Weekly Trinity journal., 1868-03-28
NUMBER 70.
A Yankee Boy in st. Petersburg.

The following is the substance of a story as
told by Mr.. Dallas, at public dinner given him
at Philadelphia, on his return from st. Peters,
burg, in 1885,
One day, youth apparently nineteen, pre-
sented himself before our ambassador at ot.
Petersburg. He was pure specimen OF the
genus Yankee; with sleeves too short TOT MS
bony arms, trowsers half up to his knees, and
playing with coppers and tenpenny nats IN MS
pocket. He introduced himself by saying:
1--we just come over here to trade with few
Yankee notions, and l want to get sight at the
Emperor"
"Why do yoa wish to see him?''
F" I've brought him present all the way from
Ameriky | respect him considerable, and
want to get at him, to give it to him with my
own hands"
Mr.. Dallas smiled as he answered, " 1t is such
a common thing to make crowned heads pres
ents, my lad, expecting something handsome in
return that am afraid the Emperor will con-
slider this only Yankee trick. What have you
brought?"
"An acorn"
"An acorn! What under the sun induced
you to bring the Emperor of Russia an acorn ~
"Why Just before l sailed, mother and went
to Washington to see about pension, and while
we were there, we thought that we would just
step over to Mount Vernon. picked up this
acorn there and thought to myself I'd bring
it to the Emperor. Thinks |, he's heard consid-
erable about our General Washington, and can
expect he must admire our institutions 80, you
see, I've brought it, and want to get at him."
My lad, it is not such an easy thing for
stranger to approach the Emperor, and | am
afraid he would take notice of your present.
You had better keep it,"
- tell you want to have talk with him.
'spect could tell thing or two about Amer
ky. guess he'd like very we'll to hear about
our railroads, our free schools, and what big
swell our steamers cut. And when he hears
how well people is getting on, perhaps 1t
will put him up to doing something. The long
and short of 1t is, ! shan't be easy until geta
talk with the Emperor and should like to see
his wife and children | want 20 see how such
folks bring up family"
"Well, sir, since you are so determined upon
it, will do what l can for you, though you
must expect to be disappointed. Though it
would be rather an unusual proceeding, would
advise you to call on the Vice Chancellor and
state your wishes he may possibly assist you.
"Well, that's all I want of you | will call
again, and let you know how get along.
In two or three days he again appeared and
sad " Well, I've seen the Emperor, and had a
talk with him. He's real gentleman. When l
gave him the acorn he said he should set great
store by it and that there was no character in
ancient or modern history that he admired so
much as he did our Washington. He said that
hand and he did it too, for seen him with my
own eyes. He wanted TO ask much about
our schools and our railroads, and one thing and
another, that he invited me to come again and
see his daughters for he said that his wife
could talk better English than be can So
went again yesterday, and she's fne knowing
woman, tell you, and his daughters are nice
girls.''
=" What did the Empress say to you ?"
oh, she asked me a thousand questions.
Don't you think she thought we had no servants
in Ameriky. l told her that poor folks did their
own work, but that rich folks had plenty of SER
wants But then you don't call them servants,
said she, you call them helps guess you've
been reading Mrs. Trolop,' says |. We had
that ere book aboard ship. The Emperor
clapped his hands, and laughed as if he'd kill
himself You're right, sir, said he, you're
right. We sent for English copy, and she's
been reading it this morning Then told him
all knew about the country, and he was might
ily pleased He asked me how long expected
to remain in these parts. l tod<him that had
sold all the notions | had brought over, and
guessed would go back in the same ship.
bid them goodbye and went away about my
business. Amt had glorious time? ex-
pect you didn't calculate me to run such rg?"
"No, indeed l did not, my lad. You may
we'll consider yourself lucky for it's very un-
common thing for crowned heads to treat
stranger with so much distinction
few days after, he called again and said,
81 guess l shall stay here spell longer-l'm
treated so we'll. T'other day grand officer
came to my room and told me the Emperor had
sent him to show all the curiosities and
dressed myself and he took me with him in
mighty fine carriage with four horses; and I've
been to the theater and the museum and ex-
pect I've all there is to be seen in st. Pc
tersburg. What do you think of that, Mr. Dali
las?'
1t seemed so incredible that poor, ungainly
Yankee lad should thus be loaded with atten-
tions that the ambassador knew not what to
think or say.
In short time the strange visitor re-appeared
Well,' said he, " made up my mind to go
home; so went to thank the Emperor and bid
him goodbye; thought l couldn't do no less,
he had been so civil. Says he, { Is there any
thing that you would like to see before you go
back TO Ameriky?' l told him that would like
to see Moscow, for I'd heard considerable about
their setting fire to the Kremlin, and a read
great deal about General Bonaparte, but II wouiu
cost sight of money to 60 there ana "ah.ea .:a
to carry my earnings to my mother. 90 D,o
him goodbye, and came away. NO" F." "n"'
you guess be did next morning! 'o" III ", -
the same man in regimenals, to take me al -, 'uo
way to Moscow, and carry me oack ae"'n 80
I'd seen all want to see. we are go'ns e. ,h;nk
row morning. Mr.. Dallas. "na' uo 'oN
now?" hor n.esod tba
And sure enough the Yankee boy passed .ns
..hassodor,s house in splendid coaen ana Iour'
waving 1 his handkerchief, and shouting "Good-
bye +! goodbye ,oorned from the En-
Ml IL. oil the particulars relating to this ad-
p.ons PEI youth were strictly true. He again
se"rd of him at Moscow, waited upon by the
nubIic officers, and treated with as much atten-
ip;oo as is usually bestowed ambassadors.
The last tidings of him report that he was
travelling in Circassia, and writing journal
which he intended TO publish.
JOSH BILLINGS lately witnessed skating scene,
and here is what he says of it =" AS the female
angels put out on the pond, side by side with the
mail angels, it was the most powerful scene
ever stood behind. The long red tapes frum
their swan in the breeze, and the fethers in.
their jockeys futtered in the breeze. and other
things (too much to mention) futtered in the
breeze. don't think was ever more crazy in
my life ice. felt like q kanal boss turned