Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-05-27
A FOOLS WEDDING.
From Appleton's Journal.

From Appleton's Journal.
At the beginning Of the year l740, the
Russian court was busy with the prepara-
tions for strange wedding which the EN-
press Anna had taken fancy to have cele-
brated purely for her own amusement and
| that Of the courtiers.
The bridegroom of this fantastic cere-
mony was the court fool, Prince Solozyn,
man of fifty, who was to be married to q
woman in the service of the empress.
committee was appointed to make arrange
ments for the festivities, which were to take
| pIace-in part at least-in a house which,
together with its furniture, was constructed
entirely of ice from the Neva, and was
built on the bank of the river near the i'm
perial palace. The columns supporting
the roof, the windows, and the ornaments,
we're all of ice, and were to elighted on the
wedding night with part-colored lanterns.
1t was arrangr / that the bridal pair, at
the head Of procession formed Of the rep
resentaiives of the various Northern races,
each in his peculiar costume, riding on or
drawn by horses, reindeers, dogs, and even
hogs ard goats, should pass through the
prlncipa. streets OF the capital to the palace
of the imperial favor, its Biren, where the
wedding feast was to be served in the pres
euce of the empress and the whole court.
Then, at twilight. the proc ession WAS to
form again, and turn toward the NeVa
| Th" bridal par we're to be led into their
chamber Of ice, guards were 10 Oe station
c,i before the doors to prevent their escaping
before the morning and, for the amuse.
ment of the court and the people, the house
ana lis surroundings were TO be lighted with
lnnumerable Chinese lanterns.
Among the principal members of the
committee appointed to set these singular
wedding festivities INTO scenes was Coun,
Wolinski, one of the principal favorites Of
the empress. In the eighteenth century
the aid OF the MUSES. was called into requl-
sition on all festive occasions. Woli ski,
therefore, a few days before the time Gxe d
ior the wedding, sent for the Secretary Of
the Academy. Tredjakowski, intending to
commission him with the writing of the
necessary poem for the approaching cele
| bration.
The Office who bore the message did
rot condescend to tell the poor poet what
was wanted Of him, but roughly ordered
him to follow in the name of the formida.
ble Count, who was Justly dreaded for his
arrogance and cruelty. 1t va, not till they
were we'll on their way thai l,e deigned to
tell the terrified poet that be was wanted at
the ice-house on the Neva. and not at the
palace # the minister. The Secretary re-
proa, he'd the officer for having uselesslv
terrified him the officer answered in a.
abusive tone, and, when they arrived in the
presence of Wolinski, they wee engaged
in an angry alteration.
Tredjakowski approached his excellency
with becoming respect, but lost no time i'll
| com planning OF the conduct of his messen
ger, Without even listening to the charge,
Wolinski dealt the Secretary couple OF
severe blows in the face, aud then told the
officer to take vengeance on his unarmed
accuser The officer was not slow in obey
ing. Hundreds Of people witnessed tn
brutality, but not one dared interpose.
When this barbarous scene came to an end
| Woiiusk informed the Secretary that he
was to write and deliver poem on the oc-
cason of the coming wedding.
Trediakowski was then allowed to return
home. What followed we will relate in his
own words extracted from the account OF
the fair which he presented to the Acad-
| envy,
IL returned home," he says, "wrote the
verses demanded, thought OF the illtreat-
ment | had received aud determined to go
on the following morning to his grace the
| duke (Blren) and complain of his excel
| lency (Wolinski). Accordingly, on the
following day, drove to the ducal palace
in full dress, with hat and sword | had
hardly arrived when, to my CONSERVATION,
in came his excellency. He asked what
brought me there, and, as was sient he
began again to beat me, and, seizing me
by the throat, he handed me over to the
sergeant on duty, commanding him to take
me to the headquarters of the wedding
committee. | was soon followed by his ex-
cellency, who took my hat and sword from
me, and commanded me to be whipped on
the bare back. received seventy blows.
His excellency then renewed his opprobri
Gus eplthets, anu questioned me again. ]
was too much exhausted and bewildered to
reply or even to understand. By his excel
lency's command, was again thrown to
the ground, and again whipped. This time
| received thirty blows. | was now re-
moved in state of insens,bilty to an ad
Joining apartment and guarded until the
evening of the following day"
On the morning of the 9th Of February,
l74O, the entire population of St. Peters
burg we're on their feet to see the procession
that opened the festivities Of the "FooIs
Marriage" as it marched through the streets.
At the banquet, at which the empress her
self presided, the unfortunate poet appear
ed and re his verses, after which he was
conducted back to his improvised prison by
the guard, where he was detained until the
following morning, when he was again
brought before Wolinkski. More dead
than alive, he threw himself at the feet of
the coun, begging ior mercy. For reply
he received ten additional blows with cane,
then his hat and sword were given to him,
and he was at liberty to go home.
Trediakowsk reached home covered with
blood. One of the results of the brutal
treatment he had received was the loss of
an eye; but tho results to Wol:nski we're
destined to be st more serious.
Artemy Petrowitsch Wolinski, born in
the year 1852, was Of an old Russian noble
family that ranked as one Of the first in the
empire. He was early given position in
the body-guard of Peter the Great, where
he had abundant opportunity to become ac-
quainted with the emperor and his policy.
He belonged to the progressive school, OF
which the emperor was the brightest orna-
ment.
His talents soon led to his promotion,
In l7l5 he was appointed ambassador to
Persia, with the military rank of Colonel,
and in l7lS he was Adjutant General and
Governor of the province of Astrakhan,
whose people he plundered and oppressed
without mercy.
After Catherine I. ascended the throne,
Wclinski was appointed to the Governor.
ship of Kazan, with the rank Of major
general. His administration here differed