The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22
Emperor Alexander II.

happened to be q certain Capt. K.
hear about It, had simply undressed
and gone to bed. leaving his subordi-
nate to see to things during the night.
The Emperor had slept badly and went
out at the early hour Of O'Clock.
When he passed the guard house and
saw that the officer did not come out
he had his carriage stopped and In
Quired where the officer was. Upon re-
ceiving the reply that he was indoors
the Emperor went In. The first sight
that met his eyes was Capt. K.
sleeping upon the camp bed which was
reserved for the officer In case Of need,
and completely undressed. The sover.
eign shook him by the arm. One can
fancy the feelings Of the unfortunate
man when he saw who II was that was
awakening him. Get up said the EN-
perOr. and follow me. No: don't dress
yourself-come as you are And he
dragged him as he was, without even
the most Indispensable garment on, and
ordered him to sit beside him In his
carriage. Thus, completely undressed,
he brought him back to the Winter Pal
ace. whence ne ordered him to be sent.
still undressed. to the Caucasus, where
he was degraded to the rank Of q com.
mon soldier. That was the only cruel
deed knew the late Emperor to do"
added the Grand Duchess. land then he
very soon pardoned Capt. r. and
restored him to his favor. It 10 certain
that the Captain would In time have
made q career In spite Of this unfor.
tunate incident had he not been killed
during the Hungarian campaign"
No one who was in st. Petersburg at
the time OF the emancipation OF the serf
will ever forget the morning OF that
great day In February. 1851. The ex-
element In the capital was intense. Up
to the last moment people had doubted
whether the sovereign would have the
courage to put his name to the measure
A few hours later Alexander II. left
the Winter Palace In q victoria, alone
and without escort. The square in front
OF the old building was crowded with
people. and when the sovereign an
peared such q cry OF greeting arose as
Russia had never heard until that day.
The enthusiasm cannot be described:
people surrounded the imperial carriage
and pressed round their liberator
women sObbed and children wept, and
even among the onl0okers emotion was
Intense. Many had come there attracted
by mere curiosity to witness the scene.
many who deplOred the occasion that
had given rise to 1t. and even they were
seized with the general emotion. One
lady alone kept COOL II was the old
Countess kOutaissOw. whose sister had
been the mistress Of Paul T.. who was
the representative Of the old conserya-
tive element In st. Petersburg society,
and bitterly opposed to the reforms Of
the new reign. When asked whether
she had not felt affected by the general
enthusiasm she replied quietly: mo;
] only reJoiced that ] am too old to see
tho masses that have just been emanci-
pated rise against their sovereign and
his successors. and I mourned the fate
of my children who. viii see the con.
sequences OF t0-day's folly"
None Of the reforms which marked
the rcign Of Alexander II. was com.
picted. but II u certain that, nOtwith.
standing their faults. they signatied the
dawn OF . new era In which II was no
longer possible 10 step hack: hut they
brought neither peace To the country