born 1850; Maria, born 1853; Sergius, 
1857, and Paul, 1800. 
Tbc Grand Duke Alexis, whose portrait, 
we present to our readers, finally reached 
New York harbor on Sunday, November 
19th, after a tempestuous voyage. During 
that day and Monday he remained on board 
his vessel, the Svetlana. On Tuesday the 
Committee of Reception, accompanied by 
the Russian Minister CataCazy, and several 
other distinguished personages, proceeded 
clown the bay, and tendered the Grand Duke 
a warm greeting. Major-Gen. Dix deliv¬ 
ered the address of welcome. The Duke 
replied in a neat speech, after which lie was 
a very hnndsomo gentleman. It is not im¬ 
probable that he derives bis good looks from 
his great-grandmother, Queen Louisa of 
Prussia, who was recognized as the most 
beautiful woman of her time, captivating 
the elder Napoleon with her charms. His 
grand father Nicholas was also a remark¬ 
ably line looking man. 
While the Duke Alexis has no immedi¬ 
ate prospect of reigning, and has hitherto 
been comparatively unknown outside of the 
royal circles, lie is still destined to bold im¬ 
portant positions; and we trust that bis 
visit to tbeUnitcd States will tend tostrength- 
en the bonds of friendship and sympathy 
striking in the ranks; transferred the trial 
of offenders from the police office to the 
courts of law; established district and provin¬ 
cial assemblies; granted religious freedom, 
and performed the crowning act of a noble 
life by emancipating twenty-two millions of 
slaves! For two hundred and sixty years 
Lhose serfs bad been indifferent to life and 
death. “ What were the first effects of 
emancipation in your presence," asked Hep- 
worth Dixon of a Russian lady. “Rather 
droll,” replied the Princess B. “In the 
morning the poor fellows could not believe 
their senses; in the afternoon they got tipsy; 
next day they wanted to be married.” 
NONE TO SPARE 
arimis (topics 
nv KATE WOODLAND. 
I DON'T l?0« llO'v BROWN BCt* Jllong. 
WUli each » family on his hand#," 
Quoth Fitrnior Jones; "how lm contrives, 
I* morn thun I cun understand. 
I've only two to feed and clothe 
And send to school. I do declare! 
What should Ido If I had nine?" 
Said neighbor Brown:-" We’ve none to spare.” 
I remember when we both were young. 
And used to tulle our prospect# o’er; 
Brown ulwuy# said he should bo rich, 
Havo house and lands, n coach and four. 
It doesn't look much llko It now, 
With nil those children’s wear and tear; 
We little know what wo can do." 
Suld neighbor Brown Wo've none to spare.” 
Time roiion along, and Farmer iikown 
C ontrived to keep his children nine, 
Though many begged, at different times. 
“ Oh, let flint child or that ho mine!” 
The first that came was Idleness: 
“ Oh, let these children bo mu care?" 
He said ; but farmer Brown whs wise; 
“ For such as uou we’ve none to spare." 
RUSSIA AND OUR ROYAL GUEST. 
The scenes attending the visit of Duke 
Alexis to our shores afford the most grati¬ 
fying assurances of the warm sympathy 
existing between the United States and Rus¬ 
sia. Never before were two countries, so 
far apart in distance, so near in friendship. 
Imperceptibly this feeling of amity has 
grown up between them, until they have 
come to he regarded as the warmest of 
allies. It is not a little strange that a friend¬ 
ship of such a character should, without 
any forcing, or unnatural process, have been 
established between two nations every way 
so diverse in their habits, customs, and gen¬ 
eral characteristics. We may, perhaps, 
attribute it to the affinity of opposites. One 
of our well known magazine writers re 
c.ently expressed the opinion, alter return¬ 
ing from Russia, that this mutual good feel¬ 
ing depended not a little upon the ignorance 
of the two nations as regards each other. 
He adds “ Everything Is so open here, and 
everything so secret there, that in their trav¬ 
els in the great Republic, they cannot be¬ 
lieve what they see; while we, in our wan¬ 
derings through the vast autocracy, cannot 
see what we believe.” While wc may ques¬ 
tion the justice of this criticism, we at 
the same time are compelled to admit that 
the knowledge of our people generally, con¬ 
cerning the Czar’s dominions, has been 
quite limited. Until within a short time 
comparatively few Americans scaled the 
barrier, which, like another Chinese wall, 
encircled Russia. It is, furthermore, only 
since tiie Crimean war, and (lie death of 
Nicholas, that the Japan-like Empire has 
opened into the Free Russia of the reigning 
Prince. 
To briefly describe the Home of Alexis, 
the Russiau Empire, comprises 7,770.882 
English square miles, being one-seventh of 
the territorial part of the globe, and about 
one twenty-sixth of the entire surface. The 
population is computed in round numbers at. 
