Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-08-24
The Emperor and the Comedian.
AN HISTORICAL ASTCDQTE

VACANT and startling exhibition OF power, but
the Russian despots, perhaps, more frequently
than others have been in the habit Of blending
dramatic contrivances both with vengeance and
playfuness
The emperor Paul was strange, halEnnd
parsonage lie honorcd with his favor many
humble persons, and among the number, one
Frogere, French player, who had the honor
of occasionally dining at the imperial table,
where sometimes his sallies were held to be
brilliant One day a compliment was paid to
the emperor which went to eXalt him above his
ancestor Peter the Great The emperor aflcc.
ted modesty, but at the same time attempted a
witticism, rcmarkng that so to llatter him was
"robbng Peter 10 pay Paul = and appealed to
Frogere if that were fair The player, for the
sake of joke rather than the truth, instantly
admitted that it was not, "as there was no pro-
liability that ever nny one would be able to rob
Paul to pay Peter" This did not please :;
there was too much sarcastic truth in 1t to pass
current in that society. Every one looked
blank the party broke up before the gloom had
passed away, and Frogcre, much Disconnected
retreated to his bed, and tried to forget the mis-.
hap in sleep That night his chamber was alb
ruptly entered by an officer and four armed
men, and the empcror's warrant tor his arrest
was produced. 1t was announced that he was
| banishcd to Siberia, aud must forthwith COM
mence his sad journey. He was merely allow
| ed time to procure himself with change of
! clothes, when he was forced into a carriage,
which, strongly guarded, moved forward, two
soldiers with pistols aud drawn sword being
! his companions in the vehicle. They advanced
briskly during the night, and when day return
ed the actor was blindlolded.
a stop was at length made he was reno.
we'd from the coach, and the bandage being la
ken from his eyes he found himselfin a wretch,
ed hovel. Coarse food was set before him
while an officer with whom he had formerly
ding silence.
FrogeIe was too much afflicted to eat
"What have | DONE" he exclaimed, "to meri,
this severity !"
Need you be told - inquired the officer
"have you forgotten the mad insult you ventu
red TO offer the Emperor Of all the Russlas a
his own table So outrageous 4 sarcasm hI;
imperial ma iesty could not forgive"
"Heaven is my witness" said Forgere, 81
meant no offence Can you not make thi,
known cannot you ntcrccde for me -
"Impossibc all can do is to take care q
your property at Moscow. Any other commits
sion that you may give me will faithfully cX
ecu,e."
"And urn | to be banshed for life! ~
mo; the kindness Of the emperor for yet
torbIds him to 60 80 far; You are only to remain
in Siberia thirty years -
Thirty years !" Frogere exclaimed Will
horror In that mournful hour the vast differ
ence between Punishment for life and "only to
thirty years was hardly appreciated,
The officer took his leave Frogcte was a
gain blinded and the carriage pursued III
ioumey. At intervals it stopped, a scanry inca
was set before the prisoner How long they
had been travelling he could not tell, bat h,
concluded they had reached the confines, wheG
blinded with more care than ever, he found the
upper part of his dress loosened, his arms pinlon
ed and in this situation he was placed on
seat. lie heard the Iarrlng sound Of muskets
and the military word OF command, and recon
mended his soul to heaven. Another move
ment was made, which told him the fatal mo
ment MAS at hand when the bandsge fell from
his eyes, and he found himself IN the same place
which he had illed when he hazarded that joe
ular remark which had caused hun 10 cXPercnc,
So much aflction. The emperor presided, an,
all present laughed delighted with the mperi
al prank, for such it MAS, which had driven III,
object of It hilfa dozen miles round the prlac,
under the circumstances described, --sume four
und-twenty hours For poor Frogere the change
was too violent; he tainted IN tire moment whei
his safety was announced, and did not lmmcdI
ately revive to receive the congratulations O
those courlies who could admire such fearful
experiment on the actors feelings as had beer
made by the then potent despot, the miserable
| emperor Paul,
Another stIl more remarkable scene va
D shortly afterwards got up in the same place
The emperor Ioyou,ly suPped with the perlor
Q mer and a select company. When the enter
9 tainment ended, Frogere and those who renal
a ned to the last Withdrew to the chambers i
the palace. An alarm was suddenly giver
I all arose, and sought the emperor's apartment