, 1889-01-16
A sERIOus
HoN Soar a Wealthy Banker Came to
Being Stuffed with Straw.

HoE Soar "A Wealthy Banker Came to
Being Stuffed with Straw.
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 information that his house was
surrounded by guards, and that Re
licw, the minister of police, desired TO
speak with him. This parsonage, en-
Lering without further ceremony, at
once announced his errand.
Mr.. Sutherland" said he, 81 am
charged by my gracious sovereign
with the execution of q sentence, the
severity OF which both astonishes and
grieves mel and l am ignorant as to
how you can SO far have excited the
resentment OF her majesty"
am as much In the dark as YOUR
sell" replied the banker; ''but what
are your orders7"
Il have not courage to tell you"
Have | lost the confidence of the
empress1'
IF that were all, you would not see
me troubled. Confidence may return
position may be restored"
Am | to be sent back to my own
country2 or, good heavensi' cried the
banker trembling, docs the empress
think of banishing me to SiberiaYh
"Alasl you might some day re-
turn"
Am to be knoutedT"
This punishment is fearful, but it
docs not kill"
is my life, then, in perilR l can
not believe that the empress, usually
so.mild, so gentle-who spoke to me
50 kindly but two days since-tis i'm
possiblol-for heavens sake let me
know the worst; anything is better
than this intolerable suspense"
We'll, then" said Reliew in q mel
ancholy tone, my gracious mistress
has ordered me to have you stuffed"
"StuifedP cried the poor banker,
Mortified.
Yes, stuffed with straw"
Sutherland looked fxedly at the
minister of police an instant, and ex-
claimed:
Sir, either you have lost your rea-
son or tho empress is not in her right
sense; surely you did not receive such
a command without endeavoring, al
least, TO point out its unreasonable
ness, its barbarity."
"Alasl my unfortunate friend, l did
that which, under ordinary circum-
stances, l should not have dared to at
tempt; | manifested my grief, mycon-
sternation, l even hazarded q humble
rcmonstrance; but her imperial males
ty. i'll an irritated tone, bado me leave
her presence and sec her commands
obcycd at once, adding these words,
which still ring in my ears: Go, and
forget not that it is your duty to ac-
quit yourself without q murmur any
commission with which 1 may deign
10 trust YOU"
1t would DO impossible to describe
the horror, the despair, of the unhap-
Ply banker; after waiting till the first
burst OF grief was over, Reliew in
formed him tina the would allow him
a quarter of an hour to settle his
worldly affairs. Sutherland wept and
prayed, and entreated the minister to
take II petition from him TO the en-
press, Overcome by his applications,
tho magistrate consented TO be his
messenger, and took charge of the
mlssive, but, afraid to return to the
palace, he hastily presented himself at
The residence of the English ambas-
sador and explained the affair TO him.
In 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 rs little delay as possible. On
hearing this strange recital the en-
press exclaimed:
"Mcrciful heavcnl what a dreadful
mistakel Reliew must have lost his
wits. Run quickly, my lord, l beg,
and desire that mailman TO relieve my
poor banker of his groundless fears,
and to set him Mt liberty immediately"
The English ambassador left tho
oom to do Is her majesty required,
and on his return found the empress
laughing immoderatcly. Il see now"
said she, tho cause Of this inconceiy-
ably absurd blunder. l had for some
years n little dog, to which | was much
attached. | called him Sutherland,
because that was the name of tho Eng
fish gentleman who presented him to
me- this dog has just died, and l gave
Reliew orders to have him stuffed; as
he hcsitated, l became angry, suppos-
ing that from a foolish excess Of pride
he thought this-commission beneath
his dignity. That is the solution of
this ridiculous enigma. Paris Figaro.