Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-02-03
ANECDOTE OF THE CZAR.

A correspondent, on whose accuracy we can
rely, furnishes us with the following illustra.
ton of the social habits Of the present "auto.
crat of all the Russias" He says:
The Emperor does not seclude himself from
his people. One evening in the year he is pre-.
sent, mingling promiscuously at masked bali;
any person is at liberty to speak to him on that
occasion, and the privilege is never neglected.
| have seen him at the theatre take chair in
his hand and going singly through the pit, seat
himself at the back of the orchestre, and i'm
mediately before the footlights. Had he any
doubt of the affection of his subjects, or fear
OF ASSASSINATION, as some of you English sup
pose, think you mere bravado or courage
would induce him to do that as the best way
to deter people from the act!
! The Emperor is very fond of taking his
children with him. and literally going, as you
call it, shopping In this way he will, unat.
tended, visit jewelers. stores, toy shops, pic.
ture galleries and similar places especially
where French and English goods are exposed
for sale. He does not wish for, and would in.
stantly repel, any recognition, but he is very
well aware that be is known, and the public Of
St. Petersburgh are also conscious that he feels
he is recognized, but il is silently and respect.
fully - : =,
One day gentleman, leading little boy by
the hand along the side walk of crowded
thoroughfare, carried in the other hand some
toys he had just selected and bought for the
little fellow, or for other children at home.--
Perhaps they moved on rather leizurely, or ap.
propriated more than their convenient share of
the pavement; however this might be, another
gentleman, in the undress uniform of some
military division, pushed most unceremouious.
" passed him. He was evidently in most
impolite hurry, and in striving to pass struck
against the little boy, detached him from the
tight grasp Of his fathers hand, and prostrated
the child in the gutter. Not stopping to apo
logize, or even to assist in his extrication, he
merely turned deprecating forgive me- sort
Of look upon the gentleman, and kept on his
hurried run at the top Of his wind and speed.
The Emperor--for it was no other than he,
and the gentleman knew livery leisurely lift
ed his child from the mud; he had noticed the
strangers uniform or dress sufficiently for the
purposes of inquiry, and, arriving at the win.
ter palace, he sent for the general of the divi.
sion, and somewhat angrily directed that an
attempt should be made to identify the party.
The general told his Imperial Majesty that he
already knew of the circumstance; that q Ger.
tain officer (naming him) had only an hour ago
waited on him and had delivered up his sword,
pending his Majesty's disposal of it, explaining
the matter thus, namely, that at the moment he
was hastening to fetch an English physician to
his wife. who, owing to some unforeseen acci-
dent in lsbor, was thought to be dying. The
danger was happily averted, partly, perhaps. bv
his promptitude. Both child and mother were
safe, and satisfied that it was so, he had taken
the earliest moment for submitting 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 slight.
est degree false, let the falsehood be told mo
at peril or words to that effect, signifying that
he did not wish the effect of any appeal to him
to be heightened by any extraneous and un.
truthful Embellishments.
After few days the general or commandant
reported to the Emperor that the account Civ
On OF the transaction was3iterally correct. To
which the Emperor replied: II am glad nv
soldiers make good husbands; see that am
informed on what day the infant is to be chris.
Eened." don't know whether have got the
exact word, but it was the tantamount ceremo.
~ Of English baptism or admission into the
Church. "Tell that officer shall b. present,
md shall bring with me the Empress aud my
amily." '........' -
And SO he did, and joined in what, to Rus.
'ian. is the scene Of greater rejoicing than
marriage feast. And there and then, Nicholas,
Emperor of Russia. after bestowing . dowry
IN the child. gave to q soldier, hardly remove
rom the ranks, bis sword again; drank to the
health and gallantry Of the little one, and left
behind him hearts burning to manifest their
oyalty BY their self.devotion, and wondering
i the imperial condescension. .s..-.. -