four in the morning
The Swedish governess was replaced by a young tutor from Switzerland , who was acquainted with all the niceties of gymnastics . Music was utterly forbidden , as an accomplishment unworthy of a man . Natural science , international law , and mathematics , as well as carpentry , which was selected in accordance with the advice of Jean Jacques Rousseau ; and heraldry , which was introduced for the maintenance of chivalrous ideas -- these were the subjects to which the future `` man '' had to give his attention . He had to get up at four in the morning and take a cold bath immediately , after which he had to run round a high pole at the end of a cord . He had one meal a day , consisting of one dish ; he rode on horseback , and he shot with a cross-bow . On every fitting occasion he had to exercise himself , in imitation of his father , in gaining strength of will ; and every evening he used to write , in a book reserved for that purpose , an account of how he had spent the day , and what were his ideas on the subject . Ivan Petrovich , on his side , wrote instructions for him in French , in which he styled him _ mon fils _ , and addressed him as _ vous _ .