The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-02
THE CZAR's HOME LIFE.
Personal Details About Nicholas III by
a French Author.
London Pail Mall Gazette.

London Pail Mall Gazette.
A volume dealing. with the private life
been issued in Paris. Tn author is NJ.
Maurice Leudet. a distinguished member of
the staff of the Figaro. who some time back
published a successful book dealing on SINH
lar lines with the German Emperor.
Nicholas Ill Intime." as the present work
Is called, Is a quite unpretentious produc-
ton. With the exception OF the preface,
which discusses the disarmament proposals,
and one or two chapters devoted to the
present condition and destinies of Russia,
its pages are occupied exclusively by minor
details relating to the personality of the
Gar, and by well-informed and entertain
ing gossip. The most varied aspects of the
Cars life are touched upon. A chapter Is
devoted, for instance, TO his education and
a chapter TO his marriage, a chapter TO the
imperial stables and another to the inn
dukes, the royal palaces and the Cars
journey to the East are a few more Of the
many subjects dealt with.
The Gear, it appears, has an excellent
memory, and acquired the numerous Ian
guages he speaks with remarkable ease and
q~u1ckneSS. M. Leudet assures US that he
talks English without an accent, but it is
noteworthy that he does not venture TO say
as much with. regard TO French; MIR.
a cordial dislike for Mr.. Gladstone, and a
pronounced fondness for boxing. but wheth-
err he these tastes to his pupil
is not recorded. The young princes We're
brought up with as little ceremony as pos.
sible. On Sundays they entertained at din
ner the small boys and girls who were ad-
mitted to the honor of their friendship.
These parties seem to have been exceeding
ly lively functions.
There was no end to the tricks the
hosts and their small guests played on one
another. From end to end of the table
there used TO be continuous firing of bread
pellets, which were perpetually striking
princely noses or landing in royal mouths.
Another favorite joke was to jog your
neighbours elbow while he was drinking or
TO baptize him with a glassful of wine"
This charming picture of home life," as
NJ. Leudet calls II, is proof at any rate
that there are various ways OF becoming
fitted for the most polite society. Still, ii
must not be supposed from this occasional
license that the Cars education was neg
lected. He received a very strict religious
training, and the impression IL made on
him may be gathered from a remark he
made on the occasion of the death of Victor
Hugo. He knew that the great poet was a
freethinker, and on reading in a newspa-
per an account of his public funeral, he
said that he could not understand how such
honors could be paid TO a man who had
died like a dog"
The car rises at 8. takes tea with the
Empress at 8 and at $50 retires TO his study
to read the principal European newspapers.
short walk and at IL Is ready 10 receive
his ministers and attend to his correspond
ence. After lunch he drives out with the
Empress. and on his return shuts himself
UP In his study, where he is hard at Work
until s, the imperial dinner hour. Inc I'M
portance of this meal is considerable at the
Russian court, as may be imagined when
it is said that over two hundred persons are
engaged in preparing and serving II. NJ.
Leudet, by the way, Is able TO give the
recipe for bortsch. the famous Russian soup,
as supplied to him by the imperial cook
himself. In fact, the culinary chapter con-
tains much excellent matter. including a
method of serving kinks" which may be
recommended TO the attention of gourmets.