DURING the winter of 1871-72 Duke Alexis of Russia visited the United States. The young Duke was the fourth son of Tsar Alexander and the highlight of his Grand Tour was to go on a buffalo hunt in Nebraska. The spectacular event had been organised by William ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody and the famous showman included a party of Indians and the flamboyant George Armstrong Custer, who was to die later at the battle of the Little Big Horn. During the exciting buffalo hunt, Alexis shot a magnificent bull and this was celebrated with much popping of champagne corks because it also happened to be the Duke’s 22nd birthday.
An interesting aspect of the Duke’s visit was that at some time he handled a Smith
