New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-15
THE CZ4R OF RUSSIA.
4 Peace Louer, but Mast Bear
Responsibility for Wdr.

Nay is month which the Gar has come to
regard as the most eventful of the twelve. He
was born in May and he celebrates his thirty
sixth birthday next Wednesday. He also came
hazardously near death in May When travel
ling in Japan. before he became Car, he
attacked May r. 1891. by fanatical Jap
anese but the appraised sabre was dashed aside
by Prince George of Greece. The coronation
day Of the Emperor comes in May. Though he
assembled the throne on November /. 1894.
Nicholas II was not crowned until May "a 1895
In Russia'e war with Japan the Gar f. under
fire even more than his admirals and generals.
They must answer TO him. He must face the
criticism of the whole world. If he sends off
GERS to the front who meet disaster. he cannot
escape the verdict of history. IF he would seek
to lay the blame headstrong bureaucrats he
must expect to hear himself called feeble judge
of Where there is one man power. there
is one man responsibility.
For who attempts to forecast the fate of
Russia. therefore. a study of the Cars charac-
ter is peculiarly Illuminating. though 1t may fill
some hearts with forebodng. In Nicholas II one
finds the very antthesis of the typical war
monarch. BY nature the Car is almost a re-
cluse. He is averse to all that is combative. He
hunts for exercise than for the love of kill
ing. He spends long hours reading books OF ic-
ton. and some of his favorite authors are Hugo,
Zola and Dickens. Evidences of his peace loving
disposition may be seen in his efforts for a uni
versal disarmament of Europe and the estab-
Iishment of The Hague tribunal.
The Czarina once drew carcature Of her
husband which reveals more Of his inner life
than perchance she at first intended. She rep
resented him a solemn infant. with bald scalp
but bearded chin. He sitting in a high
/ chair. TO which he tied by swaddling bands
About him hung crowd of anxious relatives,
grand dukes and grand duchesses, each with a
nursing bottle. and each struggling with the
other to feed the baby But despite all this
solicitation and attention the bearded infant
was pickering up his lips to cry
Physically and mentally, Nicholas II differs in
p striking degree from his father Alexander III.
! The is Of medium height, measuring ) feet 6
! inches. His figure is inclined to frailness His
face indicates a sensitive, even poetic. nature.
! His eyes are those of a thinker rather than a
man of action. They convey thought rather
| than seek to read 1t in others. Most of these
/ characteristics the Car inherited from his
! mother. Alexander III possessed huge body, a
practical. blunt mind, and pessimistic opinion
/ Of human nature.
Unlike most OF artistic temperament the
Car is methodical in his habits. He rises
punctCally each morning at o'clock an early
| hour for Russian noblemen. He breakfasts with
/ the Empress at a. m. and at $3.50 a. m he
! shuts himself Up in his study. where for an hour
/
| cial Importance. At 1870 a. M he takes a walk
in the palace gardens. and at IL a. m he returns
indoors TO confer with his ministers
At l o'clock in the afternoon the Car has
luncheon, after which he takes q drive. Later
he holds audience with court officials and at
4 p m. he goes back to his study, where he
closets himself with his books for four hours
Dinner is at p. m, and then the Car swings
TO the very opposite extreme. Leaving the
solemn library. he robes himself for the banquet
hall; for there is royal table so luxurious as
that of Nicholas II.
If there guests the Car spends the rest
Of the evening with them, and retires at IL
p. M; if not he returns to his study at 10 and
labors there until midnight. He is fond of
having the Czarina by his side when at work
among his books and papers. and she silently
sews he reads.
The Car is deeply religious. Those who
have seen him at prayer often tell how at such
times he seems to lose that cold reserve which
usually characterizes him. He often weeps in
church. and, brushing away the tears he smiles
as IL his heart lightened of some burden
In spite of all the brilliancy of the Russian
court. there is shadow on the life of its young