87,000,000, divided as follows:—European 
Russia, 67,000,000; Caucasian Russia, 0,000,- 
000; Asiatic Russia, 0,000,000; Poland, 6,000,- 
000: Finland,2,500,000. Five hundred years 
before Christ the Greeks planted colonies 
along the shores of the Bosphorus. Then 
came Scythians, Goths, linns and Sclavoni- 
ans, who contended with one another for the 
possession of the land. Little more than 
this is known of the origin of Russia up till 
the middle of the Ninth Century, when these 
various war-like tribes, seeing how well the 
Normous prospered in other countries, dis¬ 
patched a powerful embassy to them in quest 
of a ruler. "Our country,” they said, “is 
grand and fertile, but under the reign of dis¬ 
order. Come and govern us and reign 
over us." 
Three brothers named Rurik, Lineous 
and Travor were despatched by tbe Nor¬ 
mans in response to this appeal, who agreed 
to co-operate and uphold one another. It 
was then Lliat. this region acquired the 
name of Russia from the Normim tribe 
who furnished the three sovereigns. Ul¬ 
timately the power of the three became 
vested in one, and he materially extended 
his possessions. Following him were Feudal 
Lords. Then came the Grand Princes of 
Kiev, Novgorod, Vlademer, Moscow, &c., 
who ruled independent of each other. 
Finally, in 1505, Basel Ivanov itch ob- ' 
tained the power and assumed the title of 
Samoclerzhels , or Autocrat. Forty years 
Jater his son, Ivan the Terrible, succeeded 
hliu and took the title of Czar, or Autocrat 
of all the Russias. Passing over the admin¬ 
istration of Peter the Great, the Empress 
Catherine, and other Intervening rulers, 
wo find Alexander Second, the present 
Czar, the wisest and best sovereign, Russia 
Inis ever had. When a mere youth he dis¬ 
played remarkable self-control, forbearance, 
firmness and other noble trails of character, 
which have since made his country so pros¬ 
perous and himself so famous.. When lie 
received the scepter from his dying father 
Nicholas, (1855,) “ his Em pi re," says Dixon, 
“ was a wreck. The Allies were upon his 
soil, his ports were closed, his ships were 
sunk, his armies were held at bay. Looking 
from the Neva to the Thames he could not 
see one friend on whom, in his trouble, he 
could call for help. The isolation was com¬ 
plete.” 
Instead, however, of being discouraged, 
lie went to work with a remarkable will and 
determination. Concluding a peace with 
his enemies, the Allies, which necessitated 
the loss of a small piece ot land in Bessara¬ 
bia, he reorganized the army ; freed tbe peo¬ 
ple for four years from military recruitment; 
relaxed the press censorship; prohibited es¬ 
pionage; established competitive examina¬ 
tions for the civil service; annulled the im¬ 
pediments which prevented Russians fr:nn 
visiiing oilier lands ; granted a general am¬ 
nesty lor political offenders ; recalled the ex¬ 
iles from Siberia; divorced education from 
the Court; put down flogging, beating and 
Fashion anil Pleasure cauio for them, 
And offered each a radiant dower; 
The gay saloon, the festive halt. 
The Joys that wait on beauty's bower. 
Intemperance, too, in pleasing form. 
And smiles that covered many n snare, 
Sought earnestly for one or two. 
Brown shook his head “ We’vo nono to spare 
And as the children toiled and grow, 
The actus grew and multiplied. 
Till people Mild " BnoWN’S getting rich, 
And brought his family up beside." 
Then Avarice Crept along, so sly. 
So silently, and unaware, 
Ito almost, won his claim ; but Brown 
W as warned In lime : We've nono to spare. 
Long years have passed, and Farmer Brown 
T o-day is Just three score and ton, 
And in Ills spacious home lie sits, 
And wolcouius each child Homo again, 
l’liera'# l*r. Brown, anil Lawyer Brown, 
And Elder Brown, with reverend air; 
And still to tend the broad domains 
Two noble sons arn yet to apare- 
HIs daughters, matronly und fair. 
With chosen partner*, too, have come, 
And children'# voices, half a score, 
Make music in ihe dear old homo; 
And Grandpa Brown !h hlltlio andgay, 
The merriest of the circle there, 
And Willi fall heart he blesses GOD 
That these are lit*, and “ none to spare/” 
Ij-amiiM.Mi 
Friend JONHS looked on with nnddoued heart 
" I used to pity Brown," lie said, 
Becuuso hi* family was so large: 
The pity's now for mo Instead. 
Since Jbnnv married ’gainst our will, 
And Tom uv I,rings us so much care, 
1 think If they're all good and true, 
A scn'ii would give us *' none to spare." 
Van Burcii Go., Mich.. 1871. 
toties 
PAULINE’S PUNISHMENT 
BY HERO 
“Tms is a pretty predicament to bo in 
after out' long, tiresome journey! What 
does uncle mean by serving us such a mis¬ 
erable trick V 1 suppose, though, it, is only 
what poor relations might expect. Howev¬ 
er, I will show them what their poor rela¬ 
tions are made of. Maggie, the np-traiu 
will be here in five minutes, and we will 
return by it to tbe city. Our dear relatives 
will learn that we are not. to be insulted with 
impunity.” 
