The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-06-08

ST. PETERSBURG, June s.-For
two years past the grand duke Michael,
heir to the Russian throne in default
of direct male heir coming to the
present car, has been taking lessons
in self-defense from Foley, the Ameri-
can expert in that art, and the grand
duke has recently developed such ex-
traordinary facility not only in de-
Tending himself, but in attacking, that
bis teacher can no longer stand up be-
fore him.
For two hours every morning the
grand duke and the American are
closeted together practicing in a room
whose tables are strewn with pistols.
cudgels and knives Of all descriptions.
The two walk about, talking idly, and
the lesson consists in one suddenly
catching up dagger or stick and
lunging out in the hope of taking the
other unawares.
To illustrate the parties, the Amer
ican had to teach Michael how to
attack adroitly, and now, whereas Foley
can almost never get in a blow, Mich
ael often picks off the American, who
always has a hard time warding. The
knives are, of course, blunted, and
the cudgels padded, and the pistols
harmless, but the energy of the at
tack sometimes causes painful physical
contact, and DR.. Foley was seen COM
ing out of his imperial pupils palace
the other day, swearing profusely and
rubbing a shoulder with one hand and
a hip bone with the other, while
Michael issued forth not long after
looking merely refreshed from pleas
ant physical exercise.
The professor says that if it goes
on much longer he will have to take
lessons from Michael; that is, if the
latter has not accidentally quite fin
ished him off in the meantime.
Under this systematic training,
Michael has developed physically to
an extent that has amazed and de-
lighted his encourage. From being
weak and lacking in stamina. like his
elder brother, the car, Michael has
become strong and resistant, as well
as absolutely fearless. No enemy, DR..
Foley delares, could now assasinate
Michael at close quarters, and the
chances of being struck by bullet
from a distance are so slight that
Michael may rest easy when the duties
Of a car devolve upon him.
II the talk in certain court circles
can be believed, these duties and re-
sponsibilities are not so far away
from Michael as might be expected.
Michael is stronger in character than
was ever Nicholas, and now that he
has the physical force which his broth
er also lacks, his superiority is incon-
testable.
True, Michasfs nature is not az
pleasant as that of Nicholas. and he
has not his elder brothers lofty ideals;
but there are many in Russia who say
that under autocratic rule good but
weak sovereign may do more harm than
q strong but personally less amiable
one.
The car. it is known, is more in
terested in his home life and his pa
cifc ideals than in his cares of state,
although his sense of duty constrains
him to attend personally to every
detail. even of matters which he COM
pletely ignores.
The rumors current about his de-
sire to abdicate are not entirely un-
founded, as many say who have the OPP
portHnityg to be well informed: and,
just as an two previous occasions it
was said that he had expressed his
wish to abandon the power into his
brothers hands, it is now confident
ly expected by Michael's friends that
the resolution will be carried out if
the czarina's approaching confinement
results in another little princess. No
hope will then remain of male heir
in the direct line. The country, work
ed upon by revolutionary leaders who
found magnificent capital in the Rus
sian disasters. is beginning to suspect
that the Little Father may not after
all be the model of perfection, and that
not only the steering gear is wrong,
but that the hand at the wheel is
unsteady. A new pilot, presented be-
fore confidence in the general sys,
tenn hkas been too profoundly shaken