Year: 1879

crat.


We have received from a source O
!, which the authenticity is beyond ques
ton the following curiously interesting
! Information respecting the present per


sonal condition of His Majesty the Czal
of Russia Our information is not sec


ond- hand. 1t comes directly from one
thoroughly informed in his own person


of the facts which he has communicated


to us. The Gar, for some time past


has been a prey not only to constant


apprehension for his life, but to feelings


of remorse for what he has done, and


of fear for the punishment which awaits


him after death. He has endeavored


in vain, by the study of modern philos-


ply, to free himself from belief in the


Immortality of soul and in the punish


ment which awaits the wicked in the


world to come. His mind has refused


to accept the negative conclusions of the


modern skeptics whose works he had


read or with whom he has personally


conversed, and he is to-day, even more
| than he was in his earlier years, a thor


ough believer in the orthodox doctrines


of Christianity held in common by the
Greek and Roman Church. He believes


that he has led a bad life, an extremely


bad life; and he despairs of finding


means of atonement of his evil deeds,
even had he the moral strength to ac-


cept these means, which he does not
possess. The thought of abdication


often possesses him, and at times he
| seems to have made up his mind to cut
the fatal knots which surround him, and


to make his escape to England or to


France, leaving Russia to such fate as


might befall it after his departures; but
the irresolute elements in his character


always counteract this impulse, and he


remains drifting on from bad to worse.
Within a recent period he has sought


relief from his anxieties and fears by


excessive indulgence in strong wines


and in spirits. Not unfrequently has


His Majesty been so intoxicated at an
early hour of the day that he was in


capable of transacting any business,


and could only be taken care of and in
duced to slumber. Upon awakening
from one of these unnatural sleeps the
Gear presents a pitiable appearance;
his cheeks are sunken and hag gard,
his eyes are bloodshot; his expression
is that of one who anticipates a terrible
calamity which may fall upon him at
any moment


The precautions taken for his safety,
not only when he goes outside the walls
of one of his palaces, but even while in
the supposed sanctity of his one apart
ments, are curiously minute and coun-
ter checking. There appears to be no
absolute trust reposed in any one.
Every one about His Majesty's person is
watched by some one else, and even his
most confidential attendants feel that
they are under the most vigilant, un-
ceasing and suspicious espionage.
When the Gar chooses to drive through
the streets of his Capital, when he
makes a railway journey, and even
when, as now, he is supposed to be en-
joyipg himself at Livadia, he knows
that he is surrounded by acorps of per-
sons specially detailed to watch over
his safety; and yet he fears that in any
one of these he may find an assassin
thirsting for his blood.


When the Car visited London i'm
mediately after the marriage of his |
daughter to the Duke of Edinburg. it |
was remarked by those who came close |
ly in contact with him that a more sor- |
rowful and anxious person had rarely |
been seen. In the midst of all the |
festivities which were arranged for his |
delight and honor, he sat like ghost |
at the banquet, or appeared as a GRIM |
inal who was awaiting the moment |
when the executioner would appear to |
lead him to the scaffold. Every subse- |
quent month has deepened the ankle
ties, griefs and remorse which produce |
upon His Majesty's countenance these |
signs of a restless and fearful soul |
There are some reasons for believing |
that his mind has given away under |
ha sah koo |
compelled to undergo and that at times |
he is scarcely responsible for his ac-
tions.


He takes the most extraordinary
likes and dislikes for persons and for
animals. His favorite for the time be-
ing, be it man, woman, dog, or bird,
is petted to an extent that is at once
ludicrous and melancholy to observe.
When he was last in Paris he heard q
young pianist whose execution delight
ed him. He at once took measures to
have this young man return with him
to his Capital. and there, for a long
time nothing charmed the Gar so much
as to listen to the playing of this youth
to converse with him, to caress him,
and to load him with every imaginable
mark of favor and distinction.


Again, he concentrated his affections
upon a spaniel dog, for which he con-
ceived violent and uncomfortable pas
sion. The Gar and his pet dog were
for awhile inseparable, and His Majes-
ty, at the most inconvenient moments,
would demand that the animal should
be brought to him. 1t was at this time
that a dispatch was received announc-
ing that q son of the Gear was on his
death-bed, and that if the father wished
to see him, the greatest haste was nec-
essary. A special train for the EN-
peror was Immediately ordered; every
thing was arranged; but as His Majes-
ty was about to enter the cars, he dis
covered that the dog was absent. The
animal had taken an exceptional freak;
he had escaped from the grounds of the
palace, and had gone off to amuse him.
self elsewhere. The Gear, notwith-
that he knew his favorite son
was at the point of death, and that
every moment of delay might prevent
him seeing him before he expired, re-
fused to stir from the palace until the
log was found. The palace was in an
lproar; servants, soldiers, civil officers
and volunteers were sent in hot haste
Tor the missing beast; but four hours
elapsed ere he was found, captured and
to the embrace of his Imperial
master.


The relations between the Gar and
MS wife have long been ef an extreme
character. They live as
lar apart as possible. When they meet
t is only as foes between whom exists
IN armed neutrality.-M. Y. Graphic.


Facts About the Utes.


They are the best dressed and the