Thus spoke Pauline Vernon; (her black 
eyes flushing all the haughty indignation 
her words ami tone expressed), as she stood 
on the platform of a country railway station 
with her cousin Maggie, while the train, 
from which they had just stepped, was mov¬ 
ing slowly away. 
“I think you are doing uncle and aunt in¬ 
justice, Pauline,” said her cousin. “ We 
both know their kindness too well to sus¬ 
pect them of willingly neglecting us; depend 
upon it, them is a good reason for uncle’s 
non-appearance, and I would not, for the 
world, wound him by returning to the city 
when wc are so near his home.” 
Pauline aud Maggie Vernon were or¬ 
phans, and descendants of a family who had 
prided themselves on their patrician blood; 
and when their mutual guardian died, ibis 
pride of family was the only legacy left to 
our two young ladies—one which they found 
to be very slightly appreciated by the world, 
especially as they hud no wealth to prop up 
their pretentious ; so, to Pauline’s intense 
disgust, they were obliged to leach for a 
maintenance; and, as she slyled it, “herd 
with common trash.” They had been in¬ 
vited by an uncle, to spend their vacation 
with him at his residence just on the out¬ 
skirts of a pleasant New Jersey village. At 
the station, in that village, they had Just ar¬ 
rived, and not finding their uncle there to 
receive them, accoding to promise, occa¬ 
sioned the above outburst of anger Ifom 
Pauline. 
The passengers, who had left the train 
with them, were all branching off in merry 
groups and carriage loads to their various 
destinations, and there was no one left be¬ 
hind to bear them company but a man in an 
ordinary farmer’s dress, who stood a little 
distance from them, Pauline’s eyes darted 
angry fires around her on perceiving their 
deserted condition. 
“ Come, Pauline,” said Maggie, “ let us 
inquire where uncle lives and go there im- 
THE GHR^AUXTID 
The whole legislative, executive and judi¬ 
cial power are united in Alexander, and 
his will is law. The administration of affairs 
is entrusted to four great boards or councils 
possessing separate functions, but centering 
in Urn “ Private Cabinet of the -Emperor.” 
The Empire itself is divided into general 
governments or vice-royalties, governments 
and districts. There are, at present, four¬ 
teen of the first, fifty-one of the second and 
about three hundred and twenty of the last. 
In addition there are extensive districts 
which, from the thinness of the population, 
are not organized into regular governments, 
and are called provinces or “ oblasts.” The 
established religion of the Empire is the 
Grcco-Russiau, officially called the Ortho- 
dox-Cutholic Fuith. The nominal strength 
ot tbe Russian army on tbe peace footing is 
812,096, and on the war footing 1,135,975. 
The Russian Navy consists of two great di¬ 
visions—the fleet of the Baltic and that of 
the Black Sea. The vast majority of the 
population are devoted to agricultural pur¬ 
suits. 
On the 28ll) of April, 1841, the Emperor 
Alexander married the daughter of the 
late Grand Duke Ludwig Second of Ilesse- 
Darmsladt, The first son from this union 
died at Nice a few years since of consump¬ 
tion. He was engaged to a Danish princess, 
Maria Dagman, sister of the present Prin¬ 
cess of Wales. The second son, Grand Duke 
Alexander, heir apparent, born March 10, 
1845, married this princess. The third son, 
Grand Duke Vladimir, was born April 22, 
1847. The remaining children are Alexis, 
DUKE ALEXIS -AJNTD HIS 
conducted to Ihc Battery, to witness the im- e: 
posing display arranged in honor of his Hi 
arrival. 
Every inch of standing room, every win- f it 
dow <m Broadway, were occupied by spec- pi 
tutors, and us the nation’s guest rode up the g ( 
thoroughfare at the head of thu procession, en 
lie was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from \ V 
every side. The Duke was conveyed to the es 
apartments provided for him at tiie Claren- t e 
don Hotel, aud on the following day pro- | )( 
needed to Washington, where lie likewise m 
received a cordial reception. er 
It was a grand gala day here in New York. ai 
Our population turned out almost en masse 
to do honor to the Czar’s son. At the same 
time there was an absence of that toadyism, 
that disposition to “go it blind on royal¬ 
ty,” which have on previous occasions u, 
made Americans appear ridiculous in their w 
own eyes aud the eyes of others. The dis- hi 
play was a spontaneous, hearty ovation to w< 
Alexander himself, testifying to our regard cr 
for his character and appreciation of Jus lie 
cordial friendship and sympathy for Ihe of 
United ,States, evinced on so many occasions, mi 
'I’be young Duke conducted himself nu 
throughout in a dignified manner, and made gh 
a very favorable impression on all who saw en 
him. There was u complete absence of re 
those mannerisms (to use a mild term) and tin 
snobbish tendencies which drew unfavorable no 
criticisms upon the Prince of Wales during sh 
his visit to tbe United States. Alexis looks in 
every inch a man. He is about six feet high, co 
has blue eyes, brown hair and light side at 
whiskers, aud is what the ladies would term an 
POISON SERPENT’S IN INDIA 
