Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-02-28
MenzikOH.

i. .icie lVeQ IN MOSCOW Deaeapt
poy' whose parents were so excess;velv
poor mat they could not have him tauoht
70 read or write. At their death fbe
young orphan, finding himself entirely
thrown on his own resources, sought an
asylum with pastry cook. and HAVING
.h husicai voice, was soon known even in
that great city, when he cried his masters
pastry through the streets. His fine voice
became the means of his admission into
,he houses OF many noblemen, and lie
happened one day to be in the kitchen of
great lord, with whom the emperor was
TO dine. The preparations in the Gull
nary department were of course on an I'M
usually extensive scale, and in his anxiety
that all should be right, the noble pro.
prletor OF the mansion himself came into
tne Kitchen to give directions about A
dish, OF which he said the emperor was
particularly fond.
The observant boy noticed that in
bending over this dish, and when he
thought himself unperceived, the noble
man dropped into it white powder.
Slipping out of the house, without COM
municating his discovery to any one, the
pastry cooks apprentice waited for the
emperor's carriage, and at its approa, h
began to sing. Peter the Great attracted
by his melodious voice, called him, and
purchased the contents of his basket. and
pleased with the lads intelligent an
swers to his questions, commanded him
to return to the house he had Just left,
and stand behind the imperial chair at
dinner. The attendants were amazed at
this whim, but it resulted most fortunate
ly for their royal master When seated
at table, the noble host pressed the en-
peror to partake of his favorite dish, re-
quest which would certainly have been
complied with, had not the new servant
gently pulled the sleeve of the intended
victim, and asked private interview.
In spite Of his establishment at so unusual
a request, Peter Immediately withdrew
the boy, who revealed his suspicious, and
returning to the dining hall, the car sur
prised his host by pressing him first to
taste his much commended dish. Pale
with terror and surprise, the conscience
stricken traitor faltered out that it did
not become the servant to eat before his
master. Without a word of reply, Peter
threw the contents of dish to dog,
which eagerly devoured them, and soon
after died in great agony.
From this time the new favorites rise
was rapid, and the quondam servant boy
successfully attained the highest offices
in Russia. The great abilities of Alex
ander Menzikoff were, however, furnished
by his avarice, selfshness, and cruelty,
and his ambitious designs were at length
defeated. He was always warmly attach
ed to his royal patron and faithful, after
the czar's death, to Catherine, but the
star of his fortune declined with the &C
cession of Peter Ill, whom Menzikotf
had been chiefly instrumental in placing
ON the throne. The young emperor list
ened to the artful insinuations of pow
erful and vindictive noble, who hated
Menzikotf, and was at length induced to
Danish him from court. This decree was
quickly followed by sentence OF exile to
Siberia; and to this twilight region Of
frost and snow, the once naughty, impe-
rial favorite, now deprived Of honors,
employments. and luxuries, was conveyed,
with every mark of indignity heaped on
his family and himself. The Princess
Menzikoff, whose eyes were weak, lost
her sight before half the journey was
completed, from the effects of cold and
excessive weeping, and death at length
relieving her sufferings, she was buried
on the banks of the Volga. The sur
viving prisoners, deprived Of their costly
garments and clothed in the coarsest
8 stuffs, were conveyed to their destina-
ton like common criminals, in wooden
carts without springs, and exposed to al
the inclemencies of weather. Menzikoif
: and one of his children, ended their day
.. in this dreary Punishment, but on the &C
cession of the Empress Anne, his two
surviving children were recalled to thei
home and honors. On his death-bed
Menzikoff is said to have told his chill
dren, that if he had only to account t
the Supreme Judge for the time he he
e passed in misfortune, death would hay
. no terrors for him, and that he only WIS.,
' ed them to remember the part OF his III
: which he had spent in exile. Optic
:. Magazine.