The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-24
TRYING TO SEE THE CAR.
HIS POTENT AID SOUGHT BY ALL
SORTS OF PEOPLE.

Pilgrimage OF Two Quakers.
From the New York Commercial Adver-
tiser.
One of the most interesting characters
in Russia is the man VINO is trying to
have an audience with the Car. Nearly
every day somebody turns up in ST Pet
ersburg with a pet scheme or reform
which he wants 20 bring to his majes-
tvs notice" and he often hangs about
The city an entire winter, waiting gener-
ally hopelessly, for presentation. Some
have plans to lay before him about ST.
IBERIA and the freeing of the prisoners
there; others seek mercy for supposedly
prosecuted sects in the South; and still
others desire that he take an interest in
this and that railway project. One wan
derer from New Zealand was anxious to
confer with him about making Russia
republic.
Probably not ten out of every thousand
who make an effort TO see him succeed,
but these few take up more of his time
than president of one of our great rail-
roads would be willing to sacrifice 10 such
visitors. There is a long road 20 travel
before one can pass the door of his of
fee" in the Winter palace. 1t is said that
the most difficult man in Europe to meet
is the Emperor of Austria, but l doubt
very much whether he is surrounded with
any more protection and STRAW men
than the Car is. To get al him one
must first of all find some one who will
introduce the would-be caller to the minis
Ter of the court.
The poor peasants who also come to ST.
| Petersburg with ta.es of woe to tell to the
little father have to give up all hope OF
getting 20 this official, and generally go
| direct 10 the Winter palace and declare
bluntly to the guard on duty at the gales:
I'VE want to see our Car" They are
| usually told to get out" and to be quick
about it," but some of them are very per
sistent and keep on knocking at the gates
day after day untm perchance his majesty
goes out for a drive or walk, and then
they touch their foreheads to the ground
and whine; "Oh, little father listen 80
our troubles" Perhaps he listens and
perhaps he doesn't but they tramp back
to their villages greater men in their own
estimation well as in that of their fe.-
low-villagers merely from having accosted
him.
Persons who were not peasants have also
tried this hanging around the palace gates
to get an audience, but the more usual
method, even among cranks, is to be reg
ularly presented through the minister of
the court. It is comparatively easy 10
have an interview with this functionary
if one can get letter to him, and a
large percentage of the candidates for a
presentation know how to arrange this
The consultation with him is always peas
ant and polite, but generally brief. so
you desire TO see his majesty do you?"
he will ask. What is the nature of the
matter you wish to bring 10 his majes-
tvs notice? About your confscated prop
erty in Caucasus, you say? There is a
commission, as, perhaps, you are aware,
that looks into such matters. and would
advise you to apply to it." He then bows
very graciously. frequently shakes hands
helping the caller toward the door with a
suggestive pressure of his hand in that
direction, and then his secretary calls
next"
Occasionally the caller is of such i'm
portance that he cannot be refused an
audience, and then the minister must pre-
pare for it. There is a rapid driveN to the
Winter palace or wherever else it is that
the Car may be, a hasty final consulta-
ton in an ante-room about the etiquette
to be observed and then the ambitious
one walks into a not very gorgeous apart
ment and the Car greets him. He ratues
off his memorized petition, or whatever
it is that he has to say, the Car very
possibly toying with a paper-cutter or a
pen during the speech, and when il Is
finished the Car expresses interest in his
remarks, in some cases honors the caller
with thanks for having his attention
brought to the matter in hand, and then
there is a bowling and knocking of heels
together, and the Cars secretary also
calls next"
Nicholas l is reported TO be a very agree
able monarch TO meet, and he interests
himself in a great many more things than
he is given credit for. He does MOI make
as much noise about his interests as VII
liam Of Germany. bat he has hem. just
the same. and, perhaps. one of the great
est difficulties involved in getting an audi
ence with him is that his enterprises are
rot always popular with the camar'. Ia
around HIM
An interesting character from our far
west turned up one day in ST. Petersburg
with lots of money and a fad about inter-
esting young Russians in a religious or
ganizahon TO which he gave most of his
lime and income. 1t is difficult to intro
duce church novelties into Russia. and his
was made very clear to the westerner. but
he was Is good a business man as he was
a reIgionist, and on learning that the
Car was the only one who could help
him, he asked: what will it cost?" This
question had never been put TO the fun
cionariss 80 bluntly before, and they were
a loss 10 know how to reply. The West
erner, however, came to their assistance
"Ain't you got any hospital he's interest
ed in that l can give something tor" Ii
was eventually decided that 1t would lie
a very gracious act for the stranger TO
add to the endowment fund OF a certain
spilal, and in due time he was notified
that an audience had been arranged He
had mel only a president before coming
10 St. Petersburg, and the possibility Of
meeting an emperor went to his head in
the shops in the Neffsky where he made
certain purchases necessary for the au-
dienee he notified the salesman imnedi-
ately why he needed the things. "Ha-ha-
ha! I'm going to see your kingr' he said
to each one, not a word Of which they
underst Stood. He managed TO gather him
self t0gsther by the time the presenta-
ton was To take place, and he not only
had a very charming conversation with
his majesty. but thoroughly Interested him
in his work.
Annfher story is told in ST Toetars,,,r.,