Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-11-25
Often bach's Story.

SAYS writer TO the New York Mercury:
A short time since, as / am informed by
private letter from Paris, number of
literary Bohemians were assembled at
Jacques Oilenbach's cosy little sitting
room in the French capital talking
sprightly of everything in general and
nothing in particular. Gradually the
conversation drifted into sort of argu-
ment to the effect that the most popular
incidents travestied on the comic stage
We're really based on some actual occur
renee In life. This was doubted by some,
and one of those introduced the character
of Fritz in the - Grand Duchess" as so ri
diculous and absurd. especially his being
run through all grades of military promo
ton to the highest in five minutes, that
anything remotely like it could never
have really happened Ofenbach smiled
nj this assertion and cut the debate short
by saying that the incident was taken
from actual lie. This was sumner to
the company, who all asked for the proof,
which Oflenbach at once gave by telling
the following story; Years ago, he saio,
he was examining the treasures in an an
tiquarian's store in London. when u work
attracted his attention bearing title like
the following: 1.-The Life, Habits and
Manners of Peter the Great, Car of All
the Russias, with Many Truthful Anec-
dotes Never before Printed" This book,
he said, was published in London about
the middle of the last century and was
now very rare. He bought it and in 1t was
told tho very incident after which the affair
of Gen" Fritz in the Grand Ouch
ess" was patterned. One day, so runs the
anecdotc, young recruit was standing
guard before the door o! the entrance TO
Peters private chambers in the palace at
st. Petersburg. He had received orders
to admit no one. As he was slowly pass
ing up aud down before the door Prince
Mentchiketf, the tavorite Minister OF the
Car, approached, attempting to en-
ter. He was stopped by the re-
cruit. The Prince, who had the full
est liberty OF calling upon his master
at any time, sought to push tho guard
aside and pass him, yet the young
man would not move, hut ordered His
Highness to stand back. You fool"
shouted the Prince, " don't you know
me?" The recruit smiled and said:
Very well, your Highmess, but my or
ders are peremptory to let nobody pass"
The Prince, eXasperated ut the low fel.
lows impudcnce, struck him blow in IT.
face with his riding whip. Strike away,
your Highncss," said the soldier, but
cannot let you 90 in" Peter, in his room,
hearing the noise outside, opened the door
and inquired what il meant, and the
Prince told him The Gar Was amused,
bat said nothing at the time, In the even
ing, however, he sent for the Prince and
the soldier, As they both appeared Peter
gave his own cane Ia the soldier, saying:
THAT man struck you in the morning,
now YOU must return the blow to that fell
low with any stick" The Prince was
amazed. Your Majesty" he said, this
common soldier is to strike mcY .
make him Captain" said Peter. But
| am al officer Of your Maiesty's house
hold" objected the Prince. make
him 4 Colonel of my Life Guards and an
officer Of my household" said Peter,
again My rank, your Majesty knows,
II that of General" again protested
NJ entchikoff. Then make him "A Gen.
eral, ~ that the beating you get maycomc
from man Of your rank" The Prince
got sound thrashing In the presence OF
the Gar, the recruit was the next day com
missioned General, with the title of Count
! Oromizoh. and was the founder of a pow.
criul family, whose descendants are high
in the imperial service of Russia. This
recruit" said Ottcnbach, " is the original
of my Gen. Fritz"