Christianity and Patriotism
and, as the heir-apparent always is, commanding officer of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, he once went to visit the regiment in camp after dinner. As soon as his carriage appeared, the soldiers ran to meet him just as they were, in their shirts, and, so we are told, greeted their royal commander with such enthusiasm, that all ran racing after the carriage, and many of them crossed themselves as they looked at the Tsarevitch. All who saw this reception were touched by the naïve devotion and love of the Russian soldiers for the Tsar and his heir, and the unaffectedly religious and obviously unprepared enthusiasm which was expressed in the faces and movements of the soldiers, and especially in their making the sign of the cross. And yet it was all artificial and had been prepared in the following way.
After parade the day before, the Tsarevitch told the General of the Brigade that he would come next day.
"When may we expect your Imperial Highness?"
Probably in the evening, only please make no preparations."
As soon as the Tsarevitch had gone, the General of the Brigade called together the officers in command of the various companies, and gave orders that on the following day all the soldiers were to put on clean shirts, and as soon as they saw the Tsarevitch's carriage, for
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