Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-23
A SERIOUS MISTAKE.
How Near q Wealthy Banker Came to
Being Stuffed with Straw.
From the Paris Fig

From the Paris Figaro.
rich foreigner, named Sutherland. natural
zed 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 Reliew, the
minister of police, desired to speak with him.
This parsonage, entering without further cere-
mony, at once announced his errand.
''Mr. Sutherland, =" said he. II am charged
by my gracious sovereign with the execution
of a sentence, the severity of which both as
tonishes and grieves me, and am ignorant as
to how you can so far have excited the resent
ment of her majesty"
Il am as much in the dark as yourself" re-
piled the banker, but what are your orders?"
Il have not the courage to tell YOU"
Have lost the confidence of the empress?"
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 country?
or. great heaven!' cried the banker. trembling
does the empress think of banishing me to
Siberia?'
ALAS. you might some day return"
Am to be knouted?"
This punishment is fearful. but it does not
kill"
lis my life then in peril2 cannot believe
that the empress, usually so mild, SO gentle
"ho sPohS W 81 hluuly DuJ Two DAYS SlUcc-
It's impossible. For heavens sake. let me know
the worst. Anything is better than this intol-
cradle suspense
We'll, them" said Reliew in a melancholy
tone. my gracious mistress has ordered me to
have you stuffed
Stuffed cried the poor banker, Mortified.
Yes. stuffed with straw"
sutherland looked fXedy at the minister of
police an instant, and exclaimed:
Sire, either you have lost your reason or
tne empress Is not III her right senses; surely,
you ala not receive such command without
endeavoring, at least, to point out its unreason-
ableness, Its barbarity."
Alas. my unfortunate friend, l did that
which, under ordinary circumstances l should
not nave dared to attempt; l manifested my
GRIEF, my CONSERVATION; l even hazarded
humble remonstrance; but her imperial mai
esty. In an irritated tone. babe me leave her
presence and see her commands obeyed at once
adding these words, which still ring in nv ears:
Go, and forget not that it is your duty to ac-
quit yourself without q murmur of any COM
mission with which may deign to trust you"
1t would be impossible to describe the hor-
ror the despair of the unhappy banker After
waiting until the first burst of grief was over
Reliew informed him that he would allow him
quarter of an hour to settle his worldly
affairs. Sutherland went and PRAYED and en-
treated the minister to take a petition from
him to the empress. Overcome by his suppli-
cations, the magistrate 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 ambassador and explained the affair to
HIM. The ambassador very naturally supposed
the minister had become insane but, bidding
him follow, he hurried to the palace. Intro
duced into the imperial presence, he told his
story with as little delay as possible On hear
ing this strange recital, the empress exclaimed:
''Merciful heaven! what dreadful mistake!
Reliew must have lost his wits. Run quickly,
my lord, beg, and desire that madam to re-
heve 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 immoderately.
Il see, now" said she. 1.-The cause of this incon-
ceivably absurd blunder. l had, for some
years, little dog, to which 1 was much at
tached; called him Sutherland. because that
was the name of the English gentleman who
presented him to me. This dog has just died,
and gave Rehew orders to have him stuffed.
As he hesitated, l became angry. supposing
that from foolish excess of pride he thought
this commission beneath his dignity. That is
the solution of this ridiculous enigma"