Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-04-07
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of two" Sounds like modern business mans
complaint.
father. but spend their mornings in the upper
apartments of the palace and generally meet him
for the first time at luncheon. But the emperor
sends them to bed, kisses them good night and
blesses them with the sign of the cross Before
and after meals he and his family make the sign
of the cross and the children thank their parents
after meals. Five o'clock tea is served also in
private. During meals service talk" is not al
Iowed-then reign Jokes and merry tales. After
dinner the emperor likes to read aloud Russian
classics. chiefly the work of the humorsts. He
is fond of Gogol and of the works of Gorbunov
famous actor writer of humorous stories whose
books the father of the emperor, Alexander ILL.,
also enjoyed. He is student of Russian history
and admirer of the father of Peter the Great.
the most gentle czar, Alexei Mikhailovitch. His
motto is: "A state is strong and powerful only
when 1t worships the covenants of the past"
He is president of the Russian Historical society.
organized by Emperor Alexander ILL.,
The children adore their father and obey him
absolutely He plays with them, gives them sim
pie toys and comforts them during illness. His
love for his son is boundless. He not only walks
with him. but he takes him to military shows,
builds sand and snow fortresses with him. digs
bitches. cuts wood. breaks ice. does carpenter
work. arranges boating parties The emperor is
a good sportsman. He Is a great walker, rider
and bicycler, plays tennis and ninepins and is
good oarsman, swimmer diver and shot.
At family dinners the czar prefers Russian cook
ing. He likes cold boiled sucking pig, beet soups.
gruels and pancakes and drinks the Russian malt
drink "kvas." the old recipe for which was taken
from the monastery of Sarov. The champagne
served in the palace is always Russian.
The period of Lent is strictly observed Dur
ing the first fourth and seventh weeks and
Wednesdays and Fridays of other weeks
Lent lasts seven weeks-even fish is excluded
from imperial meals. Only vegetables are served
During his holidays in Crimea OF in the Fin
nish archipelago the enjoys walks of from
0ftoap yni1o off forr yrif
and picks mushrooms and berries. He is SO tire
less that only two officers of his suite. Komaroff
and Drenten, could accompany him in his noun
taineering in Crmea.
The imperial family takes part in the Joys and
sorrows Of their servants. The female servants
leave the palace only in case Of death or mar
rage. In the latter case they receive the right
to visit their masters. AS examples of the most
devoted servants may be mentioned the servant
of the empress Kondratieff. the attendant of the
heir apparent the sailor Derevenko. and the nurse
of the imperial children, Maria Vishniakova. For
them and for the soldiers and officers of the regi
ments that bear their names the imperial family
arrange brilliant Christmas tree.
On Easter the car kisses three times each of
his servants, who congratulate him upon this
great holy day, the empress giving her hand to
be kissed. During the first three days of the
Easter holidays the cZar has to kiss more than
5000 persons and present each one with small
Easter egg of gold, silver or Ural stones
The cars hunting is in charge of a special ad-
ninstrator of the imperial hunts, this oihce be-
ing part OF the ministry of the court The grounds
are in Spain, Province of Petrokof at Skernevit-
sy near Warsaw. and in Bieloviej. near Brest-
Litovsk.
There are private hunts. when the emperor goes
alone or with few intimate friends. and great
hunts with a large number of hunters, patterned
after an old elaborated ceremonial with prickers.
beaters, hounds. hunting horns torches and bon
fires He shoots deer. bears. hares. pheasants
and, in Bieloviej, bisons.
rIa 10 ynr cautious. strictly observing
the rules and never allows himself shot which
might hurt the beaters. He is an excellent shot
and his bag is always filed. Once, near Vyborg,
Finland, he killed fox. The Finnish law re-
wards hunter with five marks (sD as premium
for each carnivorous animal killed The czar
received the premium and issued receipt for
five marks This receipt is kept in the Vyborg
citadel.