Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1882 — The Czar Alexander’s Widow. [ARTICLE]

The Czar Alexander’s Widow.

The Princess Dolgorouki inspires much ipterest here. She was for some years the Government of Russia, and now that I have seen her 1 can fully understand that she liked to govern. Before Ihe Czar, her husband, was assasinated, she inclined a little to embonpoint. Since that event took place she has recovered tbe slenderness of 18. One is struck with her suaviiy, gentle decision, and graceful forms of expression. She is one of those women who would look the lady in a cotton dress and simple in brocade, Through her feet are small she wears a long dress, which does not, however, trail. A widow’s coif, un peu ala religieuse, well covers over the shorn head, for when the Czar was dead the Princess had, according to Russian custom, her hair cut off, although a place was not allowed for it in Alexander’s coffin. Her complexion is still fresh and of the texture of a petal, The present Czar has done nothing to deprive her of the fortune which his late father left her. She has a large retinue with her. The English governess goes out with her and tbe three children to the Bois. The Princess is used to being stared at, and beats with calmness being mobbed. I think it bad taste for her to let dolls, in as deep mourning as she is, be paraded by her daughters. It is not her present intention ever to go back to Russia. She is afraid the Nihilists, or a group of them, might lay hold of her son, and proclaim him national Emperor, in opposition to the German one. who fs now afraid to stir out of Gatschina. The boy resembles both Alexander 11. and Nicholas, but his eyes are not so staring as theirs were. He is neither plain nor handsome, but is remarkable. One sees that puzzling idea and reflections have been turned over in his young brain, and that he already has a painful consciousness of his false position. The girls are fresh, fair little things, and the youngest knows nothing more about the tragedy of March 13 than that it is the cause of her doll being in mourning. The whole party, dogs and all, are sumptuously lodged. One of the animals was the daily companion of the Czar in his walks, and" slept at the side of his bed. According to an exchange, $40,000 worth of chewing-gum is gatheredjn the State of Maine every year, "in Oxford County is a man who mr.kes it his business to collect spruce gum. Every year he buys from seven to nine tons. The gum is found chiefly iu the region about Umbagog Lake, and about the Rangely lakes. A number of men do nothing else in tbe winter season than collect gum. With snow shoes, ax,and a toboggan, on which the gun is packed, they spend days and nights in the woods. The clear, pure lumps of gum are sold in their native state, the best bringing $1 per pound. Gum not immediately merchantable is refined by a peculiar boxes are covered with spruce boughs,on which is placed the gum. Steam is introduced underneath. The gum is melted, is strained by the boughs, and then passed into warm water, where it is kept from hardening until the packer takes it out, draws it into sticks, and wraps it in tissue paper, where it is ready for market. The gum meets with a rerdy sale. There is not a village,to n, or city in Maine Where it is not in demand. One dealer last year sold $1,400 worth. In the large mill-cities gum has a free sale.