The Washington critic., 1890-04-07
the CHARMS OF ST. PETERSBURG.
A United States Minister Called to Ac-
cnmni hN the CLnr

count by the Gar.
The dinner rendered Mr.. Charles Emory
smith IN Philadelphia on Monday evening
when one Of the prominent journalists
present ayerred from his personal knowl-
edge OF the guest'of h nor that he would,
NJ the expiration of his mission, ,return to
this country as good an american as he
left it, recalls an incident iu the career of
one of his predecessors which seems here
tofore to have been kept very quiet. At
The outset OF an administration the gentle
man In question, tall, fne-looking fellow,
received the appointment as Minister to
Russia and forthwith set out for St. Peters
burg, after a social ovation from
his friends In this city. For a time--a very
brief time, by the way-nothing was heard
from him save the most glowing accounts
OF his life and doIngs In the Czar's do
minions. Then, suddenly, without warn
ing, he loomed up again on the Washing
ton horizon Though at first avowedly here
only on visit, IL soon became apparent
that there was no intention of returning to
the land of ice'and anarchy. Finally, the
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potentiary gave out to society, by whom
he was being duly lionized, that the rigor-
Gus climate had been an unimportant
reason for return in comparison with the
fact that the United States Minister to
Russia was not accorded that rank and
recognition by the court Of St. Petersburg
which his patriotic American ideas de-
manded, and he had therefore forever
shaken off the dust of the Nihilistic, bomb
throwing atmosphere and sought balm for
his lacerated feelings in the air of his ma
tive land. This explanation was highly
satisfactory, and 1t is probable that ex-
Minister Blanks name would have been
handed down to posterity as that of the
most patriotic American which the present
century could boast had it not been for
some interesting rumors as to the real
reason of the departure from Russia, which
soon began to be waited from over the
seas.
According to these, the social lion,
shortly after his arrival in St. Petersburg,
had become fascinated with the charms OF
brilliantly handsome woman, who for
certain reasons, was not eligible to appear
at court. This fact seems, however, to
have SO fred the fair one's ambition to
overcome all obstacles to the achievement
of her object that she finally persuaded the
United States Minister to allow her to ac-
company him to court ball and be intro
duced as his wife. The plan was success
fully carried out, and all seemed to be pro-
crossing in the most favorable manner pos
sible, until just as festivities were at their
height, when the appearance of detach-
ment of the Imperial Guard among the
gaily bedecked diplomats caused futter
of excitement. This eliminated when the
fair pretender was seized, and, after escort
ing her to the cloak-room for her wraps,
conveyed her from the palace. The next
day it was noised about that clad in her
bali garments she had been hurried across
the Russian frontier and on pain of death
forbidden ever again to set foot in st. Pc
tersburg.. At the same time the United
States Minister was summoned into the
royal presence and so severely called to ac-
count for his escapade that without fur
ther delay his immediate return to America
was decided upon.