The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-01-19
MISCELLANE us.
A BARBAR0Us JOKE.
An ul.tmed Bon.rnot

30 -ol- r "a
An M.tmsd Bon.mot.
Frogere, IN actor at one Of the minor
theatres Of the boulevard in Paris, had en-
tered into an engagement with the French
Theatre In ST. Paorsbursh, where he had
the good fortune 20 greatly 10 please Paul
I, that he soon became q distinguished IA.
vorite OF the monarch. An ill-limed bon
mot ono day convinced Frogere how dan.
gerous il was TO peak Too freely to the &C.
centric au,ocat. II was at the imperial
dinner table, when one Of the guests lauded
the present Emperor a. the expense OF Peter
the Great. ''." -,'l. .
'Tha, Is rc,asng Peier 10 pay Paul,
said tho Emle.ot, tuning 10 his favorile !;
lis Il not 50, Frogerep .-t.-
Certainly, sir, answered the latter
sTo satisfy Paul We ma! rob not only Peter
the Great but also Peter ,he Apostle
And why pray op asked the Gar,
quickly.
Because said the actor, paul in his
anger has frequently commanded, in the
words OF our Savior, 'Go and bear tho cross
throughout the world, more especially in
Siberia 80 ....''
Paul showed anger in his face, and no
one dared 10 laugh or be pleased with the
actors repartee. 81. ~
A few minutes afterwards The Emperor
rose and dismissed the company.
II was In the middle Of winter, about
midnight, when Frogere was aroused from
his sleep by loud knocking at his door,
He jumped from his bed, opened the door,
and saw 10 his amazement an officer and o
file Of soldiers enter the apartment. The
former produced warrant from the En-
psror, banishing Frogere 10 Siberia. We
may readily imagine the terror OF the
Frenohman. He cried, threw himself up
on The floor, tore his hair, and repeatedly
exclaimed, 'What crime haveI committed
to deserve such punishmen,l' He received
no answer. He begged for few hours
delay, 10 throw himself a the feet Of the
monarch and learn the nature OF his guilt.
In vain; the officer would allow him only
time 10 pack up few co,hes and linen.-
Scarcely was the operation finished, when
no was surrounded by the soldiers, aud
carried outside the house, where q coach
was in waiting. He wasthen lited into Il
more dead than alive-vhils two soldiers,
with drawn swords and cooked pistols, took
their seats on each side Of him. The doors
Of the vehicle were locked, and the officer
giving the signal, the coach rolled off al
full speed, surrounded by calvary escort.
How long the first stage lasted, Frogere was
unable TO tell; The vehicle was 50 thickly
Gov cred that no, the least ray OF light could
penetrate. He was told on entering the
coach that the soldiers had orders TO shoot
him on the spot the moment he opened his
mouth 10 put any questions 10 them.
He consequently observed strict silence,
and suffered world Of pain. The door O
The coach was al last opened-il was broad
daylight. His eyes, however, were ban.
daged, and he was led into miserable hut
the doors and windows Of which were
closed as soon as he entered. When the
bandage was removed, he saw, by the fain
glimmer Of rush light, dish Of coarse
food upon board before him. Though
he bad been fasting for some time, he
could hardly swallow morsel; fear, how
ever, induced him 10 eat, for the faces ,ha
watched his motions seemed to portray nc
good. Siberia! Siberia! that was the only
thought he was 10 live in that terrible
land. Frogere gave himself up in despair
when the previous officer, by.,he.by, AT
old acquaintance, entered the room, attend
ed by courier. The poor prisoner felt a,
IL he had not seen that friendly face fo
years. In the joy Of his heart he was abou
10 embrace him; but motion Of the hant
and stern look restrained him, while the
finger Of the officer pressed upon his lips
impressed silence. He had fa,lered him.
sell that the courier had brought an order
for his release; but he was mistaken.
The officer dismissed his guide, and or
dered the soldiers 10 leave The room ant
wal, outside. Being alone with the pris.
oner, he said, almost in whisper, .Frogere
we must now part. have accompanied you
TO the frs, stage, and you will hencefor,t
be under the Inspection Of another officer
Be careful not 10 speak a word. ! risk
much even in giving you this caution; bu
[ am your friend. Have you any orders
for me, Can Iserve you on my return ,c
81. ,Petersburghp Poor Frogere melle,
into tears. Insead Of replying 10 the ques.
lion, he only bewailed having to undergo
punishment br an unknown crime. AN
unknown crime" said the officer, 'Dou't
you then know what you have done! Are
you mad, Frogers? Have you forgotten the
sarcastic Jest You made at the imperial
tablet lthas offended the Emperor ;.you
are punished because there was so much
truth in i,!'
Good heavea! exclaimed the exile.
'Hush" be silent ! whispered the other
walls have ears. But, moi 10 waste time
listen, Frogere, am The only one whom
you know; hencelor,h, during Your long
journey you will fnd faces wholly unkno w1
10 you. The Emperor, you arc aware. j,
resolved, ard iuexoTable in his wrath. You
had better, therefore, be resigned 10 your
fate; you have no hope. Tell me iheb
quickly, what can do for you.'
Speak for me 10 his Majesty.
mo, aword Of that, said his frisnd; a.l
anything but that
'If,ha, be the case, said poor Frogere
Il have nothing TO ask
sAnd your money and trinkets.' reioined
the officer, you have left them all behind
Can lodge Them somewhere until you re-
turnp
MY re,urn'' gasped Frogere; then am
not eSiled for lifeP .. ..
sOf course no,-only for three years.
Take courage; they will soon pass away-
and then -
Three years for my innocen, word,
whined Frogere, and began 10 cry and com
plain. But at this nomen, the soldiers en-.
iered, and bandaging his eyes, ,hey liile1
him into the vehicle, and away 1. rolled
again. ,i
I, seemed a very long stage-ior Fropere
calculated that he bad travelled q whole
day, when the vehicle again stopped. Az
before, he was bandaged and led into !
wre,ched hut, counterpart Of the fisi. and
lighted by piece Of blazing pine wood
The same coarse food was again placed be-
fore him. He looked nj tho faces arount
him None that he know-none ,h., In,