The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-04
A NIGHT WITH
LITTLE ALEXIS
HOW THE CzAREvITCH rs WATCH
ED OVER BY HIS FATHER.
Six Hundred Sentinels on Duty in the
Park, at the Gate and in the Corri-
doris Of the Palace at Peterhof The
Hope Of Russia Rests Peacefully
on a Peasants Breast.
By Comtesse d,Alemcourte.


st. Petersburg-Well, / am not its
mother, and say honestly that the new
born highness, heir to the throne, czare-
witch and grand duke, is as homely a
little creature as l ever clapped eyes
on. Red face, bald head, a nose as big
as pea and eyes no bigger than len
OF his makeup.
Eight clock at Peterhof. A bugle
call. Six hundred sentinels on duty in
the corridors, in the park and at the
gates come on duty. The telegraph
operators, round dozen, file out the
rear door: A coach surrounded by
The commander of the imperial head.
quarters. He whispers the watchword
to the chief guard officer, then locks
the grand portals, putting the key in
Twelve hours respite for the czar
| of all the Russias. May Kuropatkln
may Uchtomsky lose his last ship or
be hanged by the neck as a traitor;
may A1exieff resign for the twentieth
| time-Nicholas wishes to know moth
ing till breakfast. Listening to bad
news and making pathetic attempts at
government for twelve hours q day is
and children.
Dismissal for any official or servant,
disgrace for any high functionary. who
dares disturb the great quiet of the
czar's residence after 8 pm. The very
fountains must stop playing. Dishes
remain unWashed every musical lnstru,
ment in the vast pile is under lock and
key.
/ For ten miles around the tower clocks
are silent-let the villages burn to
ashes before an alarm is sounded. The
car, his wife and children, partlcu-
larly the Hetman of all the Cossacks
must sleep. ,:..*'
Baby in Bed.
And there lies the hope Of Russia, rec
and wrinkled, in his rosewood bedstead
inlaid with gold and turquois, a crown
over the headpiece. Nearby saint y
picture with "the eternal lamp
No other light in the big room, bu
the nurse knows how to enliven hun
dred electric bulbs by pushing a: but
ton the moment she hears suspicion
noise.
A knock outside. The car in hi
dressing gown tiptoes to the great be-
where his only son sleeps.
= HEverything well7''
"He sleeps as soundly as a peasan
after a good meal, Gospalor.,
A smile lights up Nicholas Nj pal
face. So his "nerves' frightened nh
| W1GuOuC 'IeoSOA. 1iuo3 Iuo PhJ oAote
\ maintained all along TIL at the czarevitc
was lusty youngster, but the empero
is so used to Disappointing Nothin
but i'll news from breakfast to suppe
/ and all Europe smiling as one hope ate
another, army, ships and generals, fal
+ "Does your majesty command Anusl
+ "a to make ight9'
}, No, my good woman, that might di
y turb the child's Sleep And in til
semidarkness Nicholas bends over th
& boys face, listening to his breathin!
h Guarded Day and Night. H.
- Then after :. another injunction I
i have care to Anushka he steps int
y the anteroom to see for himself if ever
e member Of the baby's household is dull
It on ;Watch-the master Of ceremony, tt
d two doctors, the "head rocker" an
:. "second rocker,' the pages and rul
a ners. ..'a's",'@ ss.,~ .-.. ~ - t:'"'
4 Not until then does he feel at ibert
v to return to his wife and report thu
; she may sleep in peace.
,, While Anushka takes the prescribe
bath tho "frst rocker' sits at tt
: great bed. In ten minutes the nurse r
{. turns in her shift, barefooted. Coin
:: out the titled functionary stumbles ov'
y footstool, the child awakes and begin
|, to whimper. Instantly Anushka tax
g him into her arms and raises her voi'
e in sing-song. She sings Of the be
: brother who sold his fairy sister and I
j. Baba-Jaga, the witch who drove
l. chariot Of cross-bones and skulls, Ill
! Ivan the Terrible. .
- The "Hope of Russia rests his hes
p peacefully against the peasant 8 breas