New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-02-25
From the Western tErrD fues Of Saturday, June I.
Professor Anderson's First Interview with
the Emperor of Russia.

somewhat amusing and may bear repetition need
not take the time of the reader with narrative Of my
journey to the capital with the prelminaries to my
being permitted perform there after my arrival suffice
it that obtained the of the Alexanrisy Theatre
for the purpose and usual aatonhed the natives with
my experiments in natural magic. Russia. may here
observe is country that Of nil others abounds with
tranrdinary sights If which sufficiently striking
and invariably attract the attentonof the trsveier
Among these may mention their masquerades. my at
tadance at one Of which have to remember
H72 as live These public entertainments in st. Pc
trshurg rather promenades they may appro-
ately be called generally take place in the Nobty,s
Hail. Bolehoi great Theatre On the night Of the
masquerade opera is usually given and the Theatre
then attended by the mobiles the officers of the Court,
most every quarter of the globe displays ono
seldom fails getting sight of the Emperor. may
eerv W u he Tbsare a n ana a o ne
the opera Z the stage orchestra scenery and pit
are removeden 50 that the house is at
verified into magnificent hall for the reception Of the
maskers The company in most begins to assemble
about twelve O'Clock masquerade nights and the
parties present continue Walking up and down the
hall gossipng love-makng converting the affairs
Of the day until they retire to their respective places Of
wear masks on such occasions and Of these it is said
they sometimes take undue advantage Be this It
may when masquerade might is announced in st. Pc
tersburg strangers always the of epecta-
ton for is there where the and habits Of the
Russians in public may be observed to most advantage
10 such an opportunity was privileged shortly after
my arrival in company with my friend Mr.. Maynard
Engliahman, who volunteered to be my to the
place At the close Of entertainment the appointed
evening was accordingly joined by my friend who
eompanied me to the Bochoi Theatre the asquer
ade We there shortly the hour Of meeting and
such sight for grandeur and magniicence wit
messed either before since On arriving at the
trance. suddenly emerged from the Comparatively
darkened street and walked into the theatre with III
tiers Of boxes and splendid decorations lighted I'D with
thousand tapers "a spectacle at any time cac
lated to astonsh and the behoder and after ad-
yancing few PAGES found myself in an assembly Of
tour % ve thousand persons e varied ranks and
found from the borders the banks of the Nova
There were Tartars Crcasians Cossacks and Russiaa
dNnfav
grade besides Englshmep. habted in the plain black
dress which generally Ladies with and without
gentlemen. promenaded through the diamonds and
awey bazed every side and music lent its inspiring
influence to the scene. To say that surprised,
pleased delighted would convey but faint idea of my
feelings at the time; absolutely bewildered and
kept moving through the crowd gazing around and
paying but little attention to the hints and advces which
my experienced friend pouring into my ear.
could recollect however. at one time that Maynard.
among pther t matter was very eny engaged I informing
there were from thousand to fifteen hundred military
entitled to recognize him and for any
one to do considered such breach Of ETH
quette that the offender invariably punished; when
suddenly. by accident right against gentleman
in front of me- dressed in full military uniform to whom
at turned round and apoogized my AWKWARD
at the same time humby craving his pardon The
gentleman did seem to be half pleased with the en-
counter but bowed and passed without remark when,
to my horror and astonshment. Maynard exclaimed.
Gracious powers what's this you done Anderson
You only ostled the Emperors person but ad-
dressed him publicly, in direct violation of well-under
ing than the offence Of course aware Of the
law the subject. although not acquainted with the
Of the Emperor and the reader that
after this mishap my admiration of the fine things in the
hall that evening speedily gave way to entirely
different feeling and fears nowise abated when
friend Maynard pleasantly inquired if had heard
of such place Siberia and followed up his query by
advising me to go and pack traps Immediately in
case the secret police should be at lodgings got
home to do it for After keeping in state Of
agonizing for few minutes Maynard tried to
console with the reflection that in all likelihood the
Emperor would forgive the offence the ground of my
Ignorance of the customs Of the country and my
unspeakable satisfaction it afterwards turned We
had taken few turns of the eonversng about
Il, my unucky casualty. when again got look of his Ma
jesty whom found difficulty in recognizing this time
especially observed him directing atten
ton OF gentleman who along with him your hum
Nd Bile servant. s5
At the close of the masquerade, made the best Of my
way home in frame of mind not to be envied and
IN wthstandng the merrment of my companions who nov
began to talk of the affair unworthy of serious notice
NJ, slept little that night When did get short interval
of rest visions of Siberia the knout imprisonment whip
ping, and the interior of mines for life. fitted
brain and awoke in state of feverish anxiety which
was broken the morning of the following day by
a message from the Emperor addressed to Bochoi Fo
coksnck'' (the Wizard of the North) When opened
the packet, trenbcd from head to foot but reading
that it contained an order commanding nv presence Il
perform before the Emperor in bis winter palace need
scarcely saw that on the ay appointed fastened with
pleasure fulfil the commands of his Majesty who along
with the Empress and the members of his court appeared
the entertainment, and seemed highly gratifed with
experiments One of these that most astonised the
> Emperor what term my Illustration Of second
L sight surprised his Majesty with my description
federates in his court and in order to test my pow
he abruptly asked me if knew what Of watch h.
had in his pocket when promptly replied please you
Imperial Majesty nothing is Your Majesty
watch is gold one-t has hundred and twenty bril-
liants around the and the back of it there
an enameed portrait of your father the Emperor Paul
His Majesty and the Empress laughed heartily and admit
ted the accuracy of the description In order further
convince his Majesty Of my necromantc skill informe,
him to second or two the precise time which his watc
~ indicated and what appeared astounding still in
y formed him that he would find the watches of every
III ber u court standing at the time with the exeepto
that of the Empress which had gone for fifty years
It.. explained. worn more ornament than fo
and relic Of Peter the Great. whom it orig
, naly beongedto the truth of all which his Majesty gra
: ciously nodded his assent.
he At the close of the entertainment, the Emperor VIII
speaks English uently politely asked permission to
grant On coming upon the stage His Majesty locke
at the different articles which had made Of wit
much interest. and pleased to compliment t
ingenuity of their construction In the of his il
40 qires he told that when Young he
fond of these anusements and in fact had himself bee
d amateur magician. While travelling among the XII
gees-a people who nhabit tract of country betwee
VI China and Russian Tartaryle had learnt. he said OF
o in particular to which, for the rfor
rel tiou had given him. he would initiate That expe1
:, ment is the that perform at the close of
entertainments. My tutor in it the Emperor Mich
las who along with it presented with the splendid
ed gcan's dress which am proud to and whie
essential to the proper OF this parcul
trick In conclusion inform the reader that
l first meeting with the Emperor ended not only in
tanning the patronage of his Majesty entertainment
which little more to my wishes than visit