Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 116, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1913 — EARLY CZARS’ “HARD LIFS" [ARTICLE]

EARLY CZARS’ “HARD LIFS"

Russian Ruler at 4 A. M.—Feasting and Praying Took Up Much Time.

London. —Jean d’Auvergne contributes to The Bystander an article on the "Tercentenary of the Romanoff Dynasty," which contains a good deal of Information new to English readers. The Romanoffs hailed originally from Prussia, and first appeard in Moscow toward the end of the twelfth century. The beginning of the seventeenth century brought troubled days

to Moscow. John the Terrible, whose only rebuff in life was a refusal of marriage from the English Queen Elizabeth, had died, His son Feodor was murdered shortly afterward, ,and anarchy and clan rivalry were rife when young Michael Feodorovitch, the first Romanoff czar, was called from his home in Kostroma to preside over the destinies of the Russian people. From this advent to the throne dates the consolidation and Europeanization of the Russian empire.

A czar of the seventeenth century rose at four in the morning. He then was visited by the court priest, who blessed the monarch and brought in the image of the saint of the day. This he placed in a richly jeweled ikon, before which the czar prayed for a quarter of an houk With the sprinkling of the image and the monarch with holy water the private devotions were at an end. Before matins the ciar paid a visit to the czarina. After this he attended to his private business and heard the news of the day from his gentlemen in waiting. At nine the imperial family went to hear mass, which lasted for about two hours. Then followed more work until dinner, which was taken at two or three in the afternoon. The meal consisted of seventy or more dishes, all well salted and seasoned with garlic. After this substantial repast

the czar was accustomed to take a much needed rest, arid generally he slept for about three hours. Sometimes, however, he would forego his rest and go instead to the baths. The time between vespers and supper was spent with the czarina, when the imperial couple were amused by dancing girls or jugglers. On feast days there were bear fights—strenuous encounters between a well-baited bear and a spearman, in which (he man lost his life as often as the animal. In the event of a successful issue the spearman was rewarded by being taken to the royal cellar, where he was allowed to drink himself drunk. Supper and another visit from the priest brought a strenuous day’s feasting and praying to a close. I _ ~