Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-01-08
A PASSAGE IN THE LIrE OF A FENC.
lNa.MASTKA.

self as fencing master IN That capital. In
Productions from distinguished individuals in
Paris, enabled me to make friend Of Count
Alexis w. and that young nobleman was
good enough to interest himself warmly in
my success. Not content with procuring me
several pupils. himself included, no urged me
to petition the Emperor for the appointment
Of fencing master TO y regiment, and offered
to give me letter OF recommendation to an
aid. d.de,camp of the Czarewitsch Constantine,
who was then at the Castle Of Strelna, near
ST. Petersburg.
"If his Imperial highness," added the
Count, twill write line in your favor at the
end Of the petition, you will have an excellent
change Of obtaining what you desire. Pre-
sent yourself boldly, fatter his military pride
and try to gain his good will by the frank
and soldierly department, which has done
more for you, with myself and others, than
any letters of recommendation"
The morning after receiving this advice, l
hired droscki, and set out to Strelnu, taking
with me a letter to General Rodna, ad-de.
camp of the Czarewtsch also nly petition to
the Emperor which had been drawn I'D in
Que form. After driving couple Of hours
along good road, bordered on the left by
country mansions and parks, and on the
right by plains extending to the gulf of Fin
land, reached the convent Of st. Sergius,
the saint most venerated in Russia, after St.
Alexander Nicuski.
Ten minutes afterwards, I arrived at the
castle, and after some parley with the sentry
obtained admittance. Some officers, who
were lounging about, informed me that the
General was occupied with the CEarewitsch.
One Of them, however, took in my letter, and
desired me to wait in saloon which looked
out on magnificent garden. The same Off
Ger speedily returned, and ushered me into
the apartments of the Emperor's brother.
| In one of these, | discovered man stand
ing with his back to large fire, and distin.
guishcd by the most uncouth and lorblddns
countenance | ever beheld. Between a pair
Of prominent cheek bones that would have
graced Calmuck Tartar, appeared what, in
France, we term ecrase, with pair Of up
turned nostrils-tha combined effect Of which
gave the owner strong resemblance 10 a
large monkey; nor am sure whether, in such
a comparison, the disadvantage would not
have been on tho side Of the animal. The
eyes of the Grand Duke (lor he it was) were
remarkable for: their restlessness. They were
small, deep set, and Of a color which it would
be difficult to define. His complexion was
deep uEvarying red. The frogs and loops
which fastened his dark green frock across
his breast, nearly disappeared beneath pro-
fusion of crosses, decorations, and ribbons OF
every color of the rainbow. He was tapping
his boot with his riding-whip, and the un-
dried splashcs Of mud on his pantaioons in
dicated that he had but recently returned
from ride or review. At a table near him
was seated General Rodna, pen in hand, and
apparently writing under his masters die.
taton. &C.,.
Not expecting so prompt an introduction,
7 stopped short on entering the room. The
door was scarcely closed, when the Care.
witsch, projecting his head without moving
his body, and fixing me with his piercing
eyes, abruptly inquired:
"Nhat coun,rynan?' y
French, your highness.'
"Agc ?
"sx,and. twenty"
"Name?"
"G-.'
You want TO be fencing master to regi-
ment ?
May it please your highness, such is tho
object OF my ambition.
Are you first rate swordsmans'
i have fenced in public since my arrival
in st. Petersburg, and your highness can ca
silly ascertain the opinion of those who were
present ... ....-.
u heard ofyou; but you had only second.
rate fsncsrs TO contend with
Which gave them just claim upon my
forbearance, your highness.'
| 'Forbcdrance he repeated, with flashing
eyes and somewhat scornlul curve of the
the lips; but if less considerate, what then ?
Il should have buttoned them ten times
for every twice they touched me, your high,
ness
'IIa! and do You think you could do that
with me 2 ..--.. .. .....
That might depend on how your imperial
highncss might wish to be treated. If as a
prince, it is probable your highness would
touch me ten times, and be touched twice
But ifyour highness wished to be treated like
any other person, the ten hits would proba-
bly, be achieved by me and the two by your
highucss.'
'LubenskiH J cried the Czarewitsch, rub
bing his hands; Lubenski bring the fols
! We shall see, Sir Braggartr
rs it possible your highncss would conde.
scend--
MY highness orders you to touch me ten
times, if you can. Do you want to back our
aresdys Now, take this foil and mask
Guard =
is, it then, your highncsss absolute CON-
rnand?
/ Yes! yes thousand times yesp
i am ready
Ten times! repeated the Czarewitsch, as
he attacked me--'ten times, mind you less
won't do. Ha, haP ~
Notwithstanding all this encouragement, I
kept on the defensive, contenting myself with
parrying his fierce thrusts without returning
them.
Now, then " cried he, aomcwhat angrily--
what are yon aboutf You are not doing
your best. Why don't you thrust p