The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-06-20
Nc Lcfor nnd tba Emnoror.

The following anecdOte is related
aPTop0s of the Russian Emperor Mich
Oias, father of the reigning Gar, whose
.fOndness for the stage and artists led
him to institute a Theatre Francais at
st. Petersburg. He always treated the
actors with great kindness, almost bor-
dering on intimacy. The Emperor of.
ten took long solitary walks, and to
prevent troubling the tranquility Of his
promenade, it was strictly forbidden to
address a word or present a petition to
him under pain Of a fine or imprisOn-
ment. One day comedian met the
Emperor, and removing his hat, bowed
respectfully. 1t happened that this ac-
tor was a particular favOrite Of themon-
arch, and on this day in question was
to appear in a new piece. ''AhI is that
your" said Nicholas. "Well, my friend,
I hope you are going to make US laugh
tonight" ''Sire, shall do my best to
please yOu," was the reply. "Well,
well, 1 trust to you" said the Emperor.
Some steps further on, as the actor con-
tinued his way, he was accosted by two
officers. Come with US" said one Of
them, taking the artist by the arm.
"Go with you'll Where tor" where
tOP Why to prison, Of course. You
have just spoken to the Emperor" "
Mot at all, =" said the actor; sit was his
Majesty who spoke to me-" "COme,
there is no use arguing-march;" and
the poor actor was dragged of to prison
and locked up. 1t is eight
o'clock. The Imperial Theatre is
crowded with Russian nobility. The
Emperor enters his box, and is received
by his ministers and generals. He
bows several times, then sits. 1t is
customary in Russia, on the seating Of
bis Majesty, for the performance to
commence. Nicholas, like Louis XIV,
disliked waiting; but the performance
does not begin. An aid-de-campis is dis
patched to inquire the cause Of the de-
lay. He soon returns and announces
that the comedian has failed to put in
an appearance. A useless search is
tnstituted-the actor has disappeared.
The Emperor summons the general Of
police. Questioned by his Majesty, he
knows nothing Of the whereabouts Of
the actor. 1T is your business to know
everything" says the Gar, with low
sring brows. 81 give you five minutes
to find out, and pull up the curtain.
Co." Thereupon all the agents Of pO-
lice are set to work, and with such sue
cess that, at the end of three minutes,
the general Of police comes and an
nounces to his imperial Majesty that
the actor has been incarcerated for
having dared to address him in the
street. The Emperor laughs long and
hearty. go, sir, and order the per-
formance to commence, and after the
representation you viii bring the hap
less prisoner here" When the actor
found himself a prisoner, his fury had
been uncomfortable. But by degrees
he had Gained down, and had deter
mined to abide the course Of events,
making no effort to regain his liberty.
When he appeared on the stage, the
Emperor himself gave the signal for
the ovation which greeted him. The
assembly had learned the whole affair
and was literally cOnvulsed with laugh
ter at the serious face the comedian
wore. At the end of the performance
he was conducted to the imperial box.
MY dear fellow" exclaimed the EN-
peror, who could not help again laugh
| ing at the pitifuI mien of the actor, 4
am really very sorry for your misadven-
tIre, and to make you amends, 1 grant
YOU, before you ask it, any favor you
desire of me-" "Sire," said the eXas-
perated comedian, still prey to ner
vous irritation, 81 have only one favor
to ask, and that is, that you never
speak to me again" The next day he
received in a casket, which bore the
imperial arms, a superb watch, studded
with diamonds