Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-09-11
Of Unlimited Obedience.

Advantages Of Unlimited Obedience.
THE following anecdote, taken from the
"HistOrical Memoirs of Segur," gives as
it appears to us, a lively picture of the
spirit which reigned in the Russian Court
under the sway Of the celebrated Catha-
rine II.
a rich banker, named Saderland, en-
joyed for long time the favor of the EN-
press, but one day he suddenly saw his
by c0mmissary Of the police, who de
manded to speak with him.
My dear sir" said he to the affrighted
banker, "it grieyes me deeply to have re-
ceived orders from our gracious sOver-
eign to execute towards you a severity be-
yond anything I have ever seen. | know
not what extraordinary Ofiense YOU have
committed to excite such extremity OF
anger in her Majesty as to induce her to
command a punishment SO horrible and
unprecedented"
Il do not understand a word of what
you are saying" answered the astonished
banker. Il am as much amazed as if YOU
had fallen from the clouds. What are the
orders that you have received?"
Il have not the courage to tell YOU
And yet l shall be compelled to execute
them.o
cam I indeed so unfortunate as to have
lost her Majesty's confidence?"
"Ah, if that were all, sir, YOU would not
see me so disconsolate. You might re-
gain her confidence and even her favor
but
"But am I then banished from Rus
sia?'
'That would indeed be sad misfor
tune; yet with your riches YOU could find
a hOspitable reception in any other cOun-
try But"
con heavens! is it possible that | am
to be eXiled to Siberia %
Even from there you might, sooner or
later, be called to Russia"
" Perhaps, then, you are going to put
me in prisOn?''
" | wish it were 50, for then you might
be liberated"
Am then condemned to undergo the
kn0ut?"
"The b7lom is a dreadful punishment to
be sure, but it is not olloays fatal"
"Then, oh! then, you lead me to death.
Tell me plainly; this suspense is worse
than death itself"
know, then, that our most gracious
off your entire skin"
"FTo take off my skin." exclaimed Sa-
derland, seized with horror" to fay me
aliven' But regaining his selfcommand,
he added: No, not cannot be; either
you have lost your senses, Mr.. Commits
sary, or our most benign mistress has lost
hers. Is it possible you made no answer
when you received such cruel order 2"
4 did more than any other would have
dared to do. | did not conceal my grief
and surprise. fingered in the imperial
presence, and had actually begun a hum
bic remonstrance to Her Majesty, when
our gracious sovereign, turning to look on
me- with a look and voice of anger, babe
me be gone and perform her will | still
seem to hear her threatening and appaIl-
ing words: Co. said Her Majesty, and
never forget that it is your Indispensable
duty to execute without questioning the
commands that | think you worthy to re-
ceive from me- "
1t is impossible to describe the agita
ton the anguish, or the despair of the
poor Saderland. After he had for a time
given vent to the violence of his distress.
| the Commissary told him that he was al
lowed a quarter of an hour to settle his
affairs. In vain the banker prayed for d
longer interval, Or at least for an oppor-
tunitv to write to the Empress and i'm
plore her clemency. At length, although
| trembling for the consequences to his
own life, he consented, and he immedi-
ately after followed the letter himself;
but not having courage to present himself
in court, he went to seek his friend and
| protector, Colonel Bruce.
The Count thought that the Commits
sary must have made a mistake, and took
him directly to the imperial palace.
There leaving him in an ante-chamber,
| he obtained admission to the presence of
the Empress, to whom he related the
whole affair
What was his establishment to over
hear the Empress exclaim: Just heaven
what atrocity! There can be no doubt
that Neiclotf (the Commissary) is mad
Quick, Count, take horse before it is too
late, and deliver my poor banker from his
alarm; and assure him of my favor and
/ good wishes"