Show T loom WL N CZAR A AL alk A A aia lom 00 or go R or alk tin UME C 12 W q S k 4 k T n mk aw 12 1 2 A 70 by SERGE N FF MR editor of rossla rosala Ros sla jm A EW americans have had bad tho the Y to speak peak with the czar ex ei V capt diplomatists and mr melville Melv llla stone manager of the associated press pres but many would like to W r knois something about him aside of two sounds like a modern business mans the czar and his hl family like the opera I 1 from political gossip and slander dander complaint barly russian but they also like wagner they ne he live in a cage surrounded by elderly titled gentlemen of the court inaccessible to the people I 1 have been asked 1 I will answer this by giving a few established facts to tell the entire story of his life would bo be to tell bell the russian history of the last twenty one years three weeks after his accession to the throne november 14 1894 he married Princ princess esp allx alix of hessen bister of the grand duchess elisaveta Ell saveta Feodor ovna wife of his uncle grand duke bergli Alex androvich the czar rises at seven and before nine he has finished his modest breakfast and begun his dally daily work he reads the newspapers telegrams and other information presented to him and makes a note of all interesting matter the time from ten to eleven Is assigned to walking but nearly always from ten to halt half past ten he receives the reports of the officials of his household or gives special audiences to dignitaries or men who interest him and only during the time until eleven does he be walk alone or with his son accompanied by two scotch hounds at eleven he returns to the palace and tests the food of his infantry regiment or of his bodyguard A sample of the soldiers food in a locked Is brought to him by the chief noncommissioned officer of the regiment after the test of the food the reports of the ministers begin lasting until luncheon 4 A days activities the luncheon Is informal there he meets his family for the first time in the day sometimes the officers of the suite on duty that day are invited after luncheon the emperor receives officials and deputies and from four to five he walks drives rides on a bicycle or canoes and goes boating with his son or with his daughters and the empress from froin six to eight he works again in his study from eight to halt past nine he be dines with his family and from that time to twelve or halt half past he works again he n never C vr rests rest during the day yet keeps cheerful and unwearied sometimes when he be finishes his task earlier than usual he reada to the empress at her evening tea before going to bed it he e prays the nie czar works about ten or twelve hours a day of which he spends no fewer than four hours alone lie he sleeps not more than seven hours and only about six hours are given to meals and relaxation with his bis family on the eve of holy days the czar goes to the evening church services at halt half past seven and on holy days he goes to mass at eleven the rest of 0 the time on holy days he works as on week days every evening at home or abroad the emperor writes his impressions in his dairy possessing an excellent memory and a a clear method of thinking the czar writes in a clear hand quickly und and without erasures era his thoughts are expressed simply and briefly he does not like long phrases and foreign words he always writes his orders even to the nearest officers on the block notes with pen and ink nit the emperor does not like to speak by telephone and I 1 there is none in his study ono one la is placed in the room of his servant sometimes he be directs his ald aid de camp or his secretary to transmit his orders verbally or by telephone the persons concerned are notified in advance in the event that there should be any change in the tims tima set for audiences or tor for receiving reports the tables and settees in iii the emperors study are covered with state papers but they do pot lie there long questions quest lons are decided and carric cabied dout out at once the emperor always knows where the the required papers are he puts the reports after he has read them in envelopes and seals he reads easily all handwritings even the most difficult italics of the seventeenth century the private charity of the emperor la Is extensive he gives alves not only by hundreds but by thousands and ten thousands of rubles the difficult work of the government the czar aloes does alone he hits has no private secretaries he has some help from the officials of his household and d the officers of his suite officers of tho the field chancellery decipher and cipher telegrams and mako make drafts of letters but he be said once quite truly 1 I am doing three mens work 1 1 wish everyone knew how bow to io do the work at least tho the children of the czar rise as early as their father but spend their mornings in the upper apartments of the palace and generally meet him for the first time at lurcie on but the emperor sends them to bed kissa kisses them good night and blesses them with the sign of the cross before and after meals ho he and his family make the sign of the cross and the children thank their parents after meals five tea Is served also in private during meals service talk is not allowed then reign jokes and merry tales after dinner the emperor likes to read aloud russian classics chiefly the work ot of the humorists he Is fond of gogol and of the works of gorbunov a famous actor writer of humorous stories whose books the father of the emperor alexander III also enjoyed he Is a student of russian history and an admirer of the father of peter the great the most gentle czar ciar alexel Mikhal lovitch his motto Is A state ie fe strong and powerful only when it worships the covenants of the past he Is president of the russian historical society organized by emperor alexander III the children adore their father and obey him absolutely he plays playa with them gives them simple ale toys and comforts them during illness his love foghis for his son Is boundless he not only walks with him but he takes him to military gho shows ws builds sand and snow fortresses with him digs ditches cuts wood breaks ice does carpenter work arranges boating parties the emperor Is a good sportsman he Is a great walker rider and bicycler plays tennis and ninepins and Is a good oarsman swimmer diver and shot at family dinners the czar prefers russian cooking he likes cold boiled suckling pig beet soups gruels and pancakes and drinks the russian malt drink kvas the old recipe for which was taken from the monastery of the champagne served in the palace to Is always russian the period of lent Is strictly observed during the first fourth and seventh weeks and on wednesdays and fridays of other weeks lent