The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-09-30
sexG OF THE,rIMEs.

~ s0NG or THEyTIMES.
Hey diddls, diddle!
Old Nero can fiddle,
IT'S Radical change o the moon;
FAs aiggsrs all laugh to see tbs sRaft,
And Beast ran al away with the spoon.
TRAITS Of AIcHoLAsI.
SonaV interesting memoirs ofthe Emperor
Nicholas L., Of Russia, have recently been put
forth in Paris, BY a writer who was formerly
a page in his Maiesty's service. The Empe-
ror. It will be reoollectel, won for himself the
detestatiaA If biz own RsaRls ana 2f At ~
rope, By 6Is ssphuman severity and dessot'sm
baI have seen, says the writer, most Of the
soyereiens of Europe, aud moro than once
have been aa%pitted to the honor Of direct CON
versation with them but never have ex,
periencea the icy impression that the view OF
the Gear produced upon me. He walked
straightforward in lordly style, his leadeo eyes
coldiy fixed on those Of each person to whom
in turn he addressed himself, aud gazing deep
" into each face with penetration that seem
ed to mark the very secrets Of the soul. His
step impressed you; his aspect intimidated !;
and his attitudes, SO truly sovereign, added to
physiiognQny so hughly, reflected the guild
ing sentiment 81 his life, his utter contempt
for mankind and his mystical faith in his own
all powerfulness., Of colossal height, aud ad-
mirably beautiful in face, his hard and pence
trating eye subjugAted you at once. .'9
/ Firmly senYinced that he represented celes,
ta avsF 81 a9FR sassrsy persuaded 'h At
God, and held within himself diving RreFegga-
tives, he watched with an over .shadowing
jealousy the sacred deposit with which he be-
Ilieved himself charged, and any attempt
against his authority appeared to Tim sacri-
lege, and proved him memorable.
EXECUTION OF TEE POET Relief.
The first cepspirators Of his reign, Pestel,
Mourayief- Aposto|, and the poet Relief, were
condemned to be hung. The Emperor signed
the decree after the Russian formula, "Byt
po sicmvn" ESQ betty They were then con-
Quoted to the place of execution. Relief,
poet oftbe highest sraef, was the first one led
to the scaffold. Just at the moment when
the executioner, having passed the ss!lip-kno
over his head, had raised him on his shoulders
to launch him into eternity, the too weak cord
broke, and he fell forward, bruised and bleed
ing. effl. e ~
sThcy knoy pat how to DO anything in Rus
sia." said he. raising himself without even
turning PALE ssnot even to twist rope.
As accidents Of this kind -beside being
very rsga1WsFs always considered occasions
Of pardon, they sent, therefore to the Winter
Palace to know the will Of the Emperor.
"Ah the cord has broken z" said Aicho
lag.
"Yes, sir"
s:Fhsnhe VA almost dead ? What impress
sion had such close contract with eternity
produced on the mind Of the rebel 7"
ssHe is brave man sire"
The Gar frowned.
"What did say 7" asked he severely.
"Sire, he said, rThay know not how even
to twist a rope in Russia"
SWELL" replied Nicholas, ';let them prove
to him the contrary" And he went on.
CApRIcIous BARBARITIEs.
One day, short time before the Crimean
war, at grand military review at Krasnoe
Solo, the Emperor, ON horseback, presented his
troops to the Empress, seated ID her carriage.
Suddenly appeared on the drill ground cari-
ole drawn by one horse, and out of which
stepped a tsMj.sagsaeyy, Courier of the place.
charged With Two autographs lettsEs from the
King Of Prussia to the emperor aud empress.
As the empress WAS the more easily approach
ed, he hapHad hor the first letter, and ran to-
ward the emperor to present the second But
some steps from him he pauses, turns pale and
bursts into tears The letter is lost.
Trembling from head to foot, he retraccs
his steps 10 try and find it, but the soldiers,
the aides,de-camp, the horses, have already
trodden it in the dust, and the precious envel-
ope cannot be found. 9s 9@i 543
s'What ails that animal 2? asked tbs tbs ssmpe-
rsF eef ane 'af his aides aa-aaRlp.
Il do not know, sir"
swell, go and ask him and bring me his re-
ply"
The aid-de-camp spurred his horse, and
from the lips Of the poor fell jiagner he learn
Prussia It IT. Empero , Of Russia hid besS
lost. He brought the Gar the information.
The face Of Nicholas clouded instantly !; his
expression was gloomy and aeveFs.
''Take charge Of this man yourself, and
without allowing him to communicate with
any one, conduct him Immediately to Siberia.
Let him not be harshly treated, but let him
never again appear in Europe"
The aia-ae'GGamH.p, IS we'll as tha unhappy
field jaguer, were both to set out, without even
changing their boots, for this journey Of two
thousand leagues The aid -de-camp tetnrnea
aight months afterward, and was recomnensaa
by promotion from tho smgsyaF, but the poor
carrier was doubtless dying or dead in the
neighRbaqFlhfooa IF f9bolsk, such fssn'lts as his
having escaped an an amnesty. "a =
Such instances { witnessed the one am
about to relate) were not rare in the life Of
Nicholas. One morning in the spring, when
a freshet Of tho Neya had rendered its gross
ing extremely perilous, the emperor, on look
Ing rs from the.window Of his winter palace, saw
q large crowd Watching, il evident stupelac-
tiop,a man Directing himself. by leaps from
one piece Sfice to-another, toward the oppo-
/ site shSoEs: s roqas1
He called his attendant aid de camp.
- $50