Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-01-30
An Acorn becomes a Tree.

When the Russian Grand Duke Alexis
was in Boston visiting the rooms Of the His
/ t0rlcal Society, and was about to depart,
Admiral Possei, who was with him, took
from his pocket, as the Boston Traveller"
reports, a small envelope and handed II 10
Mr.. Winthrop, observing that it might per
haps be- thought Of sufficient interest 10 en-
title il to appear In the Society's cabinet. /
The envelope was npened and disclosed three /
oak leaves and a little twig. An inscription I
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 1t from George Sum-
ner, Tho took II from an oak oyershadow-
ing the tomb Of Washington Of Mount Ner-
non. This circumstance may rec0ll tue
momery oil a few oil our readers, the anecdote
which the late George Dallas, our Minister
at st. Petersburg some twenty-five or thirty
years since, used TO tell Of the acorn and its
bearer
Mr.. Dallas was called upon, rs he related,
by young American, who said that he de-
sired much 10 see the Emperor OF Russia, MS
he had brought an acorn, the fruit oil tree
growing by the tomb Of Washington, which
lie wished to present him. Mr.. Dallas said
Il that he could not possibly undertake TO OBJ
!. tain for him private audience from the
s Emperor with so little occasion lor it.
is "Well,h said the young man, 81 am deter
J.. mined 10 see him at any rate" "Ilaye a
se care" replied Mr.. Dallas, cor you may get
le yourself into an UNPLEASANT scrape. II you
do, will not undertake TO help you out Of
r. It," II shall see him at all events" was
le the young mans answer AMI he lo0k his
" leave. Shortly altetward Mr.. Dallas met
Is HIM in company with a man wearing a
:. military uniform. "Wel," said the young
a man, 81 have seen the Emperor" ayes,
tn and have got into difficulty. You are under
In arrest see; you remember what
l said about helping you out Of any scrare
you might Get into" "Oh, you mean thai
me mau; why, he is my Officer "Youi
NV offcerw "Yes, he is the officer whom The
IAN me anything that must like TO see in 81
all Petersburg" On comparing notes il wa
found that the young adyenturer had alread
al n seen a great deal more Of that City than Mr.
Dallas had, although Tor some time there
I'M The introduction 10 the Emperor took plaC
nob in ills manner: The young man wrote
yIih note 10 the Emperor acquainted him wit
ght the strong desire lie had Tor private lnt:l
I ,it view, and mentioned his particular puIp)si
ons Soon after this he was waited Oh by q pc
ono son who asked him il he was the Ameaica
,nte gentleman who desired TO see the Empero
riti Il am," was The answer "COme, thel
with me, and your wish shall be gratiiled.
ool The American was conducted into a sma
ave room in the palace, the Emperor's c0bine
probably, where sal midde-aged gent
,ons man who asked the same question and beil
/ nf answered in the Affirmative, said, 81 am Il
cor- Emperor The conversation proceeie
mo but the Emperor not finding himself Ov
ta@e fluent in English, sand to the young ma
no "COme with me and ! will present You
viii the Empress, VINO speaks English mui
fl of better than ~; and taking him into anoth
+ 70. room introduced him to tho family circl
sad The American and the Empress were 500
engaged in m animated conversation. ~,
sell have no servants in America said the III
press. "PardOn me, we have many W
nka the reply. "Nes, but you do not call the
onr by that name; you call them help" "Ah
# Ia said The Yankee, shaking his finger at h
lore Imperial Majesty, "you have been readi
vim Mrs. lIollOpe.n $50 she has" interrupt
une tho Emperor, and they all laughed in chor,
nj Meantime the acorn was not forgotten, l
N a. duly teiiyered The young man was ait
MIMI ward allowed access lp the imperial FAM
Inc circle, was provided with an iplellig,
nght guide in n miit ~ uniform, who wns
, On show linn everything worth seeing in
p nj PetersOurgh, and was aiierwaFl sent at
thc imperial expense to travel by post throu
the empire wherever his curiosity M.
nj IN lead him. The acorn, 1t seems, was d.
nGer planted, aud gtrmlnRled and became II
In token utthe truth OF this, it we may
ono ceiye the words OF The Boston "Trayells
ntiro as authentic, some leaves and n little Is
s,ats from 1t are deposited in the cabinet OF
ounL Boston Historical Society.-New "
80 | Post.