Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-21
Miarellan&unS.
THE DWARF's WEDDING.

1t is we'll known that ice is capa
BILE of such great solidity as to re
tain in cold countries any desired
shape for long time !; and houses
have been CONSTRUCTED of it which
have resisted the elements, not only
through the winter, but far into the
succeeding summer, and in some In
stances, even during several years
In illustration of this fact, the Cour
ier des Etats Unis tells the following
story =
Peter the Great of Russia had in
his service buffoon, named Nickol
eff, dwarf in size, and particularly
ugly IN appearance, but possessed Of
a mind full of intelligence and over
flowing with wit and sarcasm, in the
exercise of'which even the sacred
majesty Of the Gar was not always
respected. He one day approached
his master and requested permission
to marry.
"And who do you suppose would
marry you ?" demanded the Gar.
Catherine Italivaski," replied the
dwarf.
Catherine Italivaski ! that ma
jestic, beautiful creature, attached
as file de chamber to one of the EN-
press ladies in waiting Impossible,
my poor Nickolieff! She is young
and beautiful. and YOU are old and
ugly"
"She loves me 2" said Nickolieff,
swelling with offended pride. "Ev.
erybody does not look upon me with
the unfavorable eyes of your majes,
ty "
"You must be very rich, then, OF
she would not love you," said the
Czar.
"Allowing that to be, l should not
be the first one who has been loved
for his wealth p replied the buffoon,
with a cynical smile. IL kdow of
one far more rich and more powerful
than I am, who has thought himself
loved for himself alone, instead of
his piles of yellow gold, and was so
plainly deceived that he alone was
unsuspicious of the true object"
The Emperor turned pale with an
ger, and bit his lip until the blood
flowed, for the buffoon alluded to a
love adventure of the monarch we'll
known at court, but of which none
had dared to speak above a whisper.
every WELL" said he, controlling
his rage by a violent effort, "since
you desire to marry Catherine Itali-
vaski, you shall do so. l charge my
self with the whole expense of the
nuptials, and you will receive from
me the palace which you will occupy
with your charming bride. Mean
time you are forbidden to leave your
chamber, under penalty of being
made acquainted with the knout, in
comparison with which the blows of
my wife, which have often made your
shoulders ache, are mere love caress-
es."
Fifteen days after, the day of jan
uary, 1920, the buffoon was awaken
ed at daybreak by the sounds of
music at the door of the chamber
which served him as a prison. A
number of the servants Of the Gar
entered, clothed him in a magnificent
suit of garments, then placed him on
a sledge, to which were attached
four of the most beautiful horses in
the imperial stables, and surround
ed by cortege composed of the
greatest lords and ladies of the i'm
perial court, conducted him to the
cathedral Notre Dame de kazan,
where the nuptial ceremony was Gel
ebrated with splendOr and extrava-
gance which not only reassured, but
delighted the proud Nickolief.
The nuptial benediction pronounc-
ed, the happy couple mere placed up
on the sledges, and conducted to an
isolated place, short distance from
the city, on the banks of the Neva,
where had been built a palace the
like of which never existed, except
in fairy tales. The palace, which
seemed to be constructed of crystal,