The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-21
GEAR KEPT THEM WAITING
SUDDENLY YABANDONS PROJECT ED
 TRIP TO PIERREFONDS.

1 Great Crowds DtsappOinted-Strees
 GaiIy Decorated but the Emperor Did
 Not tAppear-Precauttons for His Safe-
 ty in the Park at Compiogne--A Con-
 ference With the French Premier
 Awaiting the Political Toasts.
 Compiegne, Sept. 20.-Emperor Nich- olas exercesd the prerogative of an autocrat to-day and kept President Loubet and all the French occupants of the Chateau Compiegne marking time the whole morning until he had l signiiled his desires.
 1t was fully expected that he would drive to Pierrefonds and visit the cas- tie and that afterwards he would go shooting In the great park attached to | the Chateau Compiegne. All the ar engagements had been made and five hundred pheasants were brought espe- cially last evening and let loose in the covers. His majesty remained in his apartments after breakfast quietly un- | til 10 o'clock when he took a short promenade in the gardens, attlred in dark lounging suit and top boots, with | che czarina clad in her inyarlable half mourning and followed by a hound. The Empress carried her camera, with | which she took a number Of views. Their majesties passed squad of 1n- | fantry stationed in the park, ana the officer gave the order to present arms. Thereupon the czarlna photographed the group subsequently, conversing with | the officer and promising that he should have the photograph
 | After returning to the Chateau the emperor had a long interview with M. | waldeck Rousseau, the French pre- mier. It lasted at least two hours. Count Lamsdorff, the Russian foreign minister. also conferred with M Del casse, the French minister of foreign affairs. Naturally what took place mas not been divulged but it is whispered that the principal subject of the two interviews was the commercial rala- tions between Franc and Russia. Al ter giving 1t to be understood that he would go to Pierrefonds, the czar left the Chateau with the cZarina in vic- toria at 8 o'clock with no escort except a few dectectives on bicycles who kept discreetly in the back ground, thus giving him the illusion of a private drive and the life of an ordinarily mor- tpl Measures were taken within the lpark, however, that absolutely pre- cluded the approach of any stranger The entire circuit of the park was pa ltrolled by cuirassiers, while every rev | wards along the palisade enclosing the park were stationed foot soldiers with fixed bayonets. Numerous detectlVes were hidden in the woods. In order 10 fest the measures taken to safeguard his maiestys person during the drive, five detectives were instructed to at- tempt to enter the park last evening under cover of the darkness. In every case they were captured before getting Inside the chateau gardens.
 The emperor wore the undress uni form of the Prevbrajensld regiment. Fla changed his route quite unexpected fly, and instead of proceedlngto fierre- fonds took short drive to the village of Beauxmonts, returning to the Cha- teau Compiegne at o'clock.
 In the meantime crowds assembled Tn the streets of Pierrefonds awaiting his expected arrival. The streets were gailv decorated by the local authorities Expectation, however, was destined to he disappointment The route was Kept free of traffic by gendarmes, but all to no purpose.
 The streets of Compiegne presented q most animated aspect all day long. Tn the afternoon an immense concourse gathered in the hope of seeing the czar land czarina drive through part Of lthe town or the outer park. But the only satisfaction was a pleasant sur prise visit to the town nall rom M. I oubet His progress between the Cha teau Compiegne and the town hall con- stituted a striking comment upon the extra ordinary precautions surrounulns every step the czar has taken since ne set foot on French soil. M Loubet gave m inlxIing of his intentions The 1lrst lining known, not merely by the general n,,blic but to the police, was when the nresident, accompanied by M. Waldeck- Rosseau and General Dubois, chief or the military household, emerged from the gates of the chateau on foot. The lroad to the town hall was hesti'y oieai ed as well as possible ., l The mayor, WHO Wuo eI' 'iiS 'N'ii -' with view to the possibility of such visit even had to send out and gather in the members of the town council who were quietly slipping after-lunch coffee in the neighboring cafes. The manner in which the visit was con- ducted was one of those charming touches that endear M. Loubet to the French people.
 All ceremony was absolutely excluded land the whole proceedings were carried out in the most informal fashion. Two l interesting incidents of the day were lthe reception by Emperor Nicholas or General De Boisdeffre, former chief of the French staff, and the baptism Of line infant daughter of the Count de Montebello, French ambassador to Russia. General de Boisdeffre, who had requested an audience, arrived at the chateau in civilian clothing from Paris and was received by the czar at l2 o'clock. General de BoisdeMre was chief of the French staff during the nrevious visit of the czar and gained the friendship of the father of Nicho- Has while French ambassador in St. Pe- tersburg.
 The Nationalists, who only remem- her the part General de Boisdeffre play ed in the Dreyfus affair exult in his