HUMAN SIDE OF THE CZAR.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1, 2 June 1910, Page 2

HUMAN SIDE OF THE CZAR.

By One Who Has Often Met Him. The first impression of the Emperor of Russia is of the gentleness and simplicity of his character. He is very kind and very slight, and his eyes, face, and voice express a disposition that is unusually winning. In his delicate appearance and the quiet dignity of his bearing, however, there is no suggestion of any lack of physical or moral strength. Perhaps there could hardly be a question of physical bravery in any Royal case since personal fearlessness is a part of Royal training, if not inherent in Royal blood. But no one could see the Emperor of Russia without realising the spiritual force in his gaze and detecting a note of moral courage in his voice. To all* who come near him he appears fully aware of the weight of his destiny, and to be hearing the awful burden with cheerful serenity, always looking at his great danger, and without wavering. In meeting with strangers the Czar is, wherever and whenever possible, kindly and solicitous and entirely fiee from aifectation in the consciousness of his ! position. In this the Czarina resembles him, and also in a preference for the English language. Indeed, English is spoken exclusively by the Imperial Family in its home circle. This would not be singular where the Empress herself was concerned, since she is virtually an Englisli-woman, and has spent years in England ; but the Grand Duchess Helene,, the daughter of the Grand Duke Vladimir, and since become the Princess Nicholas of Greece, has frequently said that she could not remember ever speaking anything blit English to her father. This exclusive use of English in their private life may account for the fact that among themselves they always say “Emperor” and “ Empress” instead of “Czar” and '“Czarina.” At all events, no member of the Royal Family uses the Russian titles.

Music is the Czar’s favourite recreation, and he is himself a compossr of no mean merit. He plays the violin well, and is very fond of an instrument called the balalaika, which is a kind of a guitar with only three strings. He often sings to this instrument, for he possesses a tenor voice of excellent quality. He is more than a little proud of his vocal powers, and, once, after entertaining his domestic circle with some folk songs, he laughingly exclaimed : “Well, my children, my enemies say harsh things of me, and accuse me of being destitute of many capacities, but I defy them to say that I cannot sing as well as the best of them !”

The Czarina is also very musical, and* a ‘Celebrated violinist once said of her that if she were in another sphere of life, and became a professional,, she would win great fame. The Empress, however, is quite unusually artistic, and even in sitting for her picture betrays a depth of artistic feeling which invariably captivates her painter. Once when asked if the strain of a particular pose were not tiring, she replied, “Anything worth doing at all is worth doing well.” The Empress is a careful, loving mother, and personally supervises the education of her four little girls and the sturdy, romping Czarevitch Alexis Nicholaievitch, horn at Peterhof on the 30th Judy, 1904, is the pet of the Imperial household and the joy of his parents’ hearts. This bonni'e boy, destined ruler of a mighty Empire, is already Hetman o? the Cossacks, Knight of St. Andrew, Colonel of the famous corps of Guards and many other regiments. At present his responsibilities weigh lightly on him, but, although not subjected to tire iron discipline meted out to his great-great-grand-father, Nicholas 1., he is expected to rise with his comrades, Velgoruski and Patcul, every morning at six o'clock, and to commence his studies at seven.

There is ever a strong aristocratic Slavophile party at the Russian Court which deplores the “English influence” of the Czarina, and it is rumoured that she has incurred unpopularity in very high quarters by endeavouring to suppress gambling and smoking among Russian ladies. Keeping the high ideals of her noble mother ever before her, the Empress strives to give a high moral tone to a brilliant Court, which, under the Czar Alexander 11. (her husband’s grandfather), was the most luxurious

and extravagant in Europe. Among other social reforms, the Empress has made great efforts to establish hospitals on Western lines, with adequate and efficient, medical attendants, in the chief towns of Russia.

The Czar is quite up-to-date in his liking for golf, though he does not devote much time to the “royal and ancient game.” In the park of the Winter Palace there is a links, and Nicholas II is sometimes to be seen there enjoying himself immensely. The “Autocrat of All the Russias

has always taken an interest in agricultural matters, and another hobby of his is farming. Home photographs were taken some time ago showing an engineer giving the Czar instructions in the use of a newly-invented plough. In one of these pictures Nicholas 11. was himself guiding the plough as it turned up the farrows. The Czar is by no means what can be called deeply read, but be takes great delight in literature of the lighter kind, and he is credited with the remark, "Were I not —well, what I am —I should be the greatest bookworm in the world.” One of his most curious hobbies —and yet perhaps not curious when one considers his cxtriinely nervous temperament — is the study of occultism, .while anong cth rs may be mentioned yachting, philately, and collecting birds' ecas Manv of t.he latter

were collected by himself in hiaTi younger days, and at one time h6j>, was a most daring and expert climber of trees. Nicholas 11. is also fond of cards, and frequently plays a game in the evenings. His Majesty is a great smoker, and com-" tinually seeks repose from his trou-1 hies in the soothing weed. Directly t, after breakfast he lights a cigar, and continues smoking whenever he has a moment to spare.—“ Tit Bits.’ 1 *