Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-09
EMPEROR OF THE RUSSIANS
THE HOME LIFE AND HUMAN
SIDE OF NICHOLAS.
Gentle In His Manners-Plays the
Violin and Sings Tenor-A
Great Smoker.
From London Tit-Rifs.

From London Tit-Bts
The first impression of the Emperor
of Russia is Of the gentleness and SIM
plicity of his character. He is very kind
and very slight. and his eyes, face. and
voice express a disposition that is I'M
usually winning. In his delicate appear
ance and the quiet dignity of his bearing.
however. there is no suggestion of any
lack Of physical or moral strength. Per-
haps there could hardly be a question of
physical bravery in any royal case. since
personal fearlessness is a part OF royal
training, If not inherent in royal blood.
But no one could see the Emperor Of
Russia without realizing the spiritual
force in his gaze and detecting a note
OF moral courage in his voice. To all
who come near him he appears fully
aware of the weight Of his destiny, and
to be bearing the awful burden with
cheerful serenity, always looking at his
great danger, and without wavering.
In meeting with strangers the car
is, wherever and whenever possible, kind
ly and solicitous and entirely free from
affectation in the consciousness of his po-
sition. In this the czarina resembles him,
and also in preference for the English
language. Indeed, English is spoken ex-
clusively by the imperial family in its
home circle. This would not be singular
where the empress herself was concern
ed. since she is virtually an English
women, and has spent years in England;
but the Grand Duchess Helene. the
daughter Of the Grand Duke vladimir,
and since become the Princess Nicholas
of Greece, has frequently said that she
could not remember ever speaking any
thing but English to her father This
exclusive use Of English in their private
life may account for the fact that among
themselves they always say emperor,
''czarina." At all events. no member of
the royal family uses the Russian titles.
A Musical Pair.
Music is the cars favorite recreation,
and he is himself composer of no mean
merit. He plays the violin well and Is
very fond of an instrument called the
balalaika, which is a kind OF guitar with
only three strings. He often sings to this
instrument, for he possesses tenor voice
Of excellent quality He Is more than q
little proud of his vocal powers, and once.
after entertaining his domestic circle
claimed: well. my children. my enemies
say many harsh things Of me and accuse
me Of being destitute Of many capacities.
but I defy them to say that 1 cannot
sing as well as the best of them!"
The czarina is also very musical and a
celebrated violinist once said OF her that
Of she were in another sphere Of life and
became a professional she would win
great fame. The empress, however. is
quite unusually artistic, and even in
sitting for her picture betrays a depth
of artistic feeling which invariably cap
tivates her painter. Once when asked If
the strain Of a particular pose was not
firing she replied: Anything worth doing
at all is worth doing we'll"
The Imperial Nursery.
The empress is careful. loving mother.
and personally supervises the education
of her four little girls and the sturdy
romping czarowitz, who were brought
up by English nurses, with an abundance
Of exercise and open-air life. The czaro-
WITT. Alexis Nicholaievitch, born at
Peterhof July 30, 1904, Is the pet Of the
imperial household and the joy Of his
parents hearts. This bonnie boy. des-
tined ruler of a mighty empire, is al
ready hetman Of the Cossacks, Knight OF
st. Andrew, colonel Of the famous corps
Of guards and many other regiments. AT
on him. but. although not subjected to
the iron discipline melted out to his great
reat-grandfather Nicholas 1, he is ex-
pected to rise with his comrades. Velgo-
rusd and Patcul, every morning at d
O'Clock. and to commence his studies at Z.
There Is ever strong aristocratic
Slayophile party in the Russian court
which deplores the English influence OF
the czarina, and 1t is rumored that she
has incurred unpopularity In very high
quarters by endeavoring to suppress gam
bling and smoking among Russian ladies'
Keeping the high ideals of her noble
mother ever before her, the empress
strives to give high moral tone to a bril-
liant court, which, under the car. Alex
ander II, Cher husbands grandfalher)
was the most luxurious and extravagant
in Europe. Among other social reforms
the empress has made great efforts to
establish hospitals on western lines, with
adequate and efficient medical attendants
in the chief towns of Russia.
Golf and Farming.
The car is quite up-to-date in his Xix
ing for golf. though he does not devote
much time to the royal and ancient
game" In the park of the winter palace
there are links. and Nicholas III is some
times to be seen there enjoying himself
immensely. The ''autocrat of all the
Russias' has always taken an interest
in agricultural matters. and another hob
by of his is farming. Some photographs
were taken some time ago, showing an
engineer giving the car instructions in
the use of a newly invented plow. In
one of these pictures Nicholas II was him
self guiding the pillow as it turned up the
burrows.
The car is by no means what can be
called deeply read, but he takes great de-
light in literature of the lighter kind, and
he is credited with the remark, Were
I not-well. what l AMI should be the
greatest bookworm in the world One
of his most curious hobbies-and yet per-
haps not curious when one considers his
extremely nervous temperament-is the
study OF occultism. while among others
may be mentioned yachting. philately and
collecting birds eggs. Many of the lat
ter were collected by himself in his
younger days. and at one time he was a
most daring and expert climber of trees.
Nicholas II is also fond of cards, and fire.
quently plays a game in the evenings. His
ma esty IS great smoker, and continually
seeks repose from his troubles in the
soothing weed. Directly after breakfast
he lights a cigar and continues smoking
whenever he has a moment to spare.