THE CZAR. His Personal and Family Traits.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 196, 26 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CZAR. His Personal and Family Traits.

Amid the myatery c unrounding the Czar and hi* present mental condition, a short sketch of hie appeurance in his own family circle will he of interest to our readers. From a letter from Sfc. Petersburg to the London " World," we learn that the Czar ia an athlete in appearance — tall, broad-shouldered, and of considerable weierht. He was born on Mirch 10th, 1845, po is 41 years of ago. Of all the Danish Kings eoos-in la"? he ia the most popular in Denmark, wheie he has resided for weeks at hisfathei-in law's palace, content with the society of his wife and of her family, and with Huoh f-iinple amusements as the castle of Rosenberg could afford. As a youth be way much averse to study, und his father did not presß it on him, believing a vigorous constitution to be of more importance than erudition, but when the unexpected death of hia elder brother made it probable that he would some day bear tb© uceptre, ho look pains to fit htm3elf for his new rroepects. At Anichkbv Palace, in St. Peterpburg, the Emperor and the fair Empress Maria Fedorovna, better known as tho Princes Dagmar, and the aieter of tb9 Princess oi Wales, pass a quiet domestic life, devoted to each other and to their children. Their household contains many English ani Danish fervants. Even before spring returns '-hey arij )urn to Gatßhina, about seven miles distant ; but it ia a mistake to suppose that the long visits at Gatfhina are causerl only by fear of conapiracioa. St. Peiovnnurg is notoriously unhealthy, especially fjT children, though much has been done of late years to increase its salubrity ; and having lost one child, the Empress ia naturally anxious about the rest, and prefers to keep them with her in the country, particularly as the Czarowitz hae been extremely delicate ever since the catastrophe which placed hi* father on the throne, and when, like many an older perton, his nerves were thoroughly upset. Th • Empress is very popular, but complaints are sometimes made that the Empress spends too much on dresses from Parin instead of solely employing native talent in that particular; but perhaps it is unreasonable to expeot a pretty woman not to try and make herself look as well as possible, and she inoreases her likeness to the PrinceB3 of Wales by adhering to the same ety'e of costume.

There is a soft epot in every man's heart, and the same may be taid of hia head. A Maine minister was recently treed, by ft bear and kept there for an hour. He eaye he will never preach a long sermon again in hia life.