The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-09-03


ciple seems to have something to do with
this, if we may believe that our his
torian relates, that this queer tyrant
actually courted the Virgin Queen with
9 view to matrimony, and once, upon q
suspicion of treason, fortified Vologda,
and gathered all his treasure there, with
the intent of escaping to England upon
extremity.
If we may believe the following story.
the ancient family of Sopotski owed its
wealth and position to the following
quaint fancy:
When Ivan went through the country
he was in the habit of accepting presents
from the poor and rich. There hap
pened one day to be in his route good
honest bask-shoemaker, who made shoes
of bask for copeck pair, but when the
Emperor came he was quite at a loss
what to give. His wife, a woman of
ready wit and reserve, Suggested pair
of sopkyes, or bask shoes. "There is no
rarity" quoth the man; "but we have
huge turnip in the garden; well give
him that and pair of sopkyes, too"
Great was his success; the Emperor was
delighted, and made all his followers
bup sopkyes at five shillings pair, and
wore a pair himself. So began the
| wheel of good fortune to turn for the
sopotskies, for he soon drove a thriving
trade. and left a great estate behind him.
And in memory of this gallant it is the
custom of the Russians to throw all
| their old sopkyes into tree which stood
| by the house. There was gentleman,
however, hard by, who, seeing the turnip
SO graciously accepted and generously
rewarded, bethought him of like sue
cess, and offered the Emperor a brave
horse. But the Emperor, seeing through
his motive, gave him nothing in return
but the aforesaid great and mighty
turnip, for which-as seems not inn
probable-he was both abashed and
laughed at.
Ivan following the habits of so many
Eastern despots, delighted to go about
in disguise, and test and witness the
feelings of the people toward strangers
generally and the Imperial person in
particular.
One night, in disguise, he sought a
lodging in village near the city of Mos
COW, but in vain, for no one would let
him in; but at last one poor fellow,
to become joyful mother, opened his
door and admitted the apparently ex-
hausted beggar. In the course of the
! night the child was born, and the vagrant
getting himself gone, told the man he
would bring him some god-fathers next
day. Accordingly, the next day the EN-
peror and many of his mobiles came and
presented the poor fellow with hand
some largess and set fire and burnt up
all the other houses, in the village, play
fully exhorting the inhabitants to char
ity and the entertainment of strangers,
and that it were good for them to try
how excellent it was to be put out of
doors on a cold winter night.
| It was his custom to associate with
| thieves and robbers in disguise. Once
| he went SO far as to recommend them to
rob the Imperial Exchequer, s'for," said
he, .'I know the way to it." But upon
this, in moment one of the fellows up
with his fist and struck him hearty
good blow on the face, saying, '"Thou
rogue! Wilt thou offer to rob his
Majesty, who is SO good to us? Let us
go and rob some rich Boyar who has
cozened his Majesty of vast sums" Ivan
was nightly pleased with this fellow,
and at parting changed caps with him,
bidding him meet him next morning in
the Dravetz, place in the Court where
the Emperor was accustomed to pass by,
3And there, said he, twill bring thee
good cup of aqua vitae and bread. :"
| The next morning the thief was there,
and being discovered by his Majesty was
called up, admonished to steal no more,
preferred to high dignity about the
Court, and appointed Chief Commits
sioner of the Detective force.