Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-01-29
A SERIOUS MISTAKE


"
Hov Near q wealthy Banker Came 10
Being stuffed with straw.
A rich foreigner. named Sutherland,
naturalized in Russia. was banker . o
the court, and in high favor with the
empress He was reused one morning
by the information that his house was
surrounded by yards, and that Re
lew. the minister OF police, desired to
speak with him. This parsonage, en-
tering without further ceremony, al
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 astonishes and
grieves me; and ] am ignorant as TO
how you IAN SO far have excited the
resentment of her majesty
Il am as much in the dark as your
self" replied the banker; but what
are your ordersl'
Il have not courage TO tell you"
Have | lost the confidence of the
IF that were all. you would not see
me troubled. Confidence may return
position may be restored"
fam 10 be sent back 10 my own
countryl or, good heavens!' cried the
banker trembling, does the empress
think Of banishing me to Siberia"
Alas! you might some day re
turn"
Am | to be knoutedf"
This punishment Is fearful, but il
| does not kill
is my life, then, in peril7 ! can.
not believe that the empress, usually
SO mild, so gentle-who spoke TO mt
so kindly but two days since-tls i'm.
| possible l-for heavens sake let me
know the worst; anything is better
than this intolerable suspense
We'll. then" said Reliew in a mel.
ancholy tone, my gracious mistress
has ordered me 10 have you stuffed"
Stuffed" cried the poor banker,
Mortified.
YES. stuffed with straw"
Sutherland looked iixedly at the
minister Of police an instant, and ex.
claimed:
Sir, either you have lost your rea.
son or the 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."
Alas my unfortunate friend, | die
that which, under ordinary circum
stances, | should not have dared 10 at
tempt; ] manifested my grief, my con
sternation, | even hazarded a humbl,
remonstrance: but her imperial males
ty. in an irritated tone, babe me leav,
her presence and see her command,
obeyed at once, adding these words
which still ring in my ears: Go, and
forget not that it is your duty TO &C
quit yourself without a murmur any
commission with which | may deigr
to trust you"
1t would be impossible to describe
the horror, the despair, Of the unhap
ply banker; after waiting till the frs
burst Of grief was over, Reliew in
formed him tina the would allow hin
a quarter of an hour to settle hi
worldly affairs. Sutherland wept ant
prayed, and entreated the minister Il
take a petition from him to the EN-
press. Overcome by his supplications
the magistrate consented TO be hi
messenger, and took charge of tn,
missive, bot, afraid TO return TO th,
palace, he hastily presented himself a
the residence of the English ambas
sador and explained the affair to him
The ambassador. very naturally, sup
posed the minister had become insane
but, bidding him follow, he hurrie,
to the palace. Introduced into tn
imperial presence, he told his stor,
with as little delay as possible. Oh
hearing this strange recital the EN-
press exclaimed:
"Merciful heavenl what a dreadful
mistasel Reliew must have lost hi
wits. Run quickly. my lord, | beg
and desire that mailman TO relieve m,
poor banker of his groundless fears
and TO set him al liberty Immediately.
The English ambassador left tn
room TO do as her majesty required
and on his return found the empires
laughing immoderately. Il see now,
said she, the cause Of this inconceiv
ably absurd blunder. ! had for som
years a little dog, TO which | was mucl
attached. | called him Sutherland
because that was the name Of the Eng
lish gentleman who presented him 8
me; this dog has just died, and | CAV
Reliew orders TO have him stuffed; q
he hesiiated, | became angry, suppos
ing that from a foolish excess Of prid
he thought this commission beneatl
his dignity. That is the solution O
this ridiculous enigma. Paris Figaro