The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-15
A SERIOUS MlsTAkE
now Near n Wealthy Banker 'a"e u
peIng stuffed with straw


-;ol foroioner. named Sutherland,
naturalizcd in Russia. was ualiker W
the court, and in high favor WITH thc
empress. He was reused one morning
hv the information that his house was
surrounded by guards. and that re
liov, the minister Of police, desired 10
sneak with him. This parsonage, en-.
t6rinp without further ceremony az
once announced his GRAND
"Mr. Sutherland, said he. i am
charged BIZ my gracious sovereign
with the execution oi sehleiioe' Wv
severity of which both aslonlshes ana
rrieves me: and am ignorant - 70
how YOU can so far have excited INC
resentment Of her majesty.
Il am as much in the dark as your
Golf replied the banker; but what
arc your ordersf
Have lost the confidence Oh inc
empressN ,
III that were all. you would not see
me troubled Confidence may return
position may be restored
Am to be sent back TO my own
countrv2 or. good heavens crieu 'ne
bonler trembling. does the empress
think Of banishing me 10 5ibenaf
Alas! YOU might some day 70
turn"
Am I to be knouted Z!
This punishment IS fearful, but 1t
does not kill"
is my life, then, in pcril' can
not believe that the empress usually
so mild. so gente-who spoke to me
80 kindly but two days since tls lm-
nossible for heavens sake let me
know the worst: anything IS better
Than this intOlerable suspense.
well. then. " said Reliew IN a mel
ancholv tone. my gracious mistress
has ordered me TO have you stuffed.
"Stuifedm cried the poor banker,
mortified
Yes. stuffed with straw
Sutherland looked Gxodly at the
minister Of police an instant, and ex-
claimed.
Sir. either you have lost your rea-
son or the empress j. not IN her right
sense, surely YOU did not receive such
a command without endeavoring, at
least. TO point out its unreasonable
ness its barbarity
Alas my unfortunate friend, / did
that which, under ordinary circum-
stances, | should not have dared 10 at
tempt, ] manifested my grief. my con
sternaGon, | even hazarded humble
rcmOnshancc. but her imperial males-
ty in an iiritated tone, babe me leave
her presence and see her commands
Obeyed at once adding these words
which still ring i'm my ears: Go, and
forget not that IL IS your duty 10 ac-
0ut Yourself without "a murmur any
commission with which l may dcign
TO trust You. ~
1t would be impossible to describe
the horror, the despair Of the unh~p-
pv banker: after waiting till the fast
burst Of grief was over Rcliew i'm
formed him tina the would allow him
quarter Of an hour to settle his
worldly affairs. Sutherland wcpt and
prayed, and cntrcatcd the minister to
take "a petition from him to the en-
press Overcome by his suppllcations,
the magistrate consented TO be ms
messenger. and took charge Of the
rnissivc. but. afraid TO return TO the
palace, he hastily presented himself at
the residence of the English ambas.
sadOr and explained Che affair 10 him.
/ Tho ambassador, very naturally, sup.
posed the minister had become insane,
but. bidding him follow. he hurried
TO the palace. introduced into the
imperial presence. he told his story
with as little delay as possible. On
hearing this strange recital the EN-
press exclaimed:
"Merciful heaven what a dreadful
mistake Reliew must have lost his
wits. Run quickly. my lord. beg,
and desire that mailman TO relieve my
poor banker Of his groundless fears,
/ and to set him at liberty Immediately.
The English ambassador left the
room TO DO as her majesty required,
/ and on his return found the empress
/ laughing immediately. L sec now, "
/ said she. the cause OF this incOncelv-
ably absurd blundcr had for some
years little dog. 70 which | was much
attached. / called him Sutherland,
because that was the name of the Eng
lish gentleman who presented him TO
one; this dog has just died. and gave
Reliew orders to have him stuffed; as
he hesitated, ! became angry suppos
ing that from q foolish excess Of pride
ho thought this commission beneath
his dignity That is the solution Of
tbisridiculous enigma. Paris Figaro.