Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-02-02
road" while we - well, gentlo
reader, you cannot have forgotten
how the old thing worked in those
days before the war.


Story Of an Acorn.
When the Russian Grand Duke
Alexis was in Boston, visiting the
rooms Of the Historical Society and
was about to depart, Admiral Pois-
siet, who was with him. took from
his pocket, as the Boston Traveller
reports, small envelope and hand
ed it to Mr.. Winthrop, observing
that it might, perhaps, be thought
of sufficient interest to entitlc it to
appear in the Society's cabinet
The envelope was opened, and dis
closed three oak leaves and little
twig. An inscription in Russian
explained that these were from an
oak tree in St. Petersburg, which
grew from an acorn planted by the
Emperor of Russia, who received
it from George Sumner, who took
it from an oak overshadowing the
tomb of Washington, at Mount Ver-
non. This circumstance may re-
call to the memory Of a few of our
readers the anccdote which the late
George Dallas, our Minister at St.
Petersburg some twenty-five or
thirty years since, used to tell of an
acorn and it's bearer.
Mr.. Dallas was called upon, as
he related, 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 Washing
ton, 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. "Well," said the young man,
81 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 undrtake to help you out
Of it." 81 shall see him at all
events" was the young mans ans
wer, and he took his leave. Short
ly afterward Mr.. Dallas met him in
company with a man wearing a
military uniform. "Well," said
the young man, 81 have seen the
Emperor" eyes, and have got
into difficulty; you are under arrest,
see; you remember what I said
about helping you out Of any scrape
You might get yourselfi into" ooh,
you mean that man; why he is my
officer" "Your officerw eyes, he
is the officer whom the Emperor di-
rected to 60 with me, and show me
anything that might want to see
in ST. Petersburg" On comparing
notes it was found that the young
adventurer had already seen a
great deal more of that city than
Mr.. Dallas had, although for some
time resident there. The intro
duction to the Emperor took place
in this manner. The young man
wrote a note to the Emperor, ac-
quainting him with the strong de-
sire he had for private interview,
and mentioned his particular Qur-
pose. Soon after this, he was wait
ed on by a person who asked if he
was the American gentleman who
desired to see the Emperor. 81
am," was the answer. "Come then,
with me, and your wish shall be
gratified." The American was con-
Quoted into small room in the pal
ace, the Empcror's cabinet, proba
bly,, where sat a middle-aged gen.
tleman, who asked the same ques-
ton, and, being answered in the
affirmative, said, 81 am the Empe-
ror." The conversation proceeded,
but the Emperor, not finding him.
self over-iuent in English, said to
the young man. "Come with me,
and I will present you to the Emp
ress, who speaks English much bet
ter than l." and, taking him into
another room, introduced him to
the family circle. The American
and the Empress were soon engag-
ed in animated conversation. "You
ustNc fiO ScINtIitS Ill AucIiCd, Sdlu
the Empress. "Pardon me, we
have many" was the reply. eyes,
but you do not call them by that
name; you call them help" "Ahw
said the Yankee, shaking his finger
at Her Imperial Majesty, "you have
been reading Mrs. Trollope." !" $50 she
has" interrupted the Emperor, and
they all laughed in chorus. Moan
time the acorn was not forgotten,
but duly delivered; the young man
was afterw ards allowed free access
to the imperial family circle, was
provided with an intelligent guide
in military uniform, who was to
show him everything worth seeing
in St. Petersburg, and was after
ward sent, at the imperial expense,
to travel post through the empire
wherever his curiosity might lead
him. Tho acorn, it seems, was du-
ly planted and germinated and be-
came a tree. In token of the truth
Of this, if we may receive the words
of the Boston Traveller as authentic,
some leaves and little twig from
it are deposited in the cabinet Of
the Boston Historical Society.-M
y. Erening Post.