The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-01-31
THE GOLD SNUFF BOX.

The event which am about to relate
occurred in the years 1e30-S6. and it seems
show what the word Pride" means. as
Illustrated BY the hero Of this story, true
hearted nobleman of Russia.
Field Marshal Count Berg, late Vice.
roy OF Poland. with headquarters at War
saw, gave complimentary dinner to a
number OF officers, representatives Of a
foreign nation, at which were present q
number of the nobility of Russia. Out of
compliment to the regiment to which the
foreign officers belonged, and to which he
was attached as Captain, the Count wore
his official uniform.
Right here it may be well to state that a
titled person in Russia, and in most for
eign countries, holds number of Offices
sometimes Hereditary, or otherwise gained
by bravery. That being the case, it is of
course necessary fer the officers to have q
uniform for every occasion on which they
are called upon to act in their official
capacity for each official capacity. The
uniforms may not be required only at
times years apart. Such was the case with
Count Berg.
The Count was an intimate friend and
favorite of the Emperor Nicholas, of Rus
STA, and as such had received number of
very valuable and handsome presents from
him, among which was magnificent solid
gold snuff box, studded with brilliant dia-
monds, which the Count valued very
highly
During the course of the dinner, the
Count, who was very proud Of this last
evidence of the Emperor's favor passed
the box around the table. and, as is the
custom in that country, as the box came
to him each guest took pinch of the
snuff it contained.
In due time the box, having passed
around the table, was placed beside the
plate OF its owner for use later during the
progress OF the dinner. which in that
country sometimes lasted several hours.
When it became time for the Count to
again use the box it was nowhere to be
found.
The Count was greatly mysiified, and
grew very angry to think that he should
lose present which he valued so highly,
coming from where it did, and when
Count M suggested that all be search
ed, seconded the proposition very strongly.
The doors we're locked, the servants ex
cluded, and all were searched with the ex-
ception of one, the Russian General, Prince
s., the friend of Diebich, and who
fought under him during the Turkish
campaign.
PIince S. positively refused to be
searched, but denied having the box in
his possession. Suspicion, Of course, fell
on him, and he was ruined man.
General Prince S., as my readers
must know, was an old man and of the
highest nobility, but he had not salary or
fortune enough to more than support him
self and family, and though his only
daughter had married nobility, she had
not married wealth
When the Emperor Nicholas heard of
the case be deprived the old Prince of his
estates, such as they were, de graded him
from the ranks of the army, and hence
forth the Prince was 10 be a social out
cast.
In the year 1886 Count Berg was again
to give dinner to some of the same guests
as on the former occasion in 1880, with
Prince S., of course, excluded.
This being the first occasion Count Berg
had had to use his uniform since the box
so mysteriously disappeared. The suit
was got ready BY his valet: rho, while
brushing out the coat, felt Something in
the lining which evidently did not beiong
there.
1t proved to be the identical snuff box
which had somehow gotten in between
the lining of the coat and had lain there
since the first memorable reception.
On receiving from his valet the box and
knowing that Prince S. was still regarded
as a compromised man by all who knew
him, the Count summoned him from his
home in st. Petersburgh to Warsaw.
The old Prince s., now with one foot in
the grave from suffering from his unjust
disgrace, appeared at the Court of War
saw thinking some new punishment was
to be meted out on his undeserving head
Count Berg, who was dreadfully morti-
ned with the course he had pursued, but
withal very much elated to think that
General Prince s. was still worthy to be
called friend, apologized to him as much
as he was able for so wrongfully believing
him guilty, and asked the general why he
had refused to be searched Prince S.
could contain himself no longer but.
bursting into tears, replied:
Your pardon, Count, but you know
that at that time my salary aud fortune
were not sufficient to provide my family
with any luxuries. had grandchildren,
and knowing they would like to have
some OF the nice bon-bons with which
your table was so well supplied, I filed
my pockets lull TO take to them, and fear
ing that ii searched you would find the
bon-bons on my person, | refused, be-
cause would rather you would believe
had stolen the box (knowing that the
truth would come out sooner or later than
that | should be ridiculed by the assem-
bled guests for SO far forgetting myself as
to put bon-bons in my pockets from
dinner table"
Count Berg was very much affected by
the old Princes story and used his infu-
ence to the utmost to secure the Princes
return to his former station in life,
When the Emperor Nicholas's success
sor, Alexander II, heard of the restoration
SO mysteriously of the famous snuff box,
he, at Count Berg's request, restored
General Prince s. to his former rank title.
estates, ETC., with increased salary. enough
to maintain himself and family according
to his position. The Prince did not long
survive his restoration, but his descend
ants are to-day among the most honored
OF Russia's nobility. w. d. H.
She Can Write.
Editor Of de Sunday Taller ~ was surpris
cd TO see some of our girls pictures in last
Sundays issue Of your paper. The sight of
the pictures alone amused me, but when 1 read the
letters laughed myself sick, they were so very