Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-04
Happiest Days Of His Life Are Spent in
This Lovely Home.
,zARINA ALSO ENANORED WITH PLACE
H rs They Lead an Ideal Home Life Free
from Restraint
CHILDREN TAKE PART IN The MERRlNENT
Ruler of All the RussIas Better suited
by Temperament for Such n Life
Than the More Conspicu-
Gus One of state.

Copyright 1903 by Press Publishing Coz
ODESSA. Russia, Jan. 3.-(New York
World Cablegram-special Telegram.)-Dis
quietlng details about the czar's health are
leaking out The pressure OF empire is tell
ing on him. A constitution, never strong;
a nervous system which received shock in
a tea tNuse IN Japan years ago, when Jap
fanatic attacked him, has been overladen
with work which It cannot carry. and by the
advice Of his physicians he is in the Cri-
mea to seek rest and change
Yalta, where the cars Crimean resi-
dence, Livadia, Is situated. is one OF the
loveliest places on earth. Sheltered on the
north by a range Of high hills, which break
the cold winds coming from the Arctic with
out interruption, Il lies on lovely bay,
the waters OF which, save on the rarest oc-
easions, rival the puppies and blues OF the
Aegean. All over the slope Of the hills are
picturesque villages Of the CrimeaH Tar
tans lying low in their orchards and
cypress groves and on the higher, rocky
slopes the olive and vine find home.
Llvadia itself is a paradise. There czars
have lavished their treasures to make 1t
what It is-the loveliest retreat in creation
the house itself is ostentatiously simple
when seen from some distance, but as one ap-
proaches there is a richness of decoration
about Il, marvellous beauty about the
grounds, which mark them as the haunt OF
one who has untold wealth at command and
an army Of servants.
FavOrite of CEnrina.
The young czarina went there as bride,
and was enchanted with this pearl OF the
Russian Riviera. In her northern home,
with It's frosts OF nature and still severer
social frosts, she longs for the days when
she and "Kolia," as she calls her hGsband.
can tramp arm in arm amid the gardens and
cypress groves OF Livadia None OF her
people know much of this sweet life, the
paper dare not print It; It is spoken about
rarely II at all, and always with bated
breath.
In L,vadla the czar throws away ali
state. Ministers and messengers come and
20, courtiers buzz about, but they are
treated by the emperor as friends whom he
knew in St. Petersburg, and when their
business iB done, they sit together on the
verandas, smoke cigarettes and look out on
the blue waters OF the Black sea at the slow
trail Of some passing steamer on the
horizon.
The czar is an early riser. His German
nurse taught him German proverb, THE
early morning has gold in its mouth" He
quotes this with smile when a minister
comes late TO an appointment at o'clock
in the morning. He dresses hastily-it is
without putting on a collar, and takes a
rapid walk through the grounds with half
a dozen fox terriers at his heels, and
Tatiana, the next to the eldest little grand
duchess, racing behind.
At s o'clock there is coffee, but only the
family is present, and Olga, the eldest
Aaa hnH ala
as near him as she can squeeze her little
chair.
Marie the third, is shy and reserved.
The rest poke gentle fun at her until she
laughs, and then they all laugh.
Anistosia, the youngest is only year and
q half old-not big enough yet TO Join in
the fun. On these occasions the car is
the happiest Of mortals, and he looks 1t.
Ministers Come Next.
; Afterward come the ministers and secre-
taries with their portfolios and kilograms
and acts" as they call their ponderous
state documents. The cZar reads them all
Shaving away at them until midday, while
his wife is with the children. sometimes
romping with them when nobody is looking
her eDlden hair streaming at her back as
she hies about
English is always spoken on these occa-
sions. When the car and his wife are
alone no other language is used, but IL 1
stranger appears they turn to French
When the czar was deeply immersed in
series OF state papers with the minister
OF the interior the other day. the doo
suddenly opened and Olga appeared.
Father" she said. in the best of Eng
lish, come to breakfast. we cannot wal
any longer" And Olga waited around until
the mighty monarch had to leave his min
lister and, seizing her in his arms, on the,
marched TO breakfast, the minister smiling
and bowling at the writing table.
The luncheon is a simple affair, but ther
are always from a score to a dozen offcer
present and any minister who may be Il
Yalta.
The little grand duchesses are there ais
and worry the lives out Of the staid officer
with their droll questions, TO the inhnit
amusement OF their parents.
Tatiana recently asked a stlff and prope
young captain in the navy II he had an
little girls like her, and when he answeTe
he had none, she asked ':'Why?" and whe
he Redeemed al this the little grand duehes
told him she liked him better when h
looked cool than when he looked hot
II the weather is fine and not too war;
there is picnic in the afternoon to on
of the lovely little Gregian krosquei
where white marble fronts are seen her
and there peeping out Of the dark folias
OF the evergreen.
At 5 O'Clock tea there is also great fur
The eEaTina invariably makes tea hersel
after putting on the daintiest OF silk an
lace aprons. Just as she did in her oil
Darmstadt home, and the court ladies pre-
pare the bread and butter. They a
straggle back to Livadia and at o'eloc
they dine.
Evening for work.
The evening is devoted by the car
work, but about 10 o'clock he comes an
Joins his wife In the drawing room az
then there is always q game OF whist
preference while the czarina, who does n,
play cards. sits down TO the piano al
plays the old pieces she learned in h
German youth. sonatas Of Beethoven al
gentle mlnuets from eighteenth centul
tcontinued on Fourth Page,l