New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15
AutOcrat of Russia and Con
sort Sometimes Play
Duets at Piano.
EDUCATION OF SON
PARENTS CHIEF CARE
Prihcesses. Playing at Emperor
and COnspirators." Give Their
Father a Shock.
by cable to The Tribune J

Paris Feb. l4.-Mss Margaret Eager.
who was the English soverness Of the
Cars four daughters, travelled through
Paris this week and speaking to The
Tribune correspondent, gave an interest
ing account OF some experiences she had
while living at the Russian Court
In spite OF all the rumors circulated
abroad She said the life Of the
Russian imperial family is very
simple and afectionate. The car
and his consort are model parents
and their greatest pleasure IS 10
play with their children in the pri-
vate apartments Of the Winter Palace.
The Car and the Czarna occasionally
have differences Of opinion over educa-
tional systems. the former approving OF
modern methods. TO which the latter-the
real autocrat OF the imperial couples
sterny opposed
The Czarina lays the greatest stress
on the study Of music. although the En-
peror believes that a grand duchess
scarcely needs 10 know how to play the
piano in order TO be happy. Both car
and Czarna are excellent pianists and
they love TO play four-hand. or course
their manifold state and other duties
prevent this being done frequently.
THE Emperor is a dutiful father. but
II does not take much TO upset MIN
Here is an instance: one evening the
four grand duchesses were playing to-
gether and were making a terrible noise.
% .,,E
RE, was lying on a sofa and her three
sisters were attacking her with savage
cries. The Car walked in 10 the chill
drens studio at the moment the noise
had reached its climax and asked ::
What on earth are you playing at.
Grand Duchess Olga. the only one OF
the four who is not afraid Of her father
answered:
1T is d new game. Marie is the car,
and we are conspirators.
Had the grand duchesses not been
mere children. they would have noticed
that their father suddenly grew very
pale. lie walked out. evidently uncom-
Portable. and for two or three days dio not
appear in the children's apartments
zone day." Miss Eager said, u was Sit
ting i'm Princess Olga's room while she
was taking a lesson in history. 'he En-
press was attending and listening TO the
lesson. which dealt with the development
Of French political institutions. The
teacher at one moment pronounced the
word constitution and the pretty prin-
cess questioned:
What is constitution
..The professor looked very much en-
barrassed, and the sharp glance cast at
him by the Czarina only made him 1eei
worse. He explained in a few CHOSEN
words what constitution meant ana
would have liked TO 90 on with the lesson
but the princess once more interfup'So'
Has Russia a constitution!
q. Certainly the professor replied Rus
STA also has a constitution.
PRAY excuse me- the princess re-
torted I think you are not quite right
Russia has no constitution Papa does
rot want one
The Empress rose. The lesson was
finished for that day. The next DAY the
professor of history was discharged ana
the Grand Duchess Olga was cCnhned 10
her room Cor three DAYS as punlshiie"'
for her remark
Since the birth of the Crown Prince
Alexis things have charged considerably
AT the Russian court. The Empress no"
takes scarcely any interest in me educa-
t,on of her daughters devotins all her
time TO her invalid son, and Walchlhs'
nov and night. over him. In recent times
she has become very superstitIous ana 10
often found in her private apartments
nIavine cards and consulting fortuno-teh-