Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-09
From ~ New York Evening Post.
UnpuDiisho4 and Characteristic Aneodose
Of the Emperor Nicholas.

Of the Emperor Nicholas.
correspondent, on whose accuracy me can
rely, furnishes US with the following illustration
OF the social habitudes Of the present "Autocrat
Of all the Russias," He says
Some ten or twelve years ago, when living in
the North OF England, we had neighbor who had
married Russian lady. My friend had resided
some years in st. Petersburgh, and there became
acquainted with and married his present wife, She
is person OF most polished manners of excellent
education and character, and the domesticated
mother Of a large family. mention these things
to indicate the reliance that may be placed in her
statements. Her relatives hold some highly rc-
sponsible position in the Russian postal service,
and after a few years residence in England she
and her husband returned TO Russia
My friends house was decorated with engra-
wings, portraits of the Russian imperial family,
scenes in the capital, maps and drawings, There
was small collection Of Russian curiosities and
other indications thdt one or both of the heads of
that family were of Russian extraction. Mrs r.
spoke English very fuently. Nothing pleased her
better than to talk of the land of her BIRTH which
she did always most enthusiastically and as to
myself the charm Of her conversation, apart from
its original and interesting subject, was quite suf-
cent to fix the impression of all her stories firmly
on my memory. She was fond OF telling illustra-
tive anecdotes Of the Emperor and denounced
what she styled the Ignorant horror ofthe Eng
fish against sour father in unmeasured terms Of
most womanly and eloquent reprobaton.
One Of her characteristic illustrations select
from many cannot give her exact words, but
substantially the sense of them. She said: The
Emperor does not seclude himself from his people.
One evening in the year he is present, mingling
at masked ball any person is at lib
erty to speak to him on that occasion and the pryi
lege never neglected Ihave seen him at the thea
tire take chair in his hand and go singly through
the pit, seating himself at the back Of the orches
ira, and Immediately before the footlights. Had
he any doubt of the affection of his SUBJECTS or
fear Of assassination, some Of YOU English sup
pose, think you mere brayado or courage would in
duce him to do that as the best course to deter
people from the act?
"The Emperor is very fond Of taking his children
with him. and literally going as you call it, shop
ping In this way he will, unattended, visit jewell
lcrs stores, oyshops picture galleries, and similar
places, especially where French and English goods
are exposed for sale. He does not wish for, and
would instantly repel, any recognition, but he is
very well aware that he is known, and the public
Of st. Petersburgh also conscious that he knows
he is recognised but it is silently and respectfully
One day gentleman, leading little boy by the
hand along the sidewalk of . crowded thorough
fare carried in tho other hand some toys lie had
just selected and bought for the little fellow, or for
other children at home. Perhaps they moved on
rather leisurely, or appropriated more than their
share Of the pavement; however this
might be- another gentleman in the undress uni
form of some military division, rushed most uncere-
moniously past him. He was evidently in most
impolite hurry, and in striving to pass struck
against the little boy, detached him from the light
grasp Of his fathers hand, and FRUSTRATED the child
in the gutter. Not stopping to apologize, or even
to assist in bis extrication, he merely turned dep
recating forgive me- sort Of look upon the gentle
nah, and kept on his hurried run at the top Of his
wind and speed.
/" The Emperor, for II was no other than he, and
The gentleman knew 1t very eisurely lifted his son
from the mud He had noticed the strangers uni
form dress sufficiently for the purposes of inqu
ry, and arriving at the Winter Palace he sent for
the general Of the division, and somewhat angrily
directed that an attempt should be made to identi
fy the party. The general told his Imperial Majesty
that he already knew of the circumstance: that a
certain officer manning hig) had only an hour ago
waited on him, and had delivered up his sword,
pending his Majestys disposal of It, explaining the
matter thus, namely, that, at the moment he was
Fastening to fetch an English physician to his wife,
who, owing to some unforeseen accident in labor
was thought to be dying. The danger was happily
averted, partly, perhaps, by his prompttude. Both
child and mother were safe, and, satisfied that IT
was so, he had taken the earliest moment for sub
hitting his sword and person to the pleasure of the
Emperor.
"Nicholas heard the relation thoughtfully, and
said: Ascertain if this be true; if in the slightest
degree false let falsehood be told me at peril or
words to that effect signifyng that he did not wish
the effect of any appeal to him to be heightened
by extraneous and untruthful embellishments
" After few days the general or commandment Il
forget which, reported to the Emperor that the &C.
count which had been given Of the transaction was
literally correct. To which the Emperor replied
j am glad my soldiers make good husbands; see
that am informed on what day the infant lie to be
don't know whether have got the
exact word, but 1t was the tantamount ceremony Of
English baptism or admission into the church. Tell
that officer intend to be present, and shall bring
with me the Empress and my family
"And SO he did, and joined in what, to Russ,
Is the scene Ola greater rejoicing even than mar
rage feast And there and then Nicholas Empe-
ror of Russia, gave TO a soldier hardly remove
from the ranks his sword again. drank to the health
Of the baby, and left behind him hearts burning TO
manifest their loyalty by their selEdevotion, and
at the imperial condescension.
There is something of clap-trap, of polite ex-
penditure in this, and some similar well-authent
Gated stories we have heard of the present Empe-
ror Of the French for instance, who, unlike Mich
oas, has need Of these adventurous aids to popu.
larty. George the Third,
The best farmer that Ger brushed dew from lawn
Though, by-the-by, that is an undeserved compli-
ment, wondered in some good womans cottage
how the apple got into the dumping He, how
ever, was constitutionally insane, and in no in
stance more practically SO than in urging the
Americans to revolution and keeping up bloody
warfare long after his ministers and
people saw il was mpolitic. But as to Nicholas,
he resembles evidently some other characters in
history, who, though despotic and tyrannical in
their public and national relations, present tho
strange anomaly Of natural amability in domestic
and private life. He is not, we presume, laboring
under incipicnt insanity like the English monarch
ftbe last century, nor is IT necessary he should
make political capital out Of his freaks Of conde-
sccnsion TO the meanest Of his subjects so that
obviously the devil is not so black as he is paint
ed The lady who told me this story said shs
know the officer and his family"
ny THIS MORNING,S MAIL.