The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-26
A SERIOUS MISTAKE.
How Near Wealthy Banker Came to
Being Stuffed with Straw.
From the Paris Figaro.

How Near Wealthy Banker Came to
Being Stuffed with Straw.
From the Paris Figaro.
A rich foreigner, named Sutherland,
naturalized in Russia, was banker to the
court and in high favor With the empress.
He was reused one morning by the informa-
ton that his house was surrounded by
guards, and that Reliew, the minister of
police, desired to speak with him. This
parsonage, entering without further cere-
mOny, at once announced his errand.
MIR. Sutherland y said he, 81 am charged
bv my gracious sovereign with the execu-
tion of a sentence, the severity of which
both astonishes AID grives me, and am ig
noraut as to how you can so far have ex-
cited the resentment of her majesty"
Il am as much IN the dark as yourself"
replied the banker, but what are your
ordersp
4 have not the courage to tell your'
"Have l lost the confidence Of the en-
press"
iii that were all you would not see me
troubled Confidence may return-position
may be restored"
fam | to be sent back to my own coun-
try! or, great heaven" cried the banker,
trembling, docs the empress think of ban
iShing me to Slberian
Alas you might some day return
Am to be knouted"
This punishment is fearful, but it does
not kill"
as my life then in perilo l cannot be-
lieve that the empress, usually so mild, so
gentle-whO spoke to me 50 kindly but two
days since-'tis impossible! For heavens
sake, let me know the worst. Anything is
better than this intolera lie suspense"
"Well then" said Reliew in melancholy
tone, my gracious mistress has ordered me
to have You stuffed.
Stuffed" cried the poor banker, hor-
rifed.
YES, stuffed with straw"
Sutherland looked fixedly at the minister
of police an instant, and exclaimed:
''Sire, either you have lost your reason or
the empress is not in her right senses ;
surely, you did not receive such a command
without end avoring, at least, to point out
its unreasonableness, its barbarity."
Alas! my unfortunate friend, did that
which, under ordinary circumstances,
should not have dared to attempt: l mani
tested my grief, my CONSERVATION; even
hazarded humble remonstrance; but her
imperial majesty, in an lrritated tone, babe
me leave her presence and see her com
mands obeyed at once, adding these words,
which still ring in my ears: Go. and for
get not that it is your duty to acquit your
self without murmur Of any commission
with which | may deign to trust you.'n
horror, the despair Of the unhappy banker.
After waiting until the first burst of grief
was over, Rellew informed him that he
would allow him quarter of an hour to
settle his worldly affairs. Sutherland went
and prayed, and entreated the minister to
take petition from him TO the empress
Overcome by his supplications, the mag
lStrate consented to be his messenger, and
took charge Of the missive but afraid to
return to the palace, he hastily presented
himself at the residence of the English am
bassador and explained the affair to him.
The ambassador very naturally supposed
the minister had become insane, but, bid
ding him follow, he hurried to the palace.
Introduced into the imperial presence, he
told his story with as little delay as posi-
BILE. On hearing this strange recital, the
empress exclaimed:
Merciful heavens what a dreadful
mistake! Reliew must have lost his wits
Run quickly, my lord, 1 beg, and desire
that mailman to relieve my poor banker of
his groundless fears, and to set him at lib
erty Immediately
The English ambassador left the room to
do as her majesty required and on his re-
turn found the empress laughing immoder-
ately. II see. now" said she, the cause of
this inconceivably absurd blunder. [ had a.,
for some years, little dog, 10 which | was
much attached; | called him Sutherland,
because that was the name of the English
gentleman who presented him to me- This
dog has just died, and | gave Reliew orders
to have him stuffed. As he hesitated, I be-
came angry, supposing that from foolish
excess of pride he thought this commission
beneath his dignity. That is the solution of
this ridiculous enigma