THE CZAR OF RUSSIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 158, 3 July 1880, Page 1

THE CZAR OF RUSSIA.

{New York Borne Journal.)

The feeling which cornea uppermost in the mind of any one who sees the Czar for the first time is one, of sincere pity. He is a large, ox-eyed man, evidently of good intentions but with [a look of sadness and perplexity in him. His voice is harsh as the grinding of a coffeemill out of order, for an affection of the throat, under which he has long suffered, renders speech painful to him. He would have made a very amiable private gentleman, and could have got far more ease and amusement out of life if he had handed all the botheration of government over to his brother Constantino, who has a taste for that sort of nonsense. He himself could hardly have wanted to reign. It was the Schouvaloffa, the Lamberts, the Bariatinsks, the Alderbergs, the . Dolgouroukys, and some others who desired he should be a firm ruler of men. They were for ever goading and coaxing him by turns, as beef is driven to market fpr those who wish to roast it. They must often have had a difficult task, for his ponderous Majesty (good, easy man) is slothful and heavy-witted by nature. He must have been frequently unable to understand even what was wanted of him. He is subject to melancholy periods of hypochondriasis, during which existence seem but a dreary blank to him. He is, haunted by fears of sudden death, and by the dread of assassination. At these times he moons about on apparently solitary walks with a large dog, but there is always a policeman handy to keep the sacrilegious from approaching him. When well, be der ote3 much of his time to tailoring, changing his costume with much stolid perseverance ; and he likes to be attended by a humpbacked privy councillor, who acts as a foil to his fine figure, and sets it off, for he is a well built man, tall and straight, though rather too German in the rotundity of certain of his curves. His father Nicholas, who was in many respects a notable sovereign, bad him very carefully brought up; and foreseeing that he would want support, perhaps devotion, in after life to counteract his apathy, surrounded him with some select young men who could be relied upon. Tbis little band of cronies have hung together ever since. They have lived with and of the Emperor without interruption from the time of his accession untii now. He provides for their wants ; they dip their fingers into his purse whenever they are minded. He is a loosely-hung emperor, more like the good fellow of a free and easy than the despotic master of "millions, wheu in the midst of these his familiars. He has been known to sit in his shirt sleeves, astraddle on a chair, hob-a-nob-bing with them. The late Count Strogonoff, who was a preux chevalier, and a very high-pacing person generally, once broke in upou the party thus employed. The Emperor looked at him with those unutterably mournful eyes of his, and held out a champagne glass to be refilled from a bottle . which stood by. The old soldier drew himself up and answered sternly, " Let those Who love you less than I do perform that service." Tho Czar showed no signs of displeasure, but within a few months Strogonoff was deprived of hia office, though he was nearly connected with the Imperial family, his son having married the Grand Duchess Marie. When his Majesty is in the humor he plays a good deal at cards with his own chums, and it is rather a good thing for these gentlemen, for whenever any oue of them is in want, the Czar will lose : to him the sum of which he stands in need, as a delicate way of giving it j and this method of bestowing substantial favors is perfectly well understood amongthem. The Czar is a good shot, and has done some grand things on bears. He sometimes wears a pelisse which once covered a fine bear he brought low with his own hands ; and it has been so exquisitely dressed that it is valued at about d£2ooo, which is even more than is ever paid for the sable or the black fox. He can ride, too, though not in the English fashion, and he would be puzzled by a sharp buist across country. Lately his physi cians have recommended him to waik. His personal deportment is excellent. He stands and mnrohes well. He shows to advantage in uniform, though for several years he has willingly clothed hipaself in mufti. His manners are

those of a gentleman, and. there is something extremely sympathetic about him. He. produces the impression that one would like to know him better, if he only were not an Emperor. It is this unfortunate cireumstanqe which takes the amiability out of him, sets him upon his -dignity, and gives a certain funniness to his aspect. His father really could be dignified, but he can't. There is a ohubbiness aud nervousness in his proceedings upon great occasions which reminds oae more of a drum-major or fugleman of Lindwehr tban an autocrat. It is well for him that he has some attached companions, or his life would be quite wretohed. He has alienated tbe nobles from him by ruining tbem in hundreds. The emancipation of the serfs was a death-blow to many who had nothiog but serfs to live upon, and tbe free boors are anything but a satisfactory peasantry. All the trade of the couutry. id in the bands of Jews, and Jews labour uuder such humiliating disabilities in Russia that tbey have but small love for his Majesty. He is unpopular with the army, for he is not a. profeasipnal soldier, and has none of that military spirit which distinguished his father.

