The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1881-03-26 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ANECDOTES OF THE LATE CZAR.  The Whitehall Review relates the following anecdote of the youthful days of the late Czar :  "According to the Imperial custom, the young Prince made his debut in military service when a child in years. At fourteen he became a non-commissioned officer in the Guards Several days after his promotion, returning to the apartment which he then occupied in the Imperial palace, he happened to cross a room where some military dignitaries and officers of high rank in the army were assembled. At his approach they one and all rose and saluted him. This mark of respect from so distinguished a quarter immensely flattered the vanity of the young officer, and he determined to experience it again. He therefore turned back and passed and re-passea the room several times •, but to hie chagrin, the generals, having once saluted their Prince' took no further notice of him. The little Grand Duke, much disgusted, ran with his complaint to his father, who, taking him by the hand, led him back to the room. My son,' he said, gravely, in presence of the generals, 'I see with much pain how little you really understand the duties imposed on your newly-gained epaulettes towards your superiors in office and the respect to white hairs blanched in the service of the state. Do you not know that the very men whom you complain of being wanting in respect to you are those whom you yourself ought most to horiour : for it is to them that your father owes his throne and his life? it is their fidelity and zeal, and their loyal services which alone can open up your path to the throne and aid you to occupy it with glory and renown. Bow low before them' and consider as the greatest honour every little mark of respect and devotion they testify towards you. What you have just done fully persuades me that you are yet far too young for the epaulettes you wear, and I shall deprive you of them until such a time as your conduct proves you more worthy to wear them honourably.' 'The Emperor then detached the epaulettes from his son's shoulders, and advised him to take the lesson to heart. "The murdered sovereign was devoted to sport and also to whist. After a hard day's bear-hunting he would sit down to a little whist table in the Imperial salon and play for three or four hours. Many a Russian general has risen from the green cloth winner of a handsome fortune. A lucky Frenchman once gained 300,000 roubles in one evening alone from the Emperor Alexander. Like his ancestors Pierre-le Grand, be loved l'incognito. One night after going the rounds of his capital in a hired drosky, he found that he had forgotten his purse, and bade the isvostchik wait for him at the entrance. Ivan refused, remarking with much truth that the palace had many exits- beside that particular one, and, as he didn t mean to be cheated of his due, he required some security that his fare would return. The Emperor was obliged to leave his cloak with the wary nwujik, and presently it was redeemed with a hundred francs for the course,"  A meeting of railway servants has been held in London in favour of a movement to limit the duration of the ordinary day's duty to nine hours,or fifty-four hours per week ; and in case of signalmen and shunters to eight hours, or forty-eight per week; to obtain an adequate increasing rate of pay for overtime, or duty performed in excess of the ordinary day's duration; to secure to every grade payment for Sunday duty as for extra duty; to reduce the amount of Sundity toil; and tb dose goods yards at 1.80 pan. On Saturdays.  wd atns