Washington sentinel., 1854-02-04
Mastingtan gsutinel.
TIE Emperor and Yankee.

TIE Emperor and Yankee.
The following amusing occurrence is quoted
by Frederika Bremen, in her late work on Anne
rica as from the letters Of Mrs. Child, and gives
graphic illustration Of Appointment feature in
American character.
One day lad, apparently about nineteen,
presented himself before our ambassador at st.
Petersburg. He was a pure specimen of the
genus Yankee, with sleeves too short for his
bony arms, trowsers half way up to his knees,
and hands playing with pennies, and tenpenny
nails in his pockets. He introduced himself
by saying:
I've just come out here to trade, with a few
Yankee notions, and ! want to get asight OF the
emperor"
"Why do you wish to see him ~
"rve brought him present all the way from
Amerika. respect him considerable, and
want to get at him, to give it to him with my
own hands,"
The ambassador smiled as he answered: " 1t is
such a common thing, my lad, to make crowned
heads a present, expecting something hand
some in return, that am afraid the emperor
will only consider this Yankee trick. What
have you brought? ~
An acorn"
An acornl What under the sun induced
you to bring the Emperoro of Russia an acorn?"
Why, Just before / sailed, mother and
went to Washington to see about pension !;
and when we was there, we thought we'd just
step over to Mount Vernon. picked up this
acorn there, and thought to myself I'd bring
it to the emperor. Think, says !, he must have
heard considerable deal about our General
Washington, and expect he must admire our
institutions. So now you see I've brought it,
and want to get at him."
"My lad, it's not an easy matter for stranger
to approach the emperor, and am afraid he
will take no notice of your present. You had
better keep it."
~ tell you / want to have a talk with him.
expect can tell him a thing or two about
Amerika. / guess he'd like mighty well to
hear about our railroads and our free schools,
and what big swell our steamers cut. And
when he hears how our people are getting on,
may be it will put him up to doing something.
The long and short ont it is, shant be easy
till | get a talk with the emperor; and should
like to see his wife and children. want to see
how such folks bring up their children"
"Well, sir, since you are determined upon it,
will do what / can for you but you must ex-
pect to be disappointed. Though it will be
rather an unusual proceeding, would advise
you to call 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 l get on"
In two or three days he called again, and
said: "Well, I've seen the emperor, and had a
talk with him. He's real gentleman, tell
you. When gave him the acorn, he said he
should set great store on it; that there was
no character in ancient or modern history he
admired so much as he did our Washington.
He said. he'd plant it in his palace garden with
his own hand; and he did it, for l saw 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 fine
knowing woman, tell you, and her daughters
are nice gals"
"What did the empress say to your"
ooh, she asked me sight O. questions.
Don't you think, she thought we had no serv-
ants in Amerika. told her poor folks did
their own work, but rich folks had plenty of
servants. But then, you don't call 'em SER
wants. said she, you call 'em help | guess,
maam, you've been reading Mrs. Trollope,
says l. We had that are book aboard our
ship. The emperor clapped his hands, and
laughed as if he'd kill himself you're right,
lish copy, and she has been reading it this very
morning. Then told all / knew about our
, country, and he was mighty pleased. He
wanted to know how long expected to stay in
these parts. / told him Id sold all the notions
I'd brought over, and guessed should go back
in the same ship. / bid em goodbye all
around, and went about my business. Amt l
had glorious time? Iexpect you didn't cal
culate to see me run such rig"
"No, indeed, / did not, my lad. You may
very well consider yourselflu lucky, for it's very
uncommon thing for crowned head to treat o
stranger with such distinction"
A few days after he called again, and said 1:
IT guess | shall stay here a spell longer; I'm
treated so WE'LL The other day grand officer
came to my room, and told me that the en-
press had sent him to show me all the curiosi-
ties; and dressed myself and he took me in
to a mighty fine carriage, with four horses /;
and I've been to the theatre and to the mu-
scum : and / expect have seen about all there
is to be seen in st. Petersburg What do you
think of that, sir r.
1t seemed so incredible that poor, ungainly
Yankee lad should thus be loaded with atten-
tions, that the ambassador scarcely knew what
to think or say.
In short time his visiter reappeared.
"Well," said he, " l made up my mind to 60
home; SO I went to thank the emperor and bid
him goodbye. / thought that / couldn't do
less, he'd been so civil. Says he: Is there
anything you'd like to see before you go back
to Amerika2 r told him I should like to have
n peep at Moscow, for had heard consider
able about their setting fire to the Kremlin,
/. and I'd read a great deal about General Bona
parte but it would cost a sight of money to
go there, and wanted to carry my earnings
to my mother So / bid him good bye, and
come off. Now what do you guess he did next
morning? ! vow he sent the man in regimen
tails to carry me to Moscow, and bring me
back again when I've seen all want to see
and we're going tomorrow morning. What do
you think now ?"
And sure enough, the Yankee boy passed
the ambassadors house in splendid coach
and four, waving his handkerchief, and shout
ing Goodbye, good bye"
Spirit Of the Times.
Extraordinary Performances of Young
Lady.
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