Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-01-19
The POrlers Iron Collar.

stands the Cars country palace of
Tsars oe-Selo (Czar's Village, the great
park Of which is very pretty palace in
fine summer weather. ALI through
June and July, you may see the Russian
children running about under the trees
by scores, with a shouting and laughing
that would do the Cars heart good to
hear, il he were any there within reach.
In every handy spot you are pretty sure
to find picnic party making merry on
the grass, with two or three we'll filed
lunch baskets beside them and when
you come to the little summer-houses
near the lake, you will most likely find
at least half q dozen people in each,
gathered around big bowl Of prostoE-
rash, which is the Russian name for
curds and cream.
This lake is one Of the great ''sights"
Of the park, for it has a boat-house
filed with model Of every kind of
boat in the world, down to Greenland
fishing-boats and Polynesian war
canoes and when they are alI sent
floating over the lake after dark, hung
with colored lamps, they make very
fine show indeed. But there is some
thing even better worth seeing little
farther on, and that is the palace
museum, filed with strange presents
which have been given to the Russian
Czars by various kings, savage or
civilized, from aieweled sword presented
by the first Napoleon to Persian carpet
sent by the Ameer Of Bokhara.
On table near the door lies very
curious relic, which every one who
comes in notices at once. 1t is large
silver dish, rolled up like sheet Of
paper, SO as to make kind of funnel /;
and if you ask the old soldier who
shows the museum how it came to be
twisted up like that, he will give a
knowing grin, and ask if you ever heard
Of Count Gregory Orloff.
This Gregory Orloff was Russian
count who lived about hundred years
ago, and was not only a count, but an
admiral as well, though there were
people who said that If he had had to
manage the feet by himself, instead Of
having three or four excellent naval
commanders to help him, he would
have made poor job Of it. But
whatever doubts there might be about
his seamanship, there could be none
about his strength, for he was one Of
the largest and most powerful men in
Russia. Like many other giants, he
was, perhaps, just little too fond of
showing off his great strength. Nothing
pleased him more than to bend horse
shoe between his fingers, or pull out Of
the ground !. stake which no one else
could move; and if one Of his sailors
turned mutinous, and began to make a
noise, Orloff would just take him BY
the throat, and shake him as cat shakes
a mouse, after which the brawler was
usually quiet enough.
Now, it happened that one night this
strong-h ~nded admiral was at an even
ing party at the palace, and as he was
handing bouquet Of flowers to one Of
the ladies, the silver paper which was
wrapped around it slipped off. Orloff
said nothing, but stepped to the supper
table, and taking up u silver dish, rolled
it up like a piece of paper, put the
bouquet into it. and handed it to the
lady and this is the dish you see in the
museum
Not long after this, Orloff arrived in
st. Petersburg from journey, and was
met at his own door by a messenger
from the palace, who told him that the
Empress particularly wished to see
him, and that he must go to her at
once. Some men would have waited to
put on their finest clothes. and to make
themselves look quite gay and dandi-
fed; but the admiral was used to obey
ing orders at once, and off he started
for the palace, Just as he was.
Nov, while the admiral had been
1ourneying, there had come to the palace
a new ha1l-porter who had never seen
him before. This porter was strong
fellow, although not nearly as big as
Orlof, and not a nice-tempered man by
any means SO when he saw the admi-
RAILS big, coarse-looking, ugly figure
coming up to the door Of the stately
palace IN dusty travelling dress, he
shouted fiercely:
"Be of, you vagabond You've no
business herel Who are you, should
like to know
Orloff never answered, but stopped
and picked up long iron bar that fas-
tened the door at night. One jerk Of
his great strong hands twisted it around
the porter's neck like ribbon, SO that
the poor fellow had to hold up the
ends.
Now, my boy" said he, with a
broad grin, ego and show yourself TO
the Empress with that iron collar on.
and she will know who I ami"
Then the porter knew at orce that
this must be the terrible Count Orloff,
of whose strength he had heard sc
much Of and he fell on his knees to ask
pardon. But Orloff only laughed, and
told him not to be quite SO ready to
Judge man by his outside another