Year: 1874

which probably most boys would have shown
under the circumstances, and thought he seemed
rather SPY and embarrassed; but presently he
drew near to an urchn some five or six years old
and began to play with the child. This urcnn tson
of Russian noble who then counted his property
by the number OF his serfs) was suky at first, but
the Grand Duke won him over, and then they went
away together haDd in nand fast friends nursery
goveIness following. with her eyes demurely cast
upon the ground. Now. here we are together
again after the lapse Of more years than l care to
remember, living the same life and shut up in
little German town in narrow valley, where we
must OF necessity meet each other at least half
dozen times day.


have, therefore, thought whether it might not
be possible for me to give portrait OF this great
and good monarch which should have some per-
manent value or students OF history. Having
nothing to hope or to fear from him, can bring an
impartial mind to the task and VIII try to show
him as he is, without nattery and without unjust
blame.


Alexander H., the son OF Nicholas, was born on
the 29tn Q7th) April 1sls and succeeded his father
on the Cd OF March Qsth OF February, 1856. He
was very carefully taught, and speaks English.
German, French, Italian and Greek, besides his
own language which twenty years ago was rare
attainment indeed among the higher orders IN
Russia He is a good horseman. good shot and
possesses all the usual accomplishments OF
a gentleman. He was married on the 2Sth l6th)
OF April, 1Sil to Maria Observation-Disclosures
MaXimiliana Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia Maria
daughter OF Grand Duke Ludwig the Second OF
Hesse. His domestic relations have been tranquil
and Undisturbed the Empress being q apious, amia-
bic lady, generally beloved and he has six chill
dren. He is now lity-slX years Of age, hale and
strong, with no signs OF mental OR bodily decay.
The


PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE EMPEROR


is very pleasing. He has good, shapely head,
well set upon his shoulders and indicating tair
mental capacities, though n superficial observer
might run some risk Of undertaking them, because
he is a slow and cautious thinker. whose ideas do
not Cow readily into words and his voice is harsh
and hestating when he first begins to talk. His
forehead is frank ana Open his eyes grave and
somewhat troubled in their look-they are sunk
very deep in his head-and at times there seem
to be awful meanings to them. They are eyes of
the very sorrowful sort, not unfamiliar with tears;
and in color they are OF that uncertain blue which
denotes melancholy temperament. occasionally,
but very rarely, they have geam OF solemn au-
thority, half fearful, halt touching, as though he
had painful consciousness OF the tremendous re-
sponsibties which weigh upon supreme power


The lower part OF the Emperor's face is well
bred, the nose fine and delicatey Chiseed, the
mouth large, but irm affectionate and full Of
pleasant words. He is almost bald with the con-
stant lrettng of the military helmet which he wore
habltuay in early life and the little hair he
has left is OF that undecided neutral tint
which is soon to become gray. He is very
tall and large limbed, riding perhaps seventeen
stone in the saddle; but there is no awkwardness
IN his gait or manner His disposition is gentle
and good humored He treats his intimates with
an easy familiarity very rare in q sovereign, and
be has observation-disclosures dogged-unwlling-
ness to take offence. He Is so brave, magnanimous
and fOrgiving that he goes about alone and unat-
tended, though many foolish attempts have been
made to assassinate him, and he has repeatedly
pardoned incorrigible rebels who would have found
no grace before any other tribunal than
his own merciful Judgment. 1t Is safer to
offer him an affront than to dispeasc the
best of his servants. On one occasion 1t Is known
that he warned Polish nobleman against whom
an order Tor arrest had been issued to run away
and privately sent him means Of support while he
remained in exile He was unwilling to punish
any OF his reyoed subjects in 1s63-54 that he was


called 'the Chief OF the Polish rebellion;" and he
has shown chivalrous generosity to those who


endeav0red so resolutely to shake OF his authority
| literary man who had interpreted the new laws


upon the liberty of the press rather too freely and
! was threatened with Imprisonment made his way


to the Emperor, who had great liking for
| him. and His Majesty, on hearing that the literary
man had got into trouble quashed the proceedings
against him, observing "that be had better abuse
1 him tthe Emperor another time and take to writ
ing nothing against people who might hurt him."
He is so constant in his friendships and so open
handed with his friends that it is said some Of
them owe all their fortune TO his munifcence; and
| 1t is on record that once upon a time, when man
! he loved was in straits the Emperor sat down to
! play cards with hlm-and did not WIN the stakes
! There was, perhaps, as much delicate generosity
! in the act as in any which is related OF Napoleon
/ Ill.


HIS PLACE IN HISTORY.


Let US see what this man with the sad eyes and
| awful sense OF responsibility has done for his
country. and shall find that the page Of history
on which his name Is inscribed is the brightest in
! Russian annals. Until the year 1855, when he
rather Unexpectedly succeeded his father-whO
! was still IN the prime OF life-the present Emperor
OF Russia had taken no part in politics. He re.
fused to lead the opposition which went on in the
! drawing rooms Of ST. Petersburg more or less
| openly, and never gave an opinion upon public
affairs. He lived blameless life with his family,
being an afectonate husband and an In
dugent father. given over entirely to the
! domestcities. But directly he attained to
supreme power he showed remarkable
aptitude Tor the government OF great
people. He began by removing nearly all the
strictions upon learning: and education through
out Russia, which was at very low ebb improved
with surprising rapldty Then he gran ted some
thing ike freedom Of the press. He conceded
large privileges to commerce, founded steam navi-
cation companies, established new means of COM
muncaiion between the most distant parts OF his
Empire and he removed those disabilities which
weighed most heavily upon the Jews.


An American may be disposed TO say ''Well, he
had only to let things take their course to do that.
Education, trade printing ana bankers will always
thrive If they are let alone" But this answer
would not meet the case.


THE POWER OF THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR
is IN theory unlimited. He Is very readily admitted
TO be the most powerful man in the world, high