The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-01-27
A ANkEf IN RUSSIA,

! The following Is the substance Of q story
as told by MIR. Dallas at public dinner Civ
!, EN- him at Philadelphia, on his return from
/ Russia, in 1888:
| One day lad, apparently about nineteen,
! presented himself before our Ambassador nj
st. Petersburg. He was rare specimen Of
i the genus Yankee; with sleeves 800 short
Tor his bony arms, trowsers half way up to
his knees, and hands playing with coppers
and tenpennv nails in his pocket. lie intro
duccd himself by saying, IL have just come
out here TO trade with few Yankee notions,
] and want to get sight at the Emperor
''Why do you wish t, see him ?'
''Fve brought him present, all the way
from Ameriky. respect him considerable
and want to get nj MIN, to give il 10 him
with my own hands"
Mr.. Dallas smiled, as he answered, sit is
is such common thing, my lad, to make
crowned heads a present, expecting some.
thing handsome in return, that am afraid
the Emperor will consider this only Yankee
trick. What have you brought ?''
San acorn"
San acorn What under the sun induced
you 10 bring the Emperor an acorn ?"
''Why, just before | sailed, mother and |
went OH to Washington to see about a pen
sion, and when we were there we thought we
would just step over to Mount Vernon.
picked up this acorn there, and thought to
myself I'd bring it up 10 the Emperor
Thinks he must have heard considerable
deal about Gen. Washington, and | expect
he must admire our institutions. SO now,
you see, have brought it, and want to get
at him."
/ "My lad, it's not an easy matter for n
stranger to approach the Emperor, and I'm
afraid he will take no notice of YOUR pres
ent. You had better keep it."
i 81 tell you that want to have talk with
! him. expect can tell him u thing or two
about Ameriky. | guess he'd like mighty
well to hear about our railroads, and our
free schools, and what big swell our steam
+ ers cut and when he hears how we'll our
/ people are getting on, may be it will put him
up to doing something. The long and short
ont, shan't be easy till get talk with
the Emperor, and should like to see his
wife and children. | want to see how such
| folks bring up family"
/ swell, sir, since you are determined upon
it, will do what ! can for you; but YOU
must expect to be disappointed. Though it
will be rather an unusual proceeding, |
would advise you to call on the Vice Chan
cellor, and state your wishes he may posi-
! bly, assist you"
! "Well. that's all | want Of you. will call
again and let you know how ge. on"
In two or three days he again appeared
| and said
"Well, Fye seen the Emperor, and had q
talk with him. He's a real gentleman, | can
tell you. When | gave him the acorn, he
said no should set great store by il that
no character in ancient or modern history he
admired so much us he did Washington he
sad he'd plant it IN his palace garden with
his own hand, and he did it-for seen him
with my own eyes. lie wanted to ask me so
much about our schools and railroads. and
one thing or other, that he invited me 10
come again and see his wife, for he said she
could speak better English than he could
SO went yesterday; and she's fine know.
ing woman, tell you; and his daughters are
nice gals"
"What did the Empress say to you 2"
"Oh, she asked me sight Of questi IONS
Don't you think she thought We had no SER
wants in Ameriky 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, but you call 'em help.
guess ma'am. you've been reading Mrs. Troll
lonep said 1 we had that book aboard our
shin. The Emreror claimed his hands ard
laughed as If he'd XIII himself. You're right
sir. said be, you're right. We sent for an
English copy, and she's been reading it this
very morning. Then told him ali knew
about our country, and he was mighty pleas
ed. He wanted to know long expected to
stay in these parts. / told him had sold
all the notions had brought orcr, and
guessed | should 20 back in the same ship.
/ bid 'em good bye all around and went
about my business. Ain't had glorious
time 7 ! expect you didn't calc'lste to see me
in such rig 2"
"No, indeed, did not, my lad. You may
well consider yourself lucky; for it's Yery
uncommon thing for crowned heads to theat
stranger with 50 much distincton.n
few days after he called again, and said:
81 guess shall staya spell longer, Pm treat
ed 50 we'll T'other day grand officer came
to my room and said the Emperor had sent