lasts seven weeks even fish is excluded from imperial meals only vegetables are served during his holidays in crimea or in the finnish archipelago the czar enjoys walks of from ten to fifteen miles visits farms with his children and picks mushrooms and berries he is so tireless that only two officers of his suite komaroff and Drent eln could accompany him in his mountaineering tai in crimea the imperial family takes part in the joys and sorrows of their servants the female servants leave the palace only in case of death or marriage in the latter case they receive the right to visit their masters As examples of the most devoted servants may be mentioned the servant of the empress kondratieff Kond the attendant of the heir apparent the sailor derevenko and the nurse of the imperial children maria for them and for the soldiers and officers of the regiments that bear their names the imperial family arrange a brilliant christmas tree on easter the czar kisses three times each of his servants who congratulate him upon this great holy baythe day the empress giving her hant hand to be kissed duriac the first three days of the easter holidays the czar has to kiss more than persons and present each one with a small easter egg of gold silver or ural stones the czars azars hunting Is in charge of a special administrator m ni of the imperial hunts this being part of the ministry of the court the grounds are in fit spain province of of at sy near warsaw and in near brest Litov litovsky sk there are private hunts when the emperor goes alone or with a few intimate friends and great hunts with a large number of hunters patterned after an old elaborated ceremonial with brickers pr ickers beaters hounds hunting horns borns torches and bonfires he shoots deer bears hares pheasants and in the emperor emperors orl Is 8 ver vcr cautious strictly observing the jules rules and n never e var allows him himself self debot shot which might uri hurt the beaters he Is an excellent shot and his bag la Is always filled once near nyborg finland he be killed a fox the finnish law favi rewards a hunter huder with five marks 1 51 I as a premium for each carnivorous animal killed the czar received the premium and issued a receipt for five marks this receipt Is kept ir in the nyborg citadel prefer the ballet and comedies to other dramatic performances likes to play dominoes dominges Dom inoes only intimate friends are invited to the infrequent evening parties in the palace the emperor never plays cards but plays dominoes dominges dom inoes som times and likes billiards the daughters of the czar like dancing but northey now they have become helpful nurses in the hospitals and take care or 0 wounded soldiers the czar likes the bala balalaika lafka orchestra cossack choirs and dances once after seeing a vivid and animated dance of the cossacks the czar said thanking the soldier dancers the blood runs quicker it seems as though one could smash everything looking at them the czar has a strong belief in the heavenly origin of his power when saying in his manifesto cf june 3 1907 the lord god has in trusted us with the czars azars power oyer over our people and before his throne we will give an answer for the fate of our empire he expressed his conviction on the religious origin of the russian monarchy he las as church services old eld rites old church hymns when meeting priests he kisses their hands bands and they kiss his he confesses his sins and receives sacrament twice during the great lent before easter and a third time before the anniversary of his ascension to the throne the czar is a good soldier in crimea once he put on all the equipment of a soldier of the sixteenth regiment of sharpshooter sharp and took a long walk with rifle and knapsack for the purpose or of trying out the soldiers outfit he ordered that he be enlisted in the rolls of the first squad of this regiment and received a certificate in the name of soldier nicholes romanoff the life of the russian army and navy and the well vell being of the russian soldiers and sailors are objects of his strenuous concern he chose a simple sailor boatswain derevenko a peasant of the Vol hynia province to be the attendant 0 his son the union of the czar with his sold soldiers irs and peasants is his purpose pui pose to have a legal way of hearing the voice of the people the czar established the state duma or house of representatives in his speech from the throne may 10 1904 at the opening of the first duma he said to the representatives of his people summoned 1 tho the st georges salle of the winter palace tue tiie solicitude tor for the well w ell bc being ing of the fatherland in trusted tome to me by providence induced me to convene the ejects of the people for help aud and legislative work with ardent faith in the he bright fugue of russia I 1 welcome in your persons the best men whon I 1 have ordered my beloved subjects to elect difficult and complicated work is before you I 1 believe that the love tor for your country and the fervent desire to serve it will rouse and unite unite you As tor for myself I 1 will defend the unshakable institutions granted by me in strong belief that you will give all your strength and self belt denying service to your country in ascertaining the needs of the pla peasants jr so close to my heart in educating the people and developing their well being remembering that for the spiritual greatness and prosperity of the state not only freedom but order based on right is necessary may my ardent desire to see my people happy and to transmit to my son in inheritance a state strong well organized and civilized be fulfilled P may god bless the work before me in union with the state council and the stati stat duma and may this day be marked as a day of renovation of the moral countenance of the russian land as the day of the revival of her best forces begin with reverence the work which I 1 have In trusted to you and justify the confidence of the czar and the people may god help you and empl mr in october the czar and the visited the trenches oft on the ba southwestern uth western front and the czar was many times under the artillery fire of the enemy As this bravery by the tenure of article 7 of the statute bi of the military order or of st george entitles entities an officer to a cross of st george of the fourth class the council of knights of st george georgeot of ot the southwestern armies ie resolved solved to ask the emperor to a accept clep athis this cross the commander mander er in chief of the tha southwestern armies also asked permission to confer upon the czarev iteli a silver medal with a si georges ribbon for bravery in h having visited edthe the wounded at the sih station clevan in the sphere of the ar artillery tiller fire |