Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-11-27
A YANKEE IN RUSSIA,

iHe IoiioWlng Is tne substance OF the story
as told dy Mr.. Dallas, at public dinner given
him at Philadelphia, on his return from Russia,
in 1898.
: One day lad, apparently about nineteen,
presented himself before our ambassador at St,
Petersburg. lie was a pure specimen of the
genus Yankee; with sleeves too short for his
bony arms, trowscrs half way up his knees,
and hands playing with coppcrs and ten-penny
nails in his pocket. lie introduced himself
by saying, I've just come out here to trade
with a few Yankee notions, and want to get
sight of the emperor
why do you wish to see HIN y
I've brought him n present, all the way
from Amerily. respect him considerable,
and want to get at him, to give it to him with
my own hands
Mr.. Dallas smiled, as he answered, 1T is
such common thing, my lad, to make crown
cd heads present, expecting something hand
some in return, that am afraid the emperor
will consider this only a Yankee trick What
have you brought =
| m uCOrl.
An acorn what under the sun induces
! you to bring the emperor of Russia an acorn =
why, Jest before | sailed, mother and |
went on to Washington to see about pension;
and when we was there, we thought we'd Jest
step over TO Mount Vernon. picked up this
acorn there; and thought To myself I'd
| bring it to the emperor. Thinks says !, he
must have heard considerable deal about Gen.
eral Washington, and expect he must admire
| our institutions. Sonow you see, I've brought
1t, and want to get at him.
My lad, 1t is not an easy matter for strang-
er to approach the emperor and am afraid
he wrll take no notice of your present You
had better keep it.
Il tell you want to have talk with him.
| expect can tell him a thing or two about
Amerky. guess he'd like mighty we'll 10
| hear about our railroads and our free schools,
and what big swell our steamer cut And
when he hears how well our people are get
ting on, may be it will put him 10 doing some
| thing.-The long and the short ont is, | shant
be easy until get a talk with the emperor
| and should like to see his wife and children
!want to see how such folks bring up a iaini-
w.
well sir, since you are so determined upon
it, will do what / can for yon but you must
expect to be Though it will be
| rather an unusual proceeding, ] would ad-
wise you to call on the vice-chancelor, and
state your wishes he may possibly assist you.'
We'll, that's all l want of YOU will call
again, and let you know how got on
In two or three days, he again appeared,
and said. Well I've seen the emperor, and
had talk with him. He's real gentleman,
can tell you. When give him the acorn,
he said he should set great store by it that
there was no character in ancient or modern
history he admired so much Us he did our
Washington he said he'd plant it in his
palace garden with his own hand and he did
lt-ior | see him with my own eyes. lie
wanted to ask me so much about our schools
and rail roads, aud one thing or another, that
lie invited me to come again, and see his
daughters for he said his wife could speak
better English than he could. So went a.
gain, yesterday and she's II fine, knowing
woman, tell you ; and his daughters aIc nice
gals
What did the empress say to you .
ph, she asked me sight o questions, Don't
you think, she thought We had no servants in
hmcr'&y l told her poor folks did their own
work. but rich folks had plenty of servants
Bat then, you don't CALL 'cm servants satd
she (; you call 'em nelp.' | guess, ma'am,
you've been reading Mrs. TrolloPl said l.
We had that book aboard our ship The en-
peror clapped his hands aud laughed as ifhed
kill himself You're right, sir,' said he, you're
right. We sent for an English copy, and she's
been reading it this very morning. Then ,,
told him all knew about our country, q ri ho
was mighty pleased. lie wanted to ,6now how
long | expected to stay in those parts. told
him I'd sold all the notions brought over, and
! guessed | should &C. back in the same ship
bid 'em good bye, all round, and went abou,
my business. Amt had glorious time
expect you did't calculate to see me run sucl
d rg!'
NO, indeod, did not, my lad. You may
well consider yourself lucky for its veri
uncommon thing Tor crowned heads TO trea
strangers with 80 much distinction.
few days after, he called again and said
aI 1 l,.n