The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-04
ATTEMPT ON CARS LIFE WAS
ONCE MADE IN JAPAN

LONDON, April 4.-The car is grievous-
ly exercised in mind over the war-not
only as Imperial Lord of All the Russians
and heir to the aggressive policy of Peter
the Great, but quite privately and indi-
vidually, from the remembrance Of his own
experiences in the empire of Japan.
When he was scarcely more than of age
he was sent to make the grand tour of
the world and among the places reckoned
as of first Importance was Japan.
He spent some weeks in the land of the
Rising Sun--a good deal more time, in
fact, than had been planned, owing to the
incident which threw both Russia and
Japan into an ecstasy of startled sorrow,
and was very near bringing both the jour
neyings and the existence of Nicholas
Alexandrovitch to an end once and for
always.
He had been welcomed with the greatest
cordiality by the mikado. A royal palace
was placed at his disposal; the overlooking
imperial suite was supplemented by officers
and guards from the emperof's personal
encourage; excursions were planned to
please the illustrious guest; and he and
his cousin, Prince George of Greece, his
travelling companion, were feted and fiat
tered by the whole nation.
There were picnics under the snowy peak
of Fuji-ama the beloved sacred mountain;
delightful drives through the scented
groves that cover the lake shores of Kioto.
The emperor could not do enough to show
his pleasure at having the son of his power
full northern neighbor as his guest.
One morning the imperial cortege was
passing through little hill village, when
suddenly fanatic dashed forward, and,
lifting his heavy two-handled sword, dealt
swinging blow at the czarewitch.
The rickshaw-man dropped the shafts of
the light carriage in which the prince was
riding, and grappled with the assassin, pre-
venting a second blow. Prince George of
Greece, whose rickshaw was close behind,
flung himself before his cousin. The Rus
sian ambassador who was in close attend
ance, also prepared to defend his young
master with his life.
ut is nothing!2 acried the czarewitch,
bravely, though the blood gushed from a
deep cut across the brow and scalp They
took him into the nearest house and gave
what surgical aid they could. Meantime
the news flew forth like wildfre-the care
witch was wounded--their emperor's guest
had been wounded4 7Japan was indeed dis
graced.
The mikado, setting aside the etiquette
which hedges him about almost as a god,
hurried to the princes side. The whole
country was in ferment of grief and ex-
element. The temples were crowded with
sacrificing worshippers.
From the emperor on his throne to the
scavenger in the street, all Japan was in
despair. Would the prince die? At first
it was thought the blow must be fatal.
The telegraph carried the news to the car
and czarina, who naturally were in deep
est distress.
The wounded prince was taken on board
Russian warship that he might have per-
feet quiet, it was said, but in reality to
satisfy the car as to his safety. Daily
the emperor visited his bedside and the
little empress herself would also fain have
done so did propriety permit as it was,
she wrote daily with her own hand to the
boys anxious mother, trying to put into
words the national grief and shame.
How passionate that feeling really was,
was proved by an incident that strikes
oddly on European ears, and made an in
delible impression on Nicholas himself
A young girl, the daughter of we'll