The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-01-15
Balakiref and the Gear.

Balakireff was the iavorite Jester of Peter the
Great Of Russia, and many instances are related OF
his clever wit. 1t happened once that n cousin OF
the Jester fell under the displeasure of the Empc-
ror, who delivered him to the authorities for trial,
and was Just about to ratity their sentence, when
Balaklretf, hearing Of it, made his appearance
with a very doleful face, and approached his mas
ter as if about TO speak. Peter, guessing his
errand, turned to the officers who were standing
around him, and said in a loud voice :" | know
what petition this fellow is bringing me but I
pledge You my word Of honor, gentlemen, that |
will not grant it." The jester, hearing this, threw
himself Mt the feet of the Car, and said, with the
utmost apparent carnestness, q beseech you,
Peter Alexeevitch, do not pardon that rascal
cousin of mine - 90 All, you rogue - cried Peter,
90 you' re too sharp for me yet, | see !" and next
, day the culprit received his pardon.
At another time, BalakirefftOok a sudden fancy
to stand sentinel at the gate OF the palace, and en-
treated the permission of bis master, who, at first,
only laughed ut him, but eventually consented, on
condition that the new sentinel should never be
on duty without his sword, which contingency
should be held to nuilily the agreement. Unior-
tunately for the credit of our hero, on the very first
evening of his new dignity he allowed himself to
be overcome with liquor, and was robbed of his
treasured weapon by Il passing grenadier, who
carried it to the Emperor. The latter, feeling
confident that he had trapped his willy associate
at last, turned out the guard the first thing next
morning when Balakireff, who had, meanwhile,
replaced his lost weapon by q sword of painted
wood. put Il bold face ON the matter, and appeared
along with the rest. Thereupon the Gar, pre-
tending todetect some inaccuracy in the equipment
OF one Of the men, began TO abuse him violently,
and turning 20 Balakircff, cried out, Draw your
sword, nay friend, and cut that rascal down -
The soldiers knowing how matters stood, were i'll
~ecstacies but the Jester was equal to the occasion ;
he uplifted his hands toward tue sky, and exclaimed
with the utmost soiemnity, 80 Merciful Lord I
pray Thee, turn my sword into a Hath - and at
the same moment drawing his sword, a lath it
actually proved TO be. The guardsmen, notwith-
standing the Empcror's presence, could not re-
strain their laughter and Peter, delighted with
the acuteness of his favorite, gave him IL handsome
reward.
On another occasion, Balakiref happened to
give serious offence to the Emperor, who, giving
way to lis rage, angrily ordered him to quit his
presence, and never dare to appear on Russian
soil again. The ~culprit. with an appearance of
great humility, replied that his Majesty should be
obeyed, and left the palace forthwith. A few
days later, however, the Car, while sitting at
one of the front windows of the palace, was as
tonished by the sight Of his exiled Jester ated in
a car and going quietly past under his very
eyes, with an air of the most perfect unconcern.
Furious at this barefaced tiansgression of his COM
mands, Peter rushed out into the street, and ap-
preaching the culprit with a menacing air, asked,
s' How he dared to show himself there, after being
forbidden ever to come upon Russian soil again %
I" Gently. gently, Gar of Russia ~ answered Bala-
kireff, with an impish chuckle, = this cart-load of
earth on which I'm sitting is none of yours it's
all Swedish, every bit of it - lit must be remem-
bered that this took place at a period when Fin
land was still a dependency of the Swedish crown.)
So saying, the wag coolly pursued his journey
but Peter who had doubtless had leisure by this
time to regret the absence of so diverting a COM
panion, laughed loudly at the evasion, and in
stantly despatched an officer after him, with the
promise of a full pardon for all his past offences.