There has now grown up a coldness between him and his wife too. He had better have kept well with her, and she on her part had better have overlooked v^hat there was to overlook. It is not I much as times go, or as .they ever went, j The Emperor is very far from a vicious or licentious man, and he is nobody's enemy but his own, save when frightened. Perhaps she might have kept up his spirits better than wine. The frail form of the Imperial lady who looked so pale and wan to the holiday-makers at; Cannes has a high spirit, and was once yery busy with politics. The first.part— at least a dozen years — of the present reign was entirely guided by her and the Countess Antoinettle Bluddlfj who . made sunshine and wet weather , at L St. Petersburg. The Empress' tea-parties ' were pleasant assemblies, wherein Prince Gr ortschakoff indeed, sometimes told odd stories, as is the fashion in Russia, but the parties were for the most- part orthodox, and much frequented by the. priesthood. The Empress' influence was at the bottom of all her husband's crusading against the Turks. She is a good woman, of a pious and a queenly heart. No o_e has ever wagged an evil tongue against her, though Russians, like other half civilised peoples, delight in aU manner of scandal. It is natural that they should do so. In the present state of their education they have no , other intellectual life than talking and hearing gossip about each other. Whether it is altogether safe to gossip about the Court in Russia is a question which may have two sides to it. Por official people it is not safe, but, private society! is very free spoken. The social state of Russia much resembles that of France utider Louis//XVI, The Court had still a long arm;, but. could not well stretch it out. Latude was still rotting in the Bastille for a silly squib on a dead courtesan, and men and women are now freezing in Siberia for similar causes ; bht Beaumarchais.was at liberty, Voltaire's novels were ou every boudoir table, and a revolution was at hand. Formerly the Emperor, as might have been expected from one of his lethargic temperament, was averse from moving about ; latterly he has been troubled by a perpetual restlessness. He lives very plainly, and his table is sparingly served. A beef-steak for breakfast, a roast gelinotfce and salad for his dinner form the staple of his fare. His appetite is not robust, and ho sleeps badly. The first fault of his reign was the common blunder of heirs-apparent when they come into power. He had been much courted by the discontented, and he had made far too much haste to undo r all the work of • his father. He was emotional, pitiful, generous, all in aheadlong, precipit ite way. When he resolved suddenly to abolish serfdom,, several of his generals and nbblos threw themselves bodily at his feet, and besought him to manage so great a change very gingerly. It was of no use ; he gave everything he had to give, knocked down the great far-mers-general of taxes like so many ninepins, upset monopolies for the discreet sale of vodki, closed the free port of the Bfack Sea'according to the latest .principle of political economy, dashed off the shackles frnm the pres^/aad laughed at

i

comic newspapers. There was a caricature published in St. Petersburg shortly after his <aeces.S_on, whioh iifcprMeptefl him as a droschtyidriyer v , in .the state that droschky driye»rs, usually, af^e,, after dinner. . . Hii. ihat „ was, pulled '.' oyer . his f ejyesj, and his horses weregarioping.wildl^, on the road to " Reform." Behind mm, was the X-jrrand Djiike tiqnstantineij-s^.; ing :— '* Genj.iy, . brother. I^aui; , ( the. fare.'' Still the 3_}mperpr. laughed jhe laughed, too, when a piece, was, 'played; in , the Court . Theatre exposing the < cpr^ , jruptipn of his officials,, and a; very, fine 5 piece it was*, /£hen somebody? shot], at, ' Him, and shattered, his. nerves for ever;, He» fell into, a sort of panic, trying hastily , . to undo all he jtiad done. He had. new put on writers; ; he ordered some a.wful cruelties in Poland., He tried ..tor . Win back his sulky . nobles. It was r all ih vain ; aod nOw he _s thoroughly .flus- . tered and frightened right !f out of ; his, senses. His only chance pf peace and happiness would be Abdication and a ; year's yachting, without, newspapers, r At.present he. is ; worried intOs a.„feyer <<, every morning by. a summary of,^ll the ,r ; unpleasant things f. which;, ha^e, beertj • printed, about- him for; the,;, last, twefltyh ii four hours throughout; Europe*,, 1t ..!%;; prepared by a special precis writer -ap-, : . pointed for the purpose, and his 'Majesty; takescare that,it; f shalL.ispate hipa no,-, . jjangi qf . this sel&infliciiodj . tor tur^ : /for t ( he will not;trust ; a profession,al diplomatist to ; do it, legvt >_\e.BhOUld. glQS&.oy^r .[._ the truth and; i endeafvoup to, make, things yAi pleasantfol. promotion's. sake. v A/fear ono ; ]kerder> ar connection >M ..Stieglsfe> vtHeh. bankerj not long ago ..petfoftmed thfa ,*r •■ delicate, service,, .and ;.petthaps> ','doeeJ \ doui still. The> Kingi of.Y.vetotrwasai happy i v monarch t tke.Emperoi?iofrßusq_%_S(n§t».'j • Surely times; must <be) atnmgeljy aitefcedii •.)