Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-20
RUSSIA'S GLOOMY COURT
Czarina Broken in Health, the Car
Melancholy.
PENALTY OF BEING AN AUToCRA1
Empress More Liked Than Formerly,
hut GrnveIy Affected b. Troubles
of the Empire-simpIe Home
Life at Peterhof.

-
ST. PETERSBURG. June 2.-The reports
concerning the health Of the czarina con-
tinue to be discouraging. Always Of a
melancholy disposition. the events Of the
last few years In Russia have deepened
her depression until now there Is no doubt
that she is on the verge Of melancholia,
besides suffering from Ills attendant upon
a nervous breakdown.
The c~zarina, though she has never sue
ceeded altogether in winning the love Of
her adopted people, is far more popular
now than she was during the first years
Of her married life. Then the Russians
frankly distrusted and usliked her. Her
expression at that time wal sad and rather
disconnected. She was very shy and re-
firing and assumed an air of indifference
to cover these defects, which the court
mistook for coldness.
Then, too. she was largely the victim of
circumstances. The horrible accident on
her wedding day when hundreds Of per-
sons were killed and injured filled the
peasants with superstitious fear Of her and
her influence. Lastly, her delay IN pre-
senting Russia with a male heir to the
throne dlspleased all the country.
Peasants Have Forgiven Her.
But latterly she has won friends. People
have discovered that her sad expression
does not really mean discomfort. tina her
assumed Indifference masks a kin and
sympathetic nature. The peasants have
forgotten the lll-omened wedding day and
Russia rejoice. in the young czarovitch
Yet Notwithstanding this gain for the
czarina there is no sadder court in Europe
today than that at Peterhof. All the
world knows that the emperor and en-
press live surrounded by guards, that their
food is specially prepared by trusted hands
and tasted before being served, and that
they cannot so from the palace without
the greatest ~precaution.
Yet in spite of these circumstances the
imperial family leads a simple home life.
There is no formality In the relations Of
the car and czarina with their ladies and
gentlemen in waiting. And though the
empress has aged and changed she remains
gracious and kindly to those about her,
while the GEAR, though deeply affected by
the trials of his unhappy country, is still
at times the gay and delightful host Of
days gone by.
There are two ladies in waiting in i'm
mediate attendance always. Among other
requirements is the one that they must be
able to play tennis with the car. Her
ladies In waiting were the first of her peo-
pie who learned to love and understand
the empress and they tell many stories Of
her kindness and sympathy.
Czar's Home Life.
The czar in his home life is all the most
exacting could wish-a devoted husband,
sincerely admiring and deeply in love with
his clever wife, an affectionate father who
plays with and fondles his children Until
the troubles OF the last few years and the
recent breakdown of the czarina saddened
him the car was like a gay schoolboy.
He is not brilliant and his nature is weak,
but he has a saving sense of humor which
endears him to all who know him. In days
past he dearly loved a good joke and was
as ready to laugh at his own weaknesses
as at those of persons around him.
Though the world thinks of him as a
despot. he is anything but that in his home.
A friend of one OF the ladies in waiting
tells this story to illustrate how informal
are the relations of the car with those in
his encourage. On the day OF the chris
tening of the last little princess the ladies
in waiting had many fatiguing duties, and
when all was over this particular lady was
glad to make her way to her apartment
for much needed rest and a chat with the
friendl who had come to see her.
Just as they had settled down along came
a messenger from the car. Would the
princess come at once and play tennis with
his majesty7"
NO. said the lady in waiting calmly to
the amazemsnt Of her friend. II am too
tired after the days duties"
And that message was taken to the en-
peror. who apparently did not in the least
resent 1t.
Children Mothers Care.
But the days when the car took pleasure
in simple fun are past. Now 1t is difficult
to rouse him from the depression which
has settled upon him since the czarina's
health has given way.
The empress, true to her English blood,
Is bringing VI her children in English fash
ion. with the simplest Of diet and the
plainest of dress. She herself, despite the
luxury and richness of Russian fashions,
favors plain tailor made gowns and only
wears her gorgeous jewels when state &C.
casions demand. To see her in the morn