A SEARCHING CROSS-EXAMINATION. 215 



No comment is necessary *in regard to the Czar. 

 Everybody who knows him personally agrees that he is 

 an amiable man and a model husband. 



In the post-offices and all public rooms of the prov- 

 inces of South Russia hangs a picture of the Czar. 

 One day we called in the post-office of Ekaterinoslav 

 to inquire for letters. No ikons were visible, so I did 

 not remove my hat, as I was accustomed to do, in 

 deference to the religious customs of the people, where 

 there were ikons. 



In a moment an official stepped up to me and de- 

 manded in an overbearing tone, " Please remove your 

 hat ! " 



" But there are no ikons in the room," I said, look- 

 ing around. 



"Ah, but there is an ikon," he returned. 



" Where is it, then? " 



" There it is; that's an ikon!" he half shouted, 

 officiously. And he pointed to a cJiromo of his most 

 amiable Majesty the Czar. 



Not caring to jeopardize the success of my ride to 

 the Crimea, I removed my hat. 



But one could not help wondering whether the Czar 

 knows how utterly ridiculous this attempt to deify his 

 chromos appears in the eyes of foreigners. 



