The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-08-13
Court Gossip of Interesting
Epents on Two Continents
tcop,nsht. ISIS. b. A. D. Jacobson,

COPYRIGHT. Isl3 b. A. d. Jacobson.)
have 1t from q gentleman Of the
highest position in the German diplo-
matte service. and who was com
manded" to attend the wedding of. the
Kaisers only daughter to Prince Ernst
Of Hanover, Duke Of Brunswick-Luene-
burg. that Car Nicholas was immensely
pleased with his little excursion that
took him to Berlin to attend the nuptial
ceremonies as . near kin to the bride.
The stay In the German capital was such
Q wholesome change from the monotony
OF the life his secret agents and body
guard compels him to lead at the winter
palace or at Tzarskoe-selo. that am not
at all surprised to be told that which is
not known in Berlin, namely. that
Nicholas one evening, as a modern
Haroun-el-Rashid. in strictest incog-
nito. left the sumptuous apartments at
the Russian Embassy, Jumped into a
:'droschke' (cab) and. like q boy out of
school, made the rounds Of the city
Well, II this be SO. he certainly must
have enjoyed the outing. being perfectly
safe from recognition in a blue serge
sack suit and fedora hat. such as thou
sands wear of an evening in the great.
frolicksome city by the Spree. There
was q bit Of a sequel to this harmless
little escapade. Trying to enter the
"schloss," and not being known to the
double line of guards (wachtposten). his
imperial majesty had to face all sorts Of
questionings and delays. until his aid-de-
camps. aided by the testimony Of the
Prussian high stan officers delegated to
his service succeeded IN persuadins the
soldiers-who merely were doing their
duty in refusing admittance to the plain
looking civilian who failed to give them
the password Of the day.
The Autocrat, upon leaving the city,
gave an unmistakable and manifest
token of the pleasure and good time
he had among the Germans Each sue
ceeding Emperor Of Russia Is honorary
colonel of one Of Russia's crack guard
regiments, namely the First Guard In
fantry (Erste Garde Regiment zu Fuss.
During his presence in the city two Of
ficers in charge Of the regimental colors,
are auartered in the apartments Of the
ilIustrious visitor. They are, as rule,
ensigns or second neutenants. The Car
presented each with a monthly stipend
Of 800 marks tS73), in addition to their
regular pay until such time as they
would be promoted to a captaincy. Quite
a welcome surprise to poorly paid Ger
man officers. indeed.
The Car does not occupy the gorgeous
Summer Palace at Peterhof, which was
begun in the seventeenth century by
Peter the Great. but lives in a modest
little house nearby. which resembles
the estates Of well-to-do country gentle
men, A big hedge enclosing il insures
privacy, and as there Is no room for
it. the Car and CZarina are not bother
ed by a large retinue Of servants and
functionaries. who are housed in separate
buildings in midst of extensive forest
lands Some OF them are quartered in
the Summer Palace. Court festivities
in Peteroff are always held in the Sum-
mer Palace. and the Gar and Czarina
are far from the noise and confusion Of
the preparations. They pass an ideal
life in their coy little villa, and are
constantly with their children out OF
doors. the Gar often romping on the
lawn with the small archduchesses,
while their brother. the Czarevitch. lame
since his little pony threw him, is care
fully piloted through the woods on the
back Of his faithful Cossack soldier
nurse. The Czarevitch is looking strong
er Of late. but he is as lame as ever. and
IL is doubtful IL ever he could stand the
strain Of ruling Russia
There are several military reviews
during the summer, and the Gar makes
it point of going among his officers
much more Informally than when at st.
Petersburg. 1t Is seldom, however. that
the camera catches him when on foot
among them, because he Is shorter in
stature than any officer Of his guard
corps, and he does not relish seeing the
comparison advertised in a photograph.
The big Summer Palace at Peterhoff
was modelled after Louis XIV's gorgeous
site at Versailles. but Peter the Greats
thrift made him leave it half unfinished.
Each Of his successors has added to it.
or altered something, until 1t has ceased
to have any distinct character as a build
ing. But the gardens, also modelled after
those at Versailles. are exceedingly
beautiful. They cover more than five
square miles and join the grounds of
the Cars domains at Tzarskoe-Selo and
Pavlowsk. where he spends the early
spring days. The ground around the
Summer Palace is occupied by palaces
built for the grand dukes of his family,
and there are numerous little chalets.
pavilions, and artificial lakes. Broad,
sweeping terraces lead from the steps
Of the Summer Palace down to the Gulf
Of Finland.
One can drive for hours through the
parks at Peterhof, dotted with "dachas"
(cottageS and surrounded with smooth
lawns, which nestle upon the sides of
hills. In driving one is likely to meet
the Gar and the Czarina, alone in a lit
tie Russian troike. unattended except by
a footman sitting behind, and the
Czarina holding the reins. The Cars
brother. Grand Duke Michael. also is at
his villa at Peterhof. in spite of the
rumors that he would be exiled because
of his morganatic marriage. He is a most
affable man, and. as he is constantly
driving or riding on the public roads, he
has all sorts Of amusing adventures.
There Is a swimming bath 200 feer
square in q secluded portion of the