The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18

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to live In great retirement 80 long az Gamer
inc II. survived That Empress would not
| allow her son to take any part in the manage
ment Of affairs, and as soon as his children
emerged from infancy their grandmother
insisted upon undertaking the sole charge
of their education. Thus It came to pass
that Marie Feodorowna reigned as Czarina
for five years only On the assassination
OF her husband. Paul, in 1901, their eldest son,
Alexander l., assembled the throne OF Nus
ala which he occupied until December.
1925, when he was succeeded by his brother
Nicholas I. Their mother, the subject OF
his biography, died on Nov, 3, 1928, IN the
seventieth year Of her age, So long az she
lived she exerted upon those around her
the wholesome influence OF wise and VIZ
tuous woman. There is no doubt that her
sons owed to her all that was best in their
character, and, whatever may have been
their faults, they morally were far in adj
vance OF the Cars who preceded them
Paul l., the husband Of the subject OF this
sketch, was 4s years old when he assembled
the Russian throne. His first act testified
that he had no desire to initiate the conduct
OF his mother, who had been careful to keep
her son in the background. Paul placed
the establishment Of his son and heir. Alex
ander, on a sumptuous footing, ana gave
liberal allowance for the maintenance OF
his younger children. 1t was evident,
however that great change had come over
his character since the early days when.
during his sojourn in Paris, he had charmed
every one with whom he came in contact
He had been completely soured by the sights
which he had long been compelled to bear
at the hands Of his mother AS our author
puts it, "There was q touch OF Hamlet in
Paul l. From his earliest youth the mys-
terry surrounding his fathers death had dis
Quoted him. Though still full Of intelli-
genoe and activity of mind, he had become
eccentric almost to the point OF mania
His moments of kindness were succeeded
by moments OF ferocity. Anger would
supplant benevolence, and caprice take the
place Of Justice" That he had very high
idea OF his authority is evident from his
famous saying: know that the only per-
son of consideration in Russia is the person
that I address at the moment that am adj
dressing him
Nevertheless. the course followed by Paul
made for time a good impression on his
people. He diminished taxes and par
! doned many offenders who had been con-
demned by his mother to long terms of
imprisonment. But, although he was dis
posed to do his duty by his subjects, he
| seems not to have really loved them Be-
fore his accession he had said to the Prince
de Ligne: Il tell you, these leggars Of
Russians want to be governed by woman
because they think they can get the better
Of her. That is why they adore my mother. =
In bis heart he somewhat despised the
people who had come under his sway. and,
| above all he cherished the utmost hatred
and contempt for the memory of Catherine
ii. For time, however. the new Car ruled
! in a fairly temperate manner. occupying
himself particularly in Identifying his
capital. Some of the laws which were re-
modelled during Paul's reign were UNI
! questionably beneficial. and Russia owes
to him one Of it's fundamental statutes,
the enactment that the succession to the
throne shall follow in the order of primo
genture, but that women shall lie allowed
to reign only in default of male heirs. We
scarcely need recall that the rule was broken
in the case Of Pauls own sons, the Car
Alexander !. being succeeded not by the
Grand Duke Constantine, but by the atter's
younger brother. Nicholas,
Gradually dissatisfaction and uneaSness
filled the public mind until ultimately. in
1901, the Car Paul was assassinated by
consprators, the chief of whom was his
favorite Count Pahlen. Although his elder
son, Alexander. profited by the deed. there
is reason to believe that he refused to sane
ton it, although proof was shown to him
that his fathers mind had been poisoned
against him and that he, together with
his mother and brothers, was in imminent
| peril "The will Of my father alone he
said, "can direct his destiny and mine,
to which the head Conspirator rejoined;
| -Monsegne,Ir, three days will without
| doubt decide the fate Of your Imperial
Highness and that of your august mother.
/ II is certain that Alexander tainted when
he heard of his fathers death. Mon
sters," he exclaimed, Il will not accept a
( crown stained with the blood of my father.
and he fed to the most remote part of his
own palace where he shut himself up and
gave way to the grief which consumed him.
/ His mother at first refused to see him,
and on his insisting upon coming into her
presence she cried out excledly; do
not dare to come near me. | Sc. you COW
! cred with your fathers blood" Alexander
W.
the distraught woman's words, then rails
ing his eyes to heaven, he said solemnly:
| II take God az my witness that ! never was
in any way party To TIN. abomlnable
crime Little by little the Czarina be-
came convinced that she had done her son
an injustice, and ultimately falling at his
feet, she exclaimed 81 salute my En-
peror." The tender bond between the
mother and her son, which had existed
since his childhood, was never broken
again. As long as he lived Alexander
never refused her the smallest request.
There seems no good ground for the
assertion made in the book before us that
could the new Gear have brought home the
charge of murder against his fathers
assassins he would willingly have done so
but the chief organizer of the conspiracy,
Count Pahlen, had taken care that every
thing should be so arranged that absolute
: proof would he wanting, whatever mi ght
be the belief current in certain circles
Eventually Alexander concluded that a
merciful policy was the wisest one t. follow
in the crisis. and he consequently made no
| ohm pUeS in tha Gnvarpnopt