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Under the scorching sun, a luxurious train sped by. On either side of the road, the ripened grain seemed startled, bending and bowing, occasionally trembling.
In a sumptuous carriage on the special train, a young man dressed in ornate clothing focused intently on a newspaper, occasionally frowning.
The young man was none other than Alexandrovich (Alexander III), on an official visit abroad. He was full of hope for his trip to Paris and did not forget to gather information on the way.
He had grown tired of the data provided by the Tsarist Government, which he found to be excessively biased or politically correct.
In his view, to gain a preliminary understanding of France, it was sufficient to read the French economic and political newspapers. Alexandrovich was no expert scholar, and these basic materials were adequate for him.
The more he learned, the more he was moved. Through the news in the newspapers, he became aware of the vast gap between French-Russian relations.
