The union Democrat., 1869-06-26
NichOins Of Russia.

I
The following aheciote of the Car Nich-
elias of Russia exhibit iha, Euperor's char
ac'er in q light which is probably as new TO
Americans AS TO any OF the nations Of cpnti-
mental Europe:
During one of the Emperor's visits to War
saw. he was met by poor wumaa, who
threw herself At his feet and imp,ored his
protection. Nicholas inquired her griev-
ances, and she repled that her only son had
/ just been drawn for the cnnscription and
| forcihlv carried off hv a recruiting agent.
IN defiance Of the regulation which prohibits
| the compulsory enlistment Of the only son OF
a widow. Wishing to assure himself Of the
truth of this complaint, the Car gave orders
| FIR the Immediate summoning of the culprit.
The latter. however, Stoutly denied the
charge. and asserted. that the woman petit
ton was merely subterfuge 10 defraud the
| recruiting agency. in as much as she had in
reality two sons the eldest of whom had been
enlisted bv him i" accordance with the impe-
ria! enactments on that point. Both parties
being thus positive, the Emperor. between
his fear of violating the law and his reluc-
tance to commit an act of unwarrantable
harshneSs, was for some time at n loss what
10 do: hut at length solution of the difficulty
occurred to him. You are quite certain.
them" said he, THAT this woman has really
two sons and that it is the eldest who is at
present in vnur hands?" Quite SO, your
imperial Majesty" In that case, ~ replied
the Gar. with a grim smile, 1--WE must lose
soldier; so give back the eldest son to his
mother and take the other one!'
| Shortly after the commencement Of the
great struggle in the Crimsa, an officer was
sent from SehaStopol with important dis
patches. which he was ordered To carry with
all speed to Saint Petersburg. and deliver
into the Emperor's own hands. The i'm
menSe length and multiplied hardships Of the
! journey, which was performed entirely by
sledge, and in the depth of Winter. proved
too much even for the military hardihood of
the messenger. who arrived at the Capital in
snch Il state of exhaustion that he had no
sooner reached the Winter Palace and pre-
sen.ed his dispatches. than he staggered hack
against the wall and fell fast asleep. Mich
olas, having perused the papers. turned round
and perceived the condition of his courier
lie spoke tn him. touched him. shook him, in
vain AT length he stopped down, and shout
ed in the graft voice of the Russian Postmas-
ter. "Vashe prevnschoditelstvo. losbadi goto-
viz t'Your Excellency, the horses are
ready!" At these words which he had heard
slee oer sprang to his feet. and was petriiipd
on discovering where he was; bot Nicholas
only laughed and dismissed him with d COM
piment on his promptitude.
| During the early part of Nicholas reign.
a friead of my own. on visit "a St. Peters
burg. happened. while strollinS III frent OF
the Winter Palace. To light a cigar-a pro-
ceedEg instantly followed by looks of aston
iShm"ht and di>may by all the passers-by
! While endeav0ring to guess at the cause OF
this, he was accnsted hv tall. fine looking
man in the unhress uniform of Colonel of
he Imperial Guard. who remarked politely
that "he was probably ignorant Of the EN-
ppror's order. prohibiting smoking in front
oi the palace" The tourist apolngizpd. and
threw away his cigar. Some DAYS later. nn
! "tfical friend having offered to present him
privately to the Czar. he was conducted to
the palace and usbered into IA small cabinet,
with an intination tha. his majesty would he
with him directly. Presentiv the door open
ed, and in walked bis friend the Cnlnrel IN
the self-Same uuli"m. startling him not u
little, Nicholas. however, received him very
graciously, and dismissed him with friendly
rsution against smoking in public under the
| eyes If the police.
One event the Czar was led ~ curiosity
tn siroil into the quarters OF the Imperial
Guard and entering the tirst room he came
t., found a man with his head resting on the
ia hle. fast asleep Il cng''zing in the sleeper
one of his best officers. Nicholas softly al
preached him. ard found on sheet oi paper
covered with tue following calculation:
PAY, 3, ,000 RS. cost of equipmpEts, l.500
rs: pension to nv mother, 1900 rs.; debts.
900 RS total. 6,000 RS. deficit. 5000 RS.
,I,, 10
this query, the unfortunate guardsman had
fallen asleep in the midst of his arithmetic.
The Er.p took pen, wrote beneath the
ominous question the single word, NC
oLAI," aud departed. The oficer's d.>may
or discovering this palpable proof of the i'm
peria visit may be ina gined: hut next morn
ing he received an authograph letter from
The Czar, containing the promise Of payment,
and advising him to continue his attention to
his mother aud be more waEeful in the
future.
On one occasion, distinguished foreign
Ambassador congratulated the Car on the
number of competent statesmen aud generals
he possessed. Nicholas heard HIM to the end
in Ience, and then LAYING his hand on the
shoulder of the TSarevitch now Emperor
who stood beside him, and who was then rt
purted to be on anything but good terms with
his father, be said in tone of intense
sadness, There is only one man in my whole
empire W hom can trust. and here he stands?'
THE DIrrERENCE.--The marriage portion
of young bride in olden times was a leather
bed, six chairs, plain cherry table and bu-
reau, six cups and saucers, half dozen sill
yer teas spoons and lot of sand for sanding
floors. Now they expect set of silver plate,
carved bair seat sofa ottomaps, divans, tete-
a-tetes. rosewood pianos. marble-top tables
for parlors, painted furniture for chambers,
Brussels carpets and all other such modern
6x,ngs for show. This is the reason there
are not more marriages.
Practical VS.. THEoRETICAL.-A college
professor was being rowed across a stream
in hoat Said he to the boatman, "Do veu
understand philosophy ~ No, never herd
of it." Then one-quarter of your life's
gunG. "Do you understand astronomy ?"
''Nn." Then three-quarters of your life is
gone. But presently the boat tipped over
and split both in the river. Says the boat
mar. "CaE you swim ?" "No.n Then the