Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1906-08-02

scr1beS his lie there as that OF
country gentleman. The villa Is COM
paratlvely small and Nicholas II. is
seeking domestic happiness with his
wife and children, to whom he Is de-
voted although we cannot imagine
him as having much peace of mind
under the circumstances.
General Trepoff, commander OF the
Palace Guards, notorious for his de.
termination and the horrible atroci-
ties that have been committed under
his orders. lives In the villa with the
imperial family, and is supposed to
be there for the purpose OF protec-
ting the life of his master, but his
constant surveillance over the en-
peror and every one who visits him
is nscribed to another motive. 1t is
asserted that Trepofi not only reads
the cars letters, but intercepts those
which he does not wish his majesty
to see. He also Is accused of pre-
venting information from reaching
the car which might AFFECT his pol
icy or his good opinion of his pres
ent advisers.
A daily paper is published for his
majesty's benefit, an ingenious de-
vice to keep the regular papers out of
his hands. In order TO save him time
and trouble which Is an excellent pre-
text, three or four experienced men,
employed by Trepoff as editors, read
the morning papers of st. Petersburg
and other Russian cities and several
French. German and English journals
for him, clipping such articles as 1t is
considered advisable for him to see.
These are reprinted on sheet OF
convenient size and laid upon his
majesty's desk every morning. Ten
or ~ other copies are printed for the
use OF the grand dukes and other
members OF the court, who are too
busy to read the newspapers for
themselves. In this way Trepoff pre-
vents his Imperial master from being
prejudiced against his own policy, for
you may be sure the clipping Is done
with great care, and ne never reads
anything that is not proper for him
| to see.
The car told recent American
visitor that he read nine newspapers
/ every day, and that Is the way he
| does il.
Ten or l2 acres OF beautiful forest
are inclosed by high yellow fence,
to which there Is only one entrance,
closely guarded by CossacSs. Near
the gate a guardhouse has been erect
ed In which the officer OF the day or
I the oflicer Of the night. one or the
other, is always on duty with a
guard OF 10 or 10 men, while in the
barracks, mile or two distant and
connected by telephone, are between
G,O00 and 1000 men, cavalry, infantry
and artillery. 1t was In those bar
racks that the mutiny occurred the
other day In the regiment of imperia
guards of which the czar is honorary
colonel. The press dispatches have
told you the story.
Within the Enclosure his majesty II
attended by none but Tartar servants
who are selected because they are
considered perfectly reliable. 1t Is ;
remarkable anomaly that the head o
the Orthodox Greek church should
employ none but Mohammedans II
his household because he canno
trust Christians. Priests OF the o.
| thodox Greek church teach that rev
dictionary sentiments are heinou
; | sin because the czar Is the chosen G
| the Lord and His vice regent so ia
as the Greek church is concerned, o
| the earth. but. nevertheless, he
| afraid to employ members OF his ow
4 | church in his family. Tartar SER
n | ants, however. are more popular e.
/. erywhere than Russian because the
{ are more reliable, and they do NJ
$ drink or steal.
T. No person Is admitted at the gal
r except those who are known to II
!. officers of the guard members OF II
e imperial family, cabinet ministers an
e others who have the right OF accei
s to his majesty. Other people mu
e obtain permission to visit him befol
J. leaving st. Petersburg and will be n
& tilted what train TO take. There Is
K train nearly every hour back ar
5. forth, for Petcrhof is on a line tn
- skirts the shores Of the Baltic 81
Ie and reaches the most popular su
g urban towns and summer resor
he around the Russian capital. Cues
N are met at the station by one OF q
d. imperial carriages and are driven
rpctly tn the villa
re A long pier extends from 7
r. threshold of the imperial villa to de
IL. water in the bay. where one OF t
lg two imperial yachts Is always lyi
IT. as measure OF safety, 80 that
case OF an emergency, his majes
may take the empress and her CT
Ip- dren to sea. Stockholm, Copenhi
Id. en-, Kiel and other friendly ports
re. within convenient distance. This
te- however, a rather undignified sit
nd ton for an autocrat and despot,
re- ing always ready to escape from
ng own subjects. Steam never cea
Ire to issue from the waste pipes of
ne imperial yacht. there Is always
Is curl OF smoke rising from the sta
'ti- the fires are never extinguished.