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of his accountability to the Almighty。 But more and more it
became evident that his political and religious theories were
narrow； and that the assassination of his father had thrown him
back into the hands of reactionists。 At court and elsewhere I
often found myself looking at him and expressing my thoughts
inwardly much as follows： 〃You are honest； true…hearted； with a
deep sense of duty； but what a world of harm you are destined to
do！ With your immense physical frame and giant strength； you will
last fifty years longer； you will try by main force to hold back
the whole tide of Russian thought； and after you will come the
deluge。〃 There was nothing to indicate the fact that he was just
at the close of his life。
At a later period I was presented to the heir to the throne； now
the Emperor Nicholas II。 He seemed a kindly young man； but one of
his remarks amazed and disappointed me。 During the previous year
the famine； which had become chronic in large parts of Russia；
had taken an acute form； and in its train had come typhus and
cholera。 It was； in fact； the same wide…spread and deadly
combination of starvation and disease which similar causes
produced so often in Western…Europe during the middle ages。 From
the United States had come large contributions of money and
grain； and as； during the year after my arrival； there had been a
recurrence of the famine； about forty thousand rubles more had
been sent me from Philadelphia for distribution。 I therefore
spoke on the general subject to him； referring to the fact that
he was president of the Imperial Relief Commission。 He answered
that since the crops of the last year there was no longer any
suffering； that there was no famine worthy of mention； and that
he was no longer giving attention to the subject。 This was said
in an offhand； easy…going way which appalled me。 The simple fact
was that the famine； though not so wide…spread； was more trying
than during the year before； for it found the peasant population
in Finland and in the central districts of the empire even less
prepared to meet it。 They had； during the previous winter； very
generally eaten their draught…animals and burned everything not
absolutely necessary for their own shelter； from Finland
specimens of bread made largely of ferns had been brought me
which it would seem a shame to give to horses or cattle； and yet
his imperial highness the heir to the throne evidently knew
nothing of all this。
In explanation； I was afterward told by a person who had known
him intimately from his childhood； that； though courteous； his
main characteristic was an absolute indifference to most persons
and things about him； and that he never showed a spark of
ambition of any sort。 This was confirmed by what I afterward saw
of him at court。 He seemed to stand about listlessly； speaking in
a good…natured way to this or that person when it was easier than
not to do so； but； on the whole； indifferent to all which went on
about him。
After his accession to the throne； one of the best judges in
Europe； who had many opportunities to observe him closely； said
to me； 〃He knows nothing of his empire or of his people； he never
goes out of his house； if he can help it。〃 This explains in some
degree the insufficiency of his programme for the Peace
Conference at The Hague and for the Japanese War； which； as I
revise these lines； is bringing fearful disaster and disgrace
upon Russia。
The representative of a foreign power in any European capital
must be presented to the principal members of the reigning
family； and so I paid my respects to the grand dukes and
duchesses。 The first and most interesting of these to me was the
old Grand Duke Michaelthe last surviving son of the first
Nicholas。 He was generally； and doubtless rightly； regarded as；
next to his elder brother； Alexander II； the flower of the flock；
and his reputation was evidently much enhanced by comparison with
his brother next above him in age； the Grand Duke Nicholas。 It
was generally charged that the conduct of the latter during the
Turkish campaign was not only unpatriotic； but inhuman。 An army
officer once speaking to me regarding the suffering of his
soldiers at that time for want of shoes； I asked him where the
shoes were； and he answered： 〃In the pockets of the Grand Duke
Nicholas。〃
Michael was evidently different from his brothernot haughty and
careless toward all other created beings； but kindly； and with a
strong sense of duty。 One thing touched me。 I said to him that
the last time I had seen him was when he reached St。 Petersburg
from the seat of the Crimean War in the spring of 1855； and drove
from the railway to the palace in company with his brother
Nicholas。 Instantly the tears came into his eyes and flowed down
his cheeks。 He answered： 〃Yes； that was sad indeed。 My
father〃meaning the first Emperor Nicholas〃telegraphed us that
our mother was in very poor health； longed to see us； and
insisted on our coming to her bedside。 On our way home we learned
of his death。〃
Of the younger generation of grand dukes；the brothers of
Alexander III；the greatest impression was made upon me by
Vladimir。 He was apparently the strongest of all the sons of
Alexander II； being of the great Romanoff breedbig； strong；
muscular； like his brother the Emperor。 He chatted pleasantly；
and I remember that he referred to Mr。 James Gordon Bennettwhom
he had met on a yachting cruiseas 〃my friend。〃
Another of these big Romanoff grand dukes was Alexis； the grand
admiral。 He referred to his recollections of the United States
with apparent pleasure； in spite of the wretched Catacazy
imbroglio which hindered President Grant from showing him any
hospitality at the White House； and which so vexed his father the
Emperor Alexander II。
The ladies of the imperial family were very agreeable。 A remark
of one of thema beautiful and cultivated woman； born a princess
of one of the Saxon duchiessurprised me； for； when I happened
to mention Dresden； she told me that her great desire had been to
visit that capital of her own country； but that she had never
been able to do so。 She spoke of German literature； and as I
mentioned receiving a letter the day before from Professor Georg
Ebers； the historical novelist； she said： 〃You are happy indeed
that you can meet such people； how I should like to know Ebers！〃
Such are the limitations of royalty。
Meantime； I made visits to my colleagues of the diplomatic corps；
and found t