Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-07-08
AP assage in the Life of 4
FRENCH FENCING-M MASTER.

FRENCH FENCING-MASTFR.
| In the year 1924, l arrived at ST
Petersburg, with the intention o
establi Bhing myself as a fencing -m as
ter in that capitol. Introductions
from disting gui8hed individuals in
Paris Enabled me to make ffienc
Of Cou Mt Alexis W.; and that young
nobleman was good enough to inter
est himself warmly in my SUCCESS
Not 0nttnt with procuring me sd "
efal pupils, hi mself included, be
urged me to petition the Emperol
for the aHpointm ent of fencing mas
ter to q regiment, and offered to give
me a lett er of recommendation to dn
aid-de-cal hp Of the Czarewitsch Con
stantine5 who was then at the Castle
of Streln$, near st. Petersburg.
IF his imperial highness,' added
the Counb | twill write a line in Your
favor at t be end of the petition, you
will have an excellent chance Of OBJ
aiming what you desire. Present
yourself boldly, fatter his military
pride, and try to gain his good word
by the f4nk and soldierly depor J.
ment which has done more for you,
with myself and others, than any
letters of recommendation
The m9rning after receiving this
advice, l hired a drosehk, and set
out for S4elna, taking with me a let
ter to General Rodna, aid-de-ca mp Of
the CzareFitsch; also my petit pn to
the Emperor, which had been drawn
up in du ; form. After driving a
co pple of hours along a good road,
be rdered On the left by country man
si9ns and parks, and onthe right by
plhins ext tendihg'to the Gulf Of Fin
land, / rel hched the convent of St.
Sergius, the saint most venerated in
Russia aft er ST. Alexander nj euski.
Ten minutes afterwards | arrived at
the castle, and, after some Parley
with the sentry, obtained admittance.
Spme Off Fers, who we're lou nging
about, informed me that the G eneral
WIS occupied with the CzareVits sch.
One of th em, however, took in my
letter, and desired me to wait in a
saloon viii 1ch looked out in mag
nifcent garden. The same officer
speedily returned, and usherd ID me
into the apartments of the Emperor s
brother. In one Of these, | discov-
cred a ma n standing with his back
to a large fire, and distinguish led by
the most uncouth and lorbi idding
countenance | ever beheld. BE tween
a pair of prominent cheek bones that
would have graced q Calmuck Tartar,
appeared what, in France we term a
nose ecrase, with aIpair of upturned
the combined effect of which
gave the owner a strong resemb blance
to q large monkey; nor am | sure
whether, iii such a comparison, the
disadvantage would not have been
on the side of the animal. The eyes
of the Grand-Duke (for he it Nas)
were remarkable for theirrestles ssne ess.
They we're small, deep set, pnd Of
color which it would be difficult to
define. His complexion was d deep
unvarying red. The frogs and loops
which fastened his dark green frock
across his breast, nearly disappeared
beneath a profnsion of GRO oFses, d E.
corations, and ribbons Of, every col Or
of the rainbow. He was tapping his
boot with riding whip. and the Vi n
dried splashes Of mud on his panta
looms indicated that he had but re-
Gently returned from ride or a ne
view. At a tabl lenear him was seated
General Rodna, pen in hand, and ap-
parently writing under his master S
dictation.
Not expecting so prompt an intro
duction II stonned on entering the
room. The door was scarcely closed
when the Czarewitsch, projecting his
head wit hout moving his body, and
fixing me with his piercing eyes, abb
ruptly inquired,