North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-05-26
Nicholas OF Il ussla.

Nicholas OF Russia.
The following anecdotes Of the late Gear
Nicholas of Russia, exhibit that Emperor q
character in light which is probably as
new to Americans as to any Of the nations
Of continental Europe:
MARTIAL ECONOMY.
During one Of the EEperor's visits to
Warsaw, he was met by poor woman,
who threw herself at his feet, and implor.
ed his protection. Niheolas inquired her
grievance, and she replied that her only
son had Just been drawn for the conscrip>
ton, and forcibly carried of by recruits
ing agent, and in def .nce of the regulation
which prohibits the compulsory enlistment
Of the only son of widow. Wishing to
assure himself Of the truth of this CON-
plant, the Car gave orders for the
immediate summoning Of the culprit. The
latter, however, stoutly denied the charge,
and asserted that the woman's petition
was merely subterfuge to defraud the
recruitisg agency, nasmuch as she had in
reality tro sons, the eldest of whom had
been enlisted by him, in accordance with
the imperial enactments on that point.
Both parties being thus positive, the Ems
peror, between his fear Of violating the
law and his reluctance to commit an act of
unwarrantable harshness, was for some
time at loss what to do; but at length a
solution Of the difficulty occurred to him.
"You are quite certain, then,' said he
''that this woman has really two sons. and
it is the eldest who is at present in your
hands p 'Qu te so, your Imperial Ma
jesty." ''ln that case," replied the Gar.
with grim smile, 1--WE must not lose a
soldier: so give back the eldest son to his
mother, and take the other one.
PxoMrTITUDE REWARDED.
Shortly after the commencement Of the
great struggle in the Cri,nea, an officer was
sent from Sevastapool with important dis
patches, which he was ordered to carry
with all speed to St. Petersburg, and deliv-
er into the Emperor's own hands. The
immense length and multiplied hardships
of the journey, which was performed en-,
tirely by sledge, and in the depth of
winter, proved too much even for the
military hardhood of the messenger, who
arrived at the capital in such state of
exhaustion that he no sooner reached the
Winter Palace and presented his dispatches
than he staggered back against the wall
and fell fast asleep. Nicholas, having Pc
rused the papers, turned round and per-
ceived the condition of his courier. He
spoke to him, touched him, shook him, in
vain. At length he stopped down, and
shouted in the gruf voice of a Russian
postmaster, "Vashe prevoschoditelstvo,
loshadi gotovi!" C'Your exceiency, the
horses are ready!'') At these words which
he had heard several times day for the
last fortnight, the sleeper sprang to his
feet, and was petrifed on discovering =
where he was but Nicholas only laughed
and dismissed him with compliment on
his promptitude.
SMOKING PROHIBITED.
During the early part of Nichola' 8
reign, friend of my own, o" visit to
Saint Petersburg, happened, while stroll
ling in front of the Winter Palace, to light
a cgar-a proceeding instantly followed
by looks of astonishment and dismay from
all the passers,by. While endeavorng to
guess at the cause Of this, he was accosted
by tall, elooking man in the undress
uniform Of a colonel of the Imperial
Guard, who remarked politely that "he
was probably ignorant of the Emperor s
order, prohibiting smoking in front of the
palace The tourist apologised, and
threw away his cigar. Some days later,
an official friend having offered to present
him privately to the Czar, he was con-
Quoted to the palace and ushercd into a
small cabinet, with an intimation that his
majesty would he with him directly
Presently the door opened, and in walked
his friend the colonel in the self-same un-
lforla, startling him not little. Nicholas
, however, received him very graciously
and dismissed him with friendly cautiol
against smoking in public under the eyer
Of the police.
WHO WILL PAY THIS SUN.
One evening the Car was led by cur
iosity to stroll into the quarters of th'
Imperial Guard, and entering the fast
room he came to, found man with his
head resting on the table, fast asleep
Recognising in the sleeper one OF his be>
; officers, Nicholas softly approached him
and found on the table sheet Of pape
covered with the following calculation
. "Pay, 5000 Rs. Cost of equipments
;, 800 RS. f; Pension to my mother, ,5O'
: Rs. Debts, 5000 Rs. Total, 5000 RS
Deficit, 5000 Rs.-who will pay thi
sum?' Unable to answer this query, tn
. unfortunate guardsman had fallen asles]
in the midst Of his arithmetic. The Em
peror took pen, wrote beneath tn
ominous question the single word "NIc-
7 oLAI," and departed. The officers disma,
; on discovering this palpable proof Of tn
imperial visit may be imagined but mex
: morning he received an autograph lette
= from the Gar, confirming the promise O
. payment, and advising him to continu
his attention to his mother, and to be NOR
. wakeful in the future.
:. THE SOLE CONFIDANT.