Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-02-24
Court Gossip.

ohu may pidCc III III your Ild0OS DIT future CAV.
Court Gossip.
A certain Monsieur de was the most
expert naGitre de ddnse in the Russian Capital.
In dress and demeanour he was the most ex
qulsite of beings. His coat was more recherche
his linen whittier, his trousers natter his era
vat glossier, and his French leather boots more
brilliantly bright than the coat, cravat boots or
breeches of any man in st. Petersburg. In full
dress he was mortal miracle. Now. il hap
pens, that passengers on the streets of the Cap
tain are not only obliged to remain in them, as
relatedn the anecdote published in the last
number of THE HOME JOURNAL, but if they
are riding or driving, they must descend from
their horses or vehicles, and remain stan ding,
on the pavement, until the Imperial cortege has
passed.
One day Monsieur de V-was driving
along in his carriage, in full costume, when the
coach of the Sovereign hove in sight in the dis
lance. The day was wet, drizzly, dirty, and
the streets were covered with mud. This was
indeed, dlsagreeable position for our dancing
master: but there was no escape. The law
was imperative and his coachman stopped. In
due time the royal vehicle approached, and,
thinking that it would be permitted comprom-
Use, )de V-descended to the lotcest step of
of his coach, where he stood, hat in hand, and
saving his soles from the contamination of the
pavement. Sed cana spes As the Elnperor's
carriage came near him, it moved slower and
slower: and when it arrived directly opposite, it
stopped entirely
The Frenchman's heart palpitated anxiously
and indeed. futtered not little when he percei-
we'd the Emperor head thrust out of the win
dow conversing with an aid-de.camp who had
spurred.up to the coach when it halted. Pres
emily the eyes of the takers were turned to the
miserable dandy; and, at last the aid-de-camp
wheeled his horse directly towards him.
81 believe have the pleasure to address Mon
sleur de V-F' said the officer very courte-
ously-"and, if am not deceived in nv sur
mise as to your name-his Highness the En-
peror, desires the favor of moments CONVEX
sation with you -
The request ola Sovereign is always an or
der; and good manners, as well as good law,
Permitted no resistance; so, with shudder and
sigh, the polished pump of the luckIess dan
Ger sank into the oozing mud of st. Peters
bnrgh! Picking his way like a spider over
hot gridiron, de V-soon stood at the
window of the carriage, and bowed, in silence
to the dutrOcat.
'Aba aha Monsieur de v exclam
ed Nicholas, "Je suis eharme de Uous roir!
am delighted to see you. | have longed to meet
you! Let me repeat it, sir, | am enchanted to
behold you, and the more so because | am told
you are the most accomplished professor of
your beautiful art that has ever visited my
capital. Oh ! don't bow, sir, and deny it; I'm
sure that report hasn't done you half the JUS
tce you deserve. Parbieu! when | saw you
just now, the oldest fancy in the world, do you
know, seized me. I'm dying to see you dance |!
cot nd I
mon cher de -, that can't lose an in
stant The day is bad it is true, and the street
is not over clean; vet, what are such obstacles
to a man of your musclel De VI must
have an extempolaneous polka before | bulge
from this spot p
You may imagine the dismay of the dancing
master when he heard the irresistible request
and met the cold,mocking eyeof the Emperor.
"Your ImperialHighness will pardon mc-but
| would suggest that the exhibition would be
more gratifying in the palace, where will"
''Oh, no matter, sir, for the palace:" inter-
rupted Nicholas-'the more dirt the more diff
Guilty, and the more difficulty the more skill"
"But have no music sire ~
"Come siren dUdnt, or IshaH cali a gems d
armes for a fiddler f'
at is quite needless p groaned the dancing
master, as he put himself in position and
squared away for the dance.
Mighty, that day-mighty was the astonish-
ment of the mud of st. Petersburg,--if mud ever
gets astonlshed, as it is said by l.. e. l.. TO get
into singh spirits when it becomes dust on
windy day." Hopping skipping bounding,jump-
ing leaping-like that of the unfortunate de
V-never was perpetrated before or since
on any highway of Europe or America. The
Emperor looked on with decorous gravity, APP
plauding each excelling pas, and becoming
rapturous over the grace and agility ofthe I'M
willing exhibitor. At last the strength of the
master failed, but not until he was thoroughly
despatched.
s.Do not fatigue yourself, mon cher, to crafty
me any nore," said the Emperor when de y.
stopped. "Let me thank you thousand times
for your kindness and permit me to hope that
you hare not soiied your pumps r.
nFWhat numbers are those that,when add
ed make %, and when you halve the one, and
double the other, their sum will be equal,