Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-07-17
THE STUFFED BANKER.
A STORY FROM RUSSIAN HISTORY.

A STORY FROM RUSSIAN HISTORY.
The Russian officials in the time of
Catherine H., or before or since her
day, for that matter, were never par
ticular or exact in their orders, even
when il concerned the hanging of n
man or the knouting of a serf. Even
foreigners were exposed to the COM
bincd zeal and stupidity of these gen.
try.
A rich English capitalist, Sunder-
land By name. residing IL st. Peters
burg, enjoyed the friendship Of the
empress in consequence of his having
given her an Italian greyhound, of
which she was very fond.
One morning he was awakened
early by his valet, who said to him:
"Sir, your house is surrounded by
soldiers. and the chief Of police in
sists on speaking with YOU"
"What can he want of mc?' ex-
claimed tic banker, jumping out of
bed, and in a panic already over an
announcement which in Russia gener-
ally has terrible significance.
81 do not know, sir" replied the
a.4o.la,t tI,r4 - soon,s ~ I,a -, a o., =,
of the grea est importance, and which,
according to him, can be communica-
ted only 10 Yourself"
"Let him come in, said the banker,
hastily putting on is clothes.
The valet went out and came back
in few minutes afterward conduct
ing the chief of police. A single
glance nj his face convinced The banker
that lie was the bearer of some very
serious information. The English
man did not, however, abate in the
slightest degree his usual urbanity in
his welcome of the official offered
him chair and begged him TO be
seated. But his visitor declined it
with thanks by a shake of his head,
stood upright, and, in rs sympathetic
tone as he know how TO assume, adj
dressed the banker:
"Mr. Sunderland, you may we'll
belvc that | am distressed beyond
telling at having been selected by her
most gracious majesty TO carry out q
decree whose severity afllicts me. but
which, without doubt has been pro-
voked by some great crime"
"What great crime? Who has COM
mitted it z" cried the banker
"You, undoubtedly, sir, since it is
TO you that the punishment is COM
ing
tS55:;r;~S ~ c;.g, that have in vain
scrutinizcd my conscience, and can
find nothing with which TO reproach
myself toward our sovereign. for you
know that am Russian by natural
ization."
at is just because you are a natural
lied Russian that your position is so
terrible, If you were subject of his
Britannia majesty you could call on
the English consul for protection, and
so, perhaps, escape the rigor of the
orders am charged with enforcing"
"What then, your cxcellcncy, arc
es.sx .4s29ers?" ,,.--.
ooh, sir, have scarcely strength TO
tell you"
"Have | then lost the esteem and
favor of her majesty"
"Oh, if 1t were only no worse than
that!"
"What do you mean? Are they
talking of sending me to England?'
eIf it were only that do you sup
pose woGrftdf hesitate so 16nig; ai0out
telling you?'
"Great God! You alarm me. 1t is
surely not exile to Sibera?"
"Siberia, sir. is delightful coun-
try, which has been greatly misreprc
sented. Besides people come back
from there
"Am /, then condemned to
prison?"
"Prison is nothing. One can leave
a prison.
'.Sir, sir" cried the banker, more
and more terrified Gam | destined
to the horrible knout?'
1.-The kuout is very painful pun
ishment, but the knout does not
kill"
"By the Divine goodness cried
the panic-stricken Sunderland, q it is
death thens"
"And such death said the chief
of police raising his eyes with an ex-
preston of profound compassion.
..Such deathln echoed the English
man. :" 1t is not enough that am TO
be killed without trial, assassinated
without cause? Has she ordered auy-
thing morc?n