
Petersburg, and two. weeks later the
suit was ready. II is estimated that the
suit cost 100 rubles. Certainly II fitted the
Emperor like a glove, and Parisians
would have been very much astonished
TO learn that they saw Nicholas III. in
a black coat for the first time In his life.
The Car and the Czarina are exceed
ingly popular not only at st. Petersburg,
but also throughout Russia. AS husband
and wife, father and mother, they have
won the hearts Of all honest folk. Mich
! olas III. has not that snappish and some
times imperious manner in court that was
| Characteristic OF Alexander Ill, VINO
never allowed any one to forget for a
| moment that he was master. Inc
Czarina was always obliged to obey him.
But Nicholas II. and Alexandra-Feodo-
| rovna are like two chums. Both do as
they please; neither troubles the other.
In st. Petersburg II is said that never
was there seen on the throne of Russia
a couple so well mated and so completely
! happy. When the Car and CZarina go
| out in their carriage they may be seen
chatting Familiarity, joking, and laughing,
and watching everything and everybody.
| II am a Russian, like and one OF my
subjects" said the Gar one day.
This created a good impression upon
| the people, and was repeated everywhere
| The reciprocal affection % the Car and
the Czarna is remarked in many ways,
especially in the evident pleasure they
fn6 in each others company. The cere-
monies during which they are obliged TO
be separated appear to worry them con-
siderably, and as soon as the opportunity
comes they rejoin each other.
The young Gar often remains seated at
his desk until late at night. 1t frequently
happens that he receives councillors and
and ministers, after midnight, but 1T IS
rare that these dignitares find him alone.
The CZarina is generally seated be-
side him, working at embroidery or sew |
ing. As soon as a stranger appears |
upon the threshold the CZarina picks up
her scissors and spools and prepares TO
leave the room.
mo, no. Sacha; don't disturb yourself; |
remain with us" pleads the Car.
In silence the Czarina returns TO her |
seat, puts her thimbe on her finger, |
and works away with her needle, while |
az her side her husband discusses public !
affairs. The Czarina in short time |
won the affections not only of her hus- |
band but of her subjects as well. Her |
grace. simplicity, and modesty every |
where produced the best of impressions. |
In Russia much is expected from her in
nuence over the Car During the pre-
ceding reign the government was blamed |
for resorting too much to violent methods, |
Cor not always following the ways Of JUS
tice, and also for exhibiting weakness |
in dealing with religious intolerance. |
A marked amelioraton in this respect |
has been noticed during the past few |
years throughout the entire empire. This |
IS attributed TO the influence Of AleXan-
ORA FeOdoroyna. She has made the |
cause of the Catholics in Poland and Of |
the Germans in Finland her own.
But the Czarina has not alone amiable |
qualities; she has a cultivated mind and |
well-developed, sound. practical sense.
She speaks French, English, German,
sian, and is now beginning to speak that /
difficult language huently. She has
very sweet voice, and at Frankfort-on-
the Main she took lessons from Professor |
Herborn. She is a musician and plays
the piano very well. Remarkable aptitude
for the culinary art must also be added
TO her accomplishments. 1t is said that
she inherited all these qualities from her
mother, the Duchess Of Hesse, although |
lH.4f
Duchess died when her daughter was
hardly years old. She lost her life |
under dramatic circumstances that are
perhaps not forgotten. Her sons and
daughters. sick with diphthera, occupied
one part Of the palace. Notwithstanding |
the warnings of the doctors the Grand |
Duchess refused 10 leave the bedside Of |
her little patients. The disease, in the
presence of which the doctors at that |
time were completely disarmed, did not
spare her. and she died on December II,
1873, the day Of the death Of her youngest
child
1t is known that the Princess Alice Of
Hesse married Nicholas III. few weeks
after the death of Alexander III. 1t was
wheE she entered the Orthodox Russian
Church that she received her present
name, Alexandra-Feodorovn In place
VI ItI IlpNltIs IL was inc sister OF lnc
widowed Czarina, the Princess Of Wales,
who accompanied her TO the Court Of
Russia. In the morning the Princess OF
Wales entered the chamber Of the young
woman who was about to become the
Czarina The latter was stll sleeping. |
According to an ancient custom, she pre-
scented to the young Princess with her
right hand a bouquet and with her left
cup Of honey. The bouquet signihed,
May you bloom and be fragrant like
these fowersi' and the honey signifed.
Like this, may your days be clear and
sweetw
The good wishes expressed by the Prin-
cess Of Wales have been realized. At
the present time nothing troubles the
happiness Of the young couple On No
vember 10. 1880, the birth OF the Grand
Duchess Olga united them more closely
than ever. 1t Is said that the Czarina
could not forgive herself for having
brought into the world daughter rather
than an heir to the throne, and for this
she apologiZed TO the Car with tears in
her eyes. Nicholas H., as one may
imagine, did not hesitate 10 grant the
pardon. Alexandra would not allow her
little daughter 10 be confided to the care
of a nurse. Nicholas III. summoned all |
the medical celebrities of ST. Petersburg
and asked their advice upon the subject
The doctors discussed this important
affair, and the Grand Duchess Olga was
put upon diet of cows milk. Six cows