Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-03
DAILY EVENING STAR.
THE EMPEROR AND THE YANKEE;
Or. AMERICAN PERTINACITy


work on America, as from the letters o.
Mrs. Child, and gives graphic illustra.
ton of prominent feature in American
character. The adventurous youth al.
luded to was the brother of the Hon
Charles Sumner, one of the present Sen.
ators in Congress from Massachusetts,
Instead, however, of coming Immediately
to this country, as the story intimates
he pursued his travels in the East, and
was returning home in the ill-fated brig
Elizabeth. with Margaret Fuller Ossoli
and, with her, perished in the wreck o.
that vessel off the southern shore of Long
Island. The date of the following scenes
was about 1887, when the Hon. George
NJ. Dallas, since Vice President, was oul
minister ~ the court of Russia;
One day a lad, apparently about nine.
teen, presented himself b>fOre our ambas.
sador at St. Petersburg. He was pure
specimen Of the genus Yankee with
sleeves 100 short for bis bony arms, trow-
scrs half way up to his knees, and hands
playing with coppers and tenpenny nail.
in his pockets. He introduced himselt
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 him!"
"I've brought him present all the
way from Ameriky. | respect him con-
siderable, and / want to get at him and
give it to him with my own hands"
Mr.. Dallas smiled as he anSWered-''It
is such common thing, my lad, to make
crowned heads a present, cxrecfing some
thing handsome in return, that [ am
afraid the emperor will consider this
only Yankee trick. What have you
brought" z"
q IN acorn"
"An acorn! What under tie sun in
duccd you to bring the Emperor of Rus
sia an acorn? z"
"Why, just before sailed, mother and
went out to Washington to see about a
pension: and when we was there, we
thought we'd just step over to Mount
Vernon. | picked up this acorn there:
and thought to M self I'd bring il to
the emperor. Thinks, says |, lie must
have heard considerable deal about our
General Washington, and | expect he
must admire our institutions. So now
you STE I've brought it, and I want TO
get al him.
MY lad, it's not en- easy matter for
a stranger to approach the emperor: and
| am afraid be will take no notice of your
present. You had better keep it,"
q tel you 7 want to have talk with
him. expect can tell him thing or
two about Ameriky. | guess he'd like
mighty well to hear about our railroads,
and about our free-schoolS, and what a
big swell our steamers cut. And when
he hears how our people are getting on,
may be it will put him up to doing some
thing. The long and short ont is, ]
shan't lie easy till get talk with the
erAperor; and should like to see his
wife and children. | want to see how
such folks bring up a family.'
upon it, | will DO what | can for you: !:
but you must expect to be disappointed.
Though it will be rather an unusual pro-
ceeding, | would advise you to cali on
the vice chancellor, and state your wishes.
He may possibly assist you
"Well, that's all want of YOU.
will call again, and let YOU know how |
get on"
In two or three days he again appeared,
and said" Well, I've seen the emperor,
and had a talk with him. He's a real
gentleman, | can tell YOU. When | gave
him the acorn lie said he should set a
great store by it; that there was no char
acter i'll ancient or modern history he ad-
mircd SO much as he did Washington.
He said he'd plant it in his palace garden
with his own hand, and he did do it-for
| see HIM with my own eyes. He wanted
to ask me so much about our schools and
railroads, and one thing or another, that
he invited me to come again, and see his
daughters for he said his wife could
speak better English than he could. So
| went again yesterday; and she's a fine
knowing woman, | tell you, and her
daughters are nice gals"
"Oh, she asked me sight O. questions.
Don't you think, she thought we had no
servants in Ameriky. | told her poor
folks did their own work, but rich folks
had plenty of servants. But then you
don't cGil 'em servants" said she, q you
call 'em help" Il guess, ma am, you We
been reading Mrs. Trollope 2" says l.
" We had that ere book aboard our ship. y
" You're right, sir" said he, g you re
right. We sent for an English copy, and
she has been reading it this very morn
ing!' Then told all [ knew about our
country, and he was nightly pleased. He
wanted to know how long expected to
stay in these parts. | told him I'd sold
all the notions Id brought over, and
guessed should so back in the same
ship. bid 'em good bye, all round and
went about my business. Amt Fhad a
glorious time? [ expect you didn't cal
culate to see me run such rig"
mo, indeed, did rot, my lad.S You
may very well consider yourself hhry ::
for its very uncommon thing for croS ned
heads to treat stranger with such dis
tinction."
A few days nfter he called again, and
said-"I guess shall stay here a spell
longer, I'm treated so well. T'other day
a grand officer came to my room, and
told me that the empress had sent him to
show me all the curiosities: and dressed
myself, and ne took NE into a mighty fine
carriage, with four horses and I've been