Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-10-07
THE EMPEROR IVAN in 1870
Stories Of a Queer Tyrant.

Au0 SOAuAoANS VI 1AAS SAAe AAI NVA"-
ious despot seemed at times to have
puzzled even his most faithful commits
sioners, for on one occasion, having sent
for a nobleman of Casan, called Plesh-
cave, (Which is, being interpreted, Bald,) |
the Vayod, mistaking the name of the
word, sent for one hundred and fifty |
bald. pated old men. More than eighty |
or ninety, however, he could not get to
gether; 80 he sent them up speedily to
the palace with an apology that he re-
GREETED he could find no more in his
province, and desired pardon tor the
short measure. The Emperor, astonished
at the sight OF so many old bald pates,
devoutly crossed himself At last one
Of the chief men delivered the letter,
and the Diack showed his Majesty the
copy of the letter he had sent to the Way
cd, and the mistake being found out,
the bald-pates were made drunk for
three days and sent home again.
On another occasion Ivan Vaslloidg
nailed French Ambassadors hat to his
head for presummg not to uncover in the
Imperial presence. Sir Jerome BonZee,
the English Ambassador, coming shortly
afterward, nothing daunted by the tale
OF his unfortunate friend. put on his hat
and cooked 1t right jauntily before the
Emperor. who sternly demanded how he
dared so to insult him, having heard how
he had chastised the Frenchman. Sir
Jerome was match for the Emperor, and
replied that (the Frenchman) had only
represented cowaIdly King of France,
"But t. said he, lam the Ambassador of
the invinclble Queen of England, who
does not veil her bonnet or bare her
head to any prince living, and if any of
her ministers receive affront, she is able
to avenge her own quarrel"
"Look you there" quoth Ivan VAST
loidg to his attendant Boyars, "there is
a brave fellow, indeed, that dares do and
say thus for his mistress; which BOBBY of
you dare so much for me, your master?"
This made the men envy Sir Jerome, so
they persuaded the emperor to give him
a wild horse to tame, which he did, and
so successfully he broke and tired him
out that the horse fell down dead under
him; and upon this asked his Majesty if
he had any more horses to tame. Our
friend adds that after this the Emperor
much honored and loved "such daring
fellow as he was, and a mad blade to
boot"
The Glove me, love my dog" princi-
pie seems to have had something to do
with this, if we may believe what our
historian relates, that this queer tyrant
actually courted the Virgin queen with a
view to matrimony, and once, upon a
suspicion of treason, fortified Volgoda,
ano gathered all his treasures there, with
the intent of escaping to England upon
extremity. If we may believe the follow
, ing story, the ancient family of Sopotski
owed its wealth and position to the fol-
loving quaint fancy:
When Ivan went through the country
he was in the habit of accepting presents
from the rich and the poor. There hap
pened one day to be in his route good
} honest bask shoemaker, who made shoes
3 Emperor came he was at a loss what to
, give. His wife, woman of ready wit
, and reserve, suggests pair OF sopkyes,
or bask shoes. THAT Is no rarity" quoth
the man; "but we have huge great tur-
nip in the garden: we'll give him that
I and pair of sopkyes too"
/ Great was his success; the Emperor was
delighted, and made all his followers buy
sopky es at five sh1llings pair and wore
pair himself. So began the wheel Of
: good fortune to turn for the Sopotskies
for he soon drove thriving trade and
r left great estate behind him. And In
: memory of this gallant it is the custom
Q of the Russians to throw all their ole
o sopkyes into a tree which
n stood by his house. There was gentle
: man, however, hard by, who, seeing tn,
g turnip so graciously accepted and gener-
: success, and offered the Emperor brave
e horse. But the Emperor, seeing through
{ his motives, gave him nothing in return
d but the aforesaid great and mighty tur
s MP, for which-as seems not improbable
he was both abashed and laughed at
q Ivan, following the habits of so man,
9 Eastern despots, delighted to go abou
J, in disguise, and test and witness the feel
+ ings OF the people toward strangers gen
n orally and the Imperial person in par
d tlcular.
One night, in disguise, he sought
d lodging in village near the city Of Mos
J. cow, but in vain, for no one would lie
I? him in; but at last one poor fellow
O whose wife was momentarily expectln,
t. to become a joyful mother, opened hi
l. door and admitted the apparently ex
T. hausted beggar. In the course of tn
k night the child was born, and the va
d grant, getting himself gone, told til
" man he would bring him some godfs
" theirs next day. Accordingly, the nez
d day the Emperor and many of his noble
ID came and presented the poor fellow wit
Or a handsome largess, and set on fire an
,e burnt up all the other houses in the vi
ID lage, playfully exhorting the lnhab
D. tants to charity and the entertainment {
strangers, and that 1t were good for ther
a to try how excellent it was to be out
i; doors on cold winter night.
a. It was his custom to associate wit
a. thieves and robbers in disguise. Ono
le he went so far as to recommend them |
ID rob the Imperial Exchequer, ''for'', sal
q. he, 81 know the way to it." But, upo
10 this, in moment one of the fellows u
with his fist and struck him a heart
ID good blow On the face, saying, "Tho
0 roguei Wilt thou offer to rob his Ma
IN esty, who is so good to usG Let us
IN and rob some rich Boyar who has CO;
b. zled his Majesty of vast sums.'' Iva
10 was nightly pleased with this fellow
10 and at parting changed caps with hin
Ii bidding him meet him next morning
w the Dravetz, place in the Court whel
be the Emperor was accustomed to pass b.
cd ssAnd there,n SAID he, twill / bring the
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