Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-02-01
The Story of an Acorn.

WHEN the Russian Grand Duke Alexis
was in Boston, visiting the rooms of the
y Historical Society, and was about to de-
part, Admiral Poissiet, who was with
him, took from his pocket, as the Boston
4 7luoeIler reports, small envelope and
handed it to Mr.. Winthrop, observing that
1 it might perhaps. be thought of sufficient
1 interest to entitle it to appear in the Soci-
etys cabinet. The envelope was opened
and disclosed three oak leaves and little
twig An inscription in Russian explain
ed that these were from an oak tree in st.
Petersburg, which grew from an acorn
planted by the Emperor of Russia, who re-
4 ceived it from George Summer, who took
it from an oak Overshadowing the tomb of
Washington, at Mount Vernon. This cir
cumstance may recall to the memory of
few of our readers the anecdote which
the late George Dallas, our Minister at
st. Petersburg some twenty five or thirty
wears since, used to tell of the acorn and
its bearer.
Mr.. Dallas was called upon, as he re-
lated, by young American, who said that
he desired much to see the Emperor OF
Russia, as he had brought an acorn, the
fruit of tree growing by the tomb of
Washington, which he wished to present
him. Mr.. Dallas said that he could not
possibly undertake to obtain for him
private audience from the Emperor with
so little occasion for it, SWELL" said the
Young man, II am determined to see him
at any rate" "Have care" replied Mr..
Dallas, cor you may get yourself into an
unpleasant scrape. If you do, / will UNI
dertake to help you out of it," 81 shall
see him at ali events" was the young
mans answer, and he took his leave.
Shortly afterward Mr.. Dallas met him in
company with man wearing military
uniform. "Well," said the young man,
81 have seen the Emperor Eyes" and
have got into difficulty; you are under ar,
rest, ! see; YOU remember what | said
about helping you out of any scrape you
might get yourself into" ooh, you mean
that man; why, he is my officer" Your
oflicer!'' eyes, he is the officer whom
the Emperor directed to go with me, and
show me anything that l must like to see
in St. Petersburg" On comparing notes
it was found that the young adventurer
had already seen great deal more
of that CITY than Mr.. Dallas had,
although for some time resident
there. The introduction to the En-
peror TODD place in this manner. The
young man wrote note to the Emperor
acquainting him with the strong desire he
had for private interview, and mention
ed his particular purpose. Soon after TINS
he was waited on by person VINO asked
him if he was the American gentleman,
who desired to see the Emperor. II am,
was the answer "Come, then with me,
and your wish shall be gratfied. Inc
American was conducted into small
room in the palace, the Emperors Capl,
net, probably, where sat a mlddle-ageu
gentleman, who asked the same question:
and, being answered in the affirmative,
said, 81 am the Emperor" The CONVEX.
sation proceeded, but the Emperor, not
finding himself over-1uent in Enghsh'
said to the young man, Come Win me-
and will present you to the EMPIRES,
who speaks English much better thah l,
and, taking him into another room, in a
duced him to the family circle Inc
American and the Empress were soon gu.
gagged in an animated conversation. gu
have no servants in America sara INC e
Empress. Pardon me, we have many
was the reply. Eyes, but you DO not eau y
them by that name you call them heiP
All" said the Yankee, shaking ms my,
at Her Imperial Majesty, you nave D p;n
reading Mrs. Trollope." $50 she mas, IN IN
tterrupted the Emperor, and they al
laughed in chorus. Meantime the acorn sn
was not forgotten, but duly delivered; tne
young man was afterward allowed 1ree
access to the imperial family circle, was
provided with an intelligent GUIDE III =.
military uniform, who was TO show nll I'LL
everything worth seeing in ST. Peterspulg 4
and was afterward sent, at the impeiia,
expense, to travel post through the empire ~,
Wherever his curiosity might LEAD MN;
The acorn, it seems, was duly planted anu an,
terminated and became tree ln toAs ~,
OF the truth of this, If we may receive tne
words of the Boston Traveller as aulnei !,
TIC some leaves and a little twig rom !.
are deposited in the cabinet OF the bos,o ,t
Historical Society," T. Eren'ng f"S''