The evening times., 1899-02-25
THE GAR AT HOME.
Some Queer Pictures of His Table
Manners in Childhood.

paris Correspondence Pail Mall Gazette)
volume dealing with the private lie
and mode OF existence of Nicho,as ii has
been issued in Paris. The author is NJ.
Maurice Leudet distinguished member
OF the stan of the Figaro who some
time back published a successful book
dealing on similar lines with the German
Emperor.
Nicholas II Intime," as the present
work is called, is a quite unpretentious
production. With the exception of the
preface which discusses the disarmament
proposals, and one or two chapters de-
voted TO the present condition and desti-
MES of Russia, its pages are occupied ex-
cusiyely by minor details relating TO the
personality of the Gar and by we!l-in-
formed and entertaining gossip. The most
varied aspects of the Cars life are touch
ed upon A chapter is devoted, for in
stance, to his education, and chapter 10
his marriage, chapter TO the imperial
stables and another to the imperial tab-e
The court fetes, the grand dukes, the
royal palaces and the Cars journey 10
the East are a few more of the many sub
jects dealt with.
The Car, 1t appears, has an excellent
memory and acquired the numerous lam
guages he speaks with remarkable ease
and quickness II. Leudet assures US that
he talks English without an accent, but 1t
is noteworthy that he does not venture to
say as much with regard to French. Mr..
Heath, his English master, is credited
with a cordial dislike for Mr.. Gladstone
and a pronounced fondness for boxing,
but whether he transmitted these tastes
to his pupil is not recorded. The young
princes were brought up with as lit e
ceremony as possible. On Sundays they
entertained at dinner the small boys and
girls who were admitted to the honor Of
their friendship. These parties seem to
have been exceedingly lively functions.
There was no end to the tricks the hosts
and their small guests played on one an
other. From end to end of the table there
used to be continuous firing OF brad pei
let's which were perpetually striking
princely noses or landing in royal mouths.
Another favorite joke was to jog your
neighbor's elbow while he was drinking
or to baptize him with a glass OF wine
This charming picture of home life" as
NJ Leudet calls it, is proof at any rate
that there are various ways of becoming
fitted for the most polite society. Still, it
must not be supposed from this occasional
license that the Cars education was neg
lected. He received very strict religious
training. and the impression it made on
him may be gathered from remark he
made on the occasion of the death of Vic
tor Hugo. He knew that the great poet
was Freethinker, and on reading in
newspaper on account of his public fun
eral he said he could not understand how
such honors could be paid to man who
'had died like dog
The Gar rises at s, takes tea with the
Empress at 3, and at $3.50 retires to his
study to read the principal European
newspapers. This task accomplished, he
goes out for a short walk and at IL is
ready to receive his ministers and attend
to his correspondence. After luncheon he
drives out with the Empress, and on his
return shuts himself up in his study,
where he is hard at work until 8, the i'm
perial dinner hour. The importance of this
meal is considerable at the Russian court,
as may be imagined when it is said that
over 200 persons are engaged in preparing
and serving it. NJ. Leudet, by the way, is
able to give the recipe for Rortsch, the IA
nous Russian soup, as supplied to him
by the imperial cook himself. In fact the
culinary chapter contains much excellent
matter. including a method of serving
"kilkis.'' which may be recommended to
the attention of gourmets.