The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-09-08
ASHLAND, OHIO WEDNESDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 8 1869
NO99.


the end of his work short account of
each of his informants in alphabetical
order. His work, therefore, whatev-
er errors it may contain, may be ac-
cepted as the impression made by Pc
ter the Great ON the minds of those
with whom he associated. asd
Walking along Nassau street the
other day, found q copy of this
book in French, published in 1888 Z;
and after reading it, it seemed to me
that there were some things in it
which the readers of the Ledger would
not be unwilling to know. fass,
| In our ignorance of the history of
Russia, we are apt to suppose that
Peter was the first of the great rulers
Of his country, and thar all before
him were mindless and cruel barbar-
iahs. One of DIR. de Staehlin's anec-
dotes gives us a; glimpse of the truth
ON this subject When Moscow was
illuminated, in 1721, to celebrate the
conclusion of peace with Sweden, af-
ter the long wars with Charles the
Twelfth, the Cars n-in-law, the
Duke of Holstein, caused a triumph
al arch of lanterns to be constructed
before his palace. On one side of the
arch was picture of Peter riding up
on triumphal chariot. On the other
side was represented the Emperor
Ivan Wassilowitsch; he who formed
the empire of Russia by conquering
many petty princes and uniting their
states to his own. The picture of this
conqueror was not pleasing to the peo7
pie of Moscow who regarded him
from of old asa tyrant. When, how
ever, the Emperor approached - the,
archi and saw the pieture,, he public
ly embraced the duke, and kissed him.,
saying: r. ,-s-,o o,ey o.,. i,
IT have seen nothing so happily con-
eeived and so well executed as this in
all Moscow. Your Highness has mar
velously hit my fancy. That Prince
was my forerunner and my model.
At all times / have sought to initiate
his wisdom and his valor, but I am
far from equalling him. 1t is only
fools who can call him a tyrant, for
they know not either the. circum-
stances in which he found himself,
nor the nation which he governed, nor
his great talents"
Speaking thus, the Emperor went
into the palace, where he continued
for long time to converse upon the
policy, character, and conquests of his
''forerunner and model" This anec-
dote, which throws q valuable light
upon ERs..c.:;:in R,.e@;Gin history, was related to
DR.. de Staehlin by the Duke of Hol-
STEMS Grand Marshal, member of
| the Dukes household at the time.
In his twenty-third year, the Gar
lay dangerously sick, and all Moscow
was in CONSERVATION. According to
the superstitious custom of the coun-
try, the Judge of the Criminal Court
presented himself at the palace to ask
the Emperor if he should not restore
to liberty nine criminals condemned to
death for murder and highway rob-
berry, in order that they. might pray
for the Cars recovery. With fee
Bile and broken voice, he replied:
''Do you think. that in giving impu
nifty to scoundrels. and arresting the
course of justice, should be doing a
good action, for which rewarding Heav-
en- would prolong my life? Do you
believe that God would hear the pray
ers of assassins and impious men who
have forgotten Him? Go. 1 order
| you to have those malefactors execu-
ted tomorrow !; and if ANYTHING can
obtain for me from Heaven the recov-
cry of my health, / hope it will be
this work of justice" ,.rfr .g1e
| The men were beheaded according
ly; and from that hour, SO runs the
story, the Emperor began to recover.
A young lady of high rank, Maid
of Honor to the Empress, was arrested
on the charge of secretly destroying
her offspring. She was convicted, and
sentenced to death. Her family and
all the court and nobility implored
her pardon of the Emperor. He firm
ly refused it, although he had been
fond of her, and felt compassion both
for her and her family. On the day
of execution, the guilty woman, still
beautiful and young, was led to the
scafold, wearing a robe of white silk,
| trimmed with black ribbons. The
Emperor himself came to the place of
execution. took her by the hand, kiss
ed her, and said .a,-,.ga.r r....-s,l,r.... =
|, 81 cannot violate the laws i'll order
to save you. = Support your punish
ment with courage, in the hope that
God will pardon your sins. Address
yourself to Him, with a contrite heart
and unquestioned faith" a.4 tI
The lady fell upon her knees, and
bent her head as if in prayer. The
Gar turned away, and her head was
severed from her body at blow.
The Russiars in Peters Gay were
amazingly superstitious, and the Gar
took infinite pains to dispel their fool
ish terrors and fancies. When he was
building ST. Petersburgh-a work to
which the clergy and nobility of the
empire were strongly opposed-he no
ticed one day as he was riding along
the streets, great crowd of people
gathered round church, and seeming
to be much terrified. Upon inquiry
he was informed that an Image of the
blessed Virgin in that church was
shedding tears, which the people be-
lieved to be sign of her grief at the
building of the new city. Peter went
to the church, dismounted, entered,
and examined the image closely. No
, tears were flowing from its eyes at the
time, but he was informed by several
bystanders that they had seen them