THE CZAR IN PRIVATE LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11229, 25 November 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CZAR IN PRIVATE LIFE.

So little is known of the private life and personal habits of Czar Nicholas of Russia that a volume on this subject, which has just been published in Germany, is bound to prove of unusual interest. The volume is entitled, " Czar Nicholas 11. and His Court," and the author is Bresnitz von Sydacow, Nicholas, we are told, is one of the most reserved monarchs that ever sat on a throne. He speaks seldom and briefly, and while lie is talking his eyes are generally fixed' on the ground. He rarely laughs, and does not often even smile. Of danger he lias no dread, resembling his fearless grandfather in this respect. " I will live and die for Russia ; how I die I care not," lie said a few days after his accession. The Czar's home is simple. He likes plain food at dinner, and lie seldom lias many guests at his table. He eats quickly, " like all men who are accustomed to work a good deal," and lie drinks very little wine. He drives about in a small two-horse carriage, and he wears a uniform almost always, for lie does not like civilian attire. Indeed, it is said that he had no frock-coat until lie visited Paris a few years ago, and that the court tailor, who was only accustomed to making his uniforms, was in despair, because he knew that his Imperial master would be obliged to wear civilian's attire in the Parisian ceremonies. Being a man of resource, however, he went hastily to Paris to study the latest fashion in men's dress, and he finally purchased a suit for 700 roubles. This suit the Czar wore during the festivities in Paris, and the story goes that he felt very uncomfortable in it. Nicholas is an unwearied worker. All documents submitted to him he reads carefully, and he frequently makes notes on them with a red pencil. His memory is wonderful, and it often happens that months after Tie has given an unimportant order lie will ask as to the manner in which it was carried out. Summer and winter he is the first to arise in the morning, and he is working hard while the others are still sleeping. • During the day the Czarina sits beside his desk, sewing or embroidering. Whenever a court official enters she prepares to leave the room, but the Czar invariably gays: "No, my dear, you won't disturb us," and with gentle insistence he lays his hand on her arm, and draws her back to her seat. Of his little daughters the Czar is wonderfully fond. When the first one was born instead of the expected heir, the Czarina, it is said, went to her husband with tears in her eyes, and begged him to forgive her for not having presented him with an heir. The Czar in reply kissed her tenderly, and said that he was very glad to have a daughter, When the Czar wants to shake off all cares, he plays with his . children, and it is on these occasions that he seems most happy. A firm believer in popular education is Nicholas. While he was heir-ap-parent he once said: "Russia has had a Czar who. was a liberator; it also needs •a Czar who will be an educator," and the people have not forgotten these words. Of the Czar's interest in popular education, there are many evidences. Hardly a day passes that the Russian papers do not contain articles about new schools, new libra-ries,-and the new educational societies.