Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1856-04-10
I WHOLE NO. 2l1.
The Emperor and Yankee.

The following amusing occurrence is
quoted by Miss Bremen. in her work on
America, as a graphic illustration of II
prominent feature in American character.
The adventurous youth alluded TO was ths
brother of Hon. Charles Sumner.
One day lad apparently about nine-
teen, presented himself before our ambes-
sador a ST. Petersburg. He was pure
specimen OF the genius Yankee-with
sleeves too short for his bony arms. trow-
sers half way up to his knees; and hands
playing with corpers and ,enpenny nails
in his pockets. He introduced himself
by saying
Tve come ont here to trade little,
mith few Yankee notions. and | want
TO get sight of the Emperor.
why do you want 10 see him?
I've brought him present all the way
from America. | respect him consider
able, aud | want TO get TO see him. and
give ii to him with my own hands
Mr.. Dallas smiled as he answered.
1t is such n common thing, my lad. TO
make crowned heads present, expecting
something handsome in return. that | am
afraid the Emperor will consider this OIL
ly yankee trick. What have you
| broughl?
An acorn
An acorn! What under the sun ever
induced you to bring the Emperor OF
Russia an acorn7'
why, Just before l sailed, mother and
| went to Washington TO see about a
pension, and when we were there, We
thought we'd step over to Mt. Vernon.
picked up this acorn there. and though:
to myself I'D bring ii TO the Emperor
Thinks |, he must have heard a consider
able deal about our Washington. end
expect he admires our institutions. So
now you see I've brought it, and | want
TO get at him.
My lad its not an easy matter for
strurger TO approach The Emperor; and |
am afraid he will take no notice of your
present. You Ind better keep il.
Il tell you | want 10 have talk with
him. expect can tell him a thing or
two. | guess he'd like mighty well to
hear about our railroads. and our free
schools. and wha. swell our steamers
cut. And when he hears how our peo-
pie are getting along, maybe il will put
him up TO something. The long and
short of it is. shant bc easy till get
talk with tho Emperor. And Id like 10
see his wife and children; want TO see
how such folks bring up family
well, sir. since you are determined
upon it. will do what | can for you,
though it will be rather an unusual pro-
ceeding, would advise you TO call on the
nice chancellor. and state your wishes
He may possibly assist you.
We'll, that will do; | will call again
and let you know how get on
To two or three days he appeared again
and snid--
We'll. I've seen the Emperor. and had
talk with him. He's real gentleman.
When gave him The acorn. he said he
should set great store on it,; that there
was DO character in ancient or modern
history he admired so much as our own
Washington He said he'd plant i, in
his palace garden with his own hand, and
he did it--for saw him with my own
eyes. He wanted to ask me SO many
questions abou, our public schools and
railroads and one thing or another, that
he invited me 10 come again, and see his
daughters; Tor he said that his wife could
spenk better than he could. So / went
again yesterday, and she is fine, know
ing woman. tel you; and her daughters
are nice gals
'What did the Empress say TO you?'
oh, she asked me heap of questions.
Don't you think she thought We had no
servants in America | told her poor
folks did their own work but rich folks
had plenty of servant.
But then you don't call EN- servants.
you call 'em helps said she. guess,
ma am. you've been reading Mrs. Troll
lopez says I. We had that ere book
aboard our ship
The Emperor cla?ped his hands. and
laughed as if he would kill himself. You
are right sir. said he, I'VE sent for an En-
glish copy, and she has been reading it
:his very morning.
Then | told him oil knew about our
country, and he vas mighty pleased. He
wanted TO know how long expected TO
stdN III tucsV pdttcs iOiu uih SoAo
all the notions I'd brought over. snd
guessed | should 60 back in The same ship.
| bid them all good bye. and went about
my business. Aini had glorious timer
You may well consider yourself lucky;
for it is very uncommon thisg for
crowned heads to treat strangers with
such distinction
A few days after this he called again,
and said
Il guess I'll stay here a spell longer.
I'm treated so we'll had made up my
mind to GO home; so went to thank the
Emperor and bid him good bye--I thought
| couldn't do less--he'd been SO CIVIL
SAYS he
SIS there anything you would like 10
see. before you go back TO Amerca?'
told him | should like TO have peep
at Mos COW, for had heard considerable
about their firing the Kremlin. and I'd
read a great deal about Bonaparte, but it
would cost sight of money TO go there.
and wanted to carry my earnings home
to my mother. So | bid him good bye
and come off. Now what do you think
he did next morning. He sent man in