Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-25
Peter the Great.
Century. !


In 1921 he created himself Emperor,
placing the imperial crown upon his own
head. and soon attc~ on that Of the 1.-Two
MAN peasant girl whom he married. the
III. -trr-s of has fayorltc, Prince Mcuschi-
k0G. once an itlucraut vendor OF meat
pies. she afterwards succeeded Peter as
the Empr,s, Catherine the First. i'll,
mcrcllc~s cruelty was shown caslY; on
his return from his first Journey. after put
ting down tine revolt az the StroieiZ, a body
of ilm-~ari,s who had risen L. replace ms
sister Sophia ON the throne, he executed
1000 of them ia cold blood. His only son,
Alexis. who had opposed his measures, aud
WAS accused among other crimes OF - de
Tending the prescribed beard, and craftan~
of the ptasautS.n had gone abroad with ms
wife. but was lurcd home by an oner OK re-
c.uclatlOn. when lie was seized and con-
dcuuod to death 10y his father, and exc
cuted in prison. His interference was
as irving ia small rs IN great things.
one story Of his didactic tyranny
sounds like u lesson ont of "Sdndtord and
Merton II is told Iy Freuchman. who
hoard il on the SPOT in FINLAND. where
he was sent bv Louis Phihppe's Govern
meut To Obtain blocks of red prophyry,
which the Car Nicholas had granted for
the tomb of Napoleon under tho dome of
fine lnyalacsat Paris Peter was travelling
iucoguitO IN part of Finland, Just con-
oucrcd. where he was executing some naval
works: he met ~ over-iat man, VINO tod
him he was going 10 Petersburg. hat
for?n said the Car. To consult a doctor
about nv fat, which has become very OPP
p~csslye." "Do Won know any doctc r
there? ?" Nc" Then will give youa word
to my friend. Prince Menschlkoh. and he
will introduce Won 10 one Of the Emperor $
musicians" The traveller went TO the
Princes house with the note. The answer
WAS not delayed the next day, tied hands
and feet, the poor man was dragged on on
a cart To the mines. Two years alter Peter
the Great was visiting the mines. lie had
forgotten the adventure of the oyer-iat
man. when suddenly u miner threw down
ms pick. rushed up TO him. and tell al ms
feet crying: Grace. grace! what Is II
have donc>n Peter looked at him aston
ished. until he remembered the story, and
said "Oh. 50 that is yOu | hope YOU are
pleased with me. Stand up. How thin
and slrht Won have become. You are quite
delivered from your Oycr-fat II Is IL hrst-
rate cure. Go, and remember that work 3
the best autidote against your COM
plaintln Probably. rs Oyer-fnt - DIS
case. the poor man died of his " cure.
g. The impatient activity OF Peter" rs
q German writer calls II, attempted
imp0sjlbllltics a perfectly Darbarous peo-
pir could not be dragged up to the level of
evil cation OF other nations by mere force
of despot's will without passing through
any of the intermediate stages. Accord
inely the mass Of the Russian people con-
tinues much the same in habits and educa-
tomas they were when Peter began his re-
forms. and SORT of veneer among the
official and military classes covers degree
of barbarism and corruption v hich the rest
a. ENRIQUE has long left behind. The rest
less ambition which he beQueathed 10 his
successors has gone on TO the present day.
Cut OF at first both from tho Baltic and
Black Seas they conquered the intervening
territory in each case, and now declare that
they VII never rest until they get posses
sion of the DardRnelles; without which
We have not the key TO our own house"
said Alexander the First.