The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-05-24
iSlo1isbP AND CAR.
A sTALwART PRELATe WHO WOULD
NOT OBEY HIS MAJESTY.

The Russian bishop Ambrose. of Pepsa,
Gave Hts Ruler Terrific Reception
on tho Occasion of a Distinguished
VISIT lie ,1ade the Czar Obey.
Bishop Ambrose was an extraordinary
man. renowned for the frmness of his
| character. the depth Of his erudition
aud the narrowness of his views. The
son of a simple deacon. he owed his ele-
vation TO his oratorical talent, his his
torical works, and especially his ascetic
virtues He lived in his episcopal palace
with the austere habits that had en-
deared him to the people He dressed
| like simple peasant, lived in cell In
his palace, and his principal diet con-
sisted of cabbage and radishes. In fact
he Jared like the poorest moujik; but
for all that he had the strength of a
giant. His salary of 5000 or 10000
roubles he distributed among the poor,
giving right and left, and never refusing
charity to the hosts of beggars that al
ways swarmed around him.
In 1891, Alexander / announced that
he intended to visit Pensa; but if he
knew the reception that was in store for
him he would have tried some other
town. The governor sent the chief of
police to the bishop to request him to
clean his palace before the arrival of the
czar.
''Ali right" the bishop said, 81 can
get the mud in front of the place cleared
away, but where can hide your head
and the governors head? It would be
useless to bury them in the ground; the
of oafi0 oksJ
ate the whole place"
OF course the two officials were furious,
but there was no help for them: Ambrose
was too powerful. When the czar ar
rived the governor gave orders to the
archbishop to come with all his clergy
and receive the emperor at the front en-
trance to the cathedral; but that was
just what he would not do. He massed
his clergy with all their banners at a side
door on the southern side. To the re-
monstrances of the governor he replied,
81 am the archbishop, and alone give
orders here"
YANKING THE czAR UPSTAIRS.
The civil authorities were grouped at
the front entrance. The czar, naturally
enough, went to the place where the
banners were. There were some rather
steep steps in front of the side door and
the czar complained that his legs were
weak and that he would prefer to enter
the church through some other door.
"Nonsensew the bishop exclaimed.
. The weakness of your legs doesn't pre-
vent you from dancing. Conner
Seizing him by the arm the powerful
bishop yanked his majesty up the steps.
At the threshold the czar bent down to,
kiss the image that the priest presented
to him, but to the utter astonishment of
the crowd, the bishop, still holding him
by the arm, forced him to bow down al
most to the ground. The car thought
that was enough, so he again attempted
to kiss the image Mol three timesr'
said the bishop The czar had to obey
and bow twice more before he was per
mitted to kiss the holy image
That, however, was only the beginning
of his troubles. After having heard the
TIE Deum in the cathedral, the car re-
tired to the apartments that had been
carefully prepared for him by the COVER
nor, and was about to enjoy his first nap
when all the bells of the churches burst
out with a terrific clangor. The arch
bishop, accompanied by his chapter and
an immense crowd, all chanting loud
enough to take the roof off, presented
himself before the governors residence
and announced his intention to purify
the rooms occupied by the czar by
sprinkling them with holy water Alex
anderl sent his adjutant to the terrible
prelate to tell him that his majesty was
fatigued and was unable to receive him.
You are the adjutant of the czar of
this earth, the bishop said, "but am
the adjutant of the car of heaven"
SPRINKLING TILE czAR.
The young man refused to admit him,
and the mighty bishop grabbed him by
the collar, tossed him back thirty feetin
the rear and walked majestically into
the czar's room
81 will haye you arrested" the gov
ernor shouted, in a furious rage.
There is not power enough in the
whole world the bishop responded, "to
arrest the cross of God
Alexander had to submit. His rooms
were thoroughly sprinkled, after which
he was compelled to listen to an inter
minable sermon on the evils of self love
and the passion for luxury. On leaving
the emperor the archbishop proceeded
once more to the cathedral for the even
ing Office. AT 10 o'clock the bells rang
out a second time. Then the car sent
word to the archbishop to stop the ring.
ing of the bells for the third time, which
was the old Russian custom; but Am
broise would not yield an inch. He was
the adjutant of the czar of heaven, and
he would take no orders from a lesser
potentate. So an hour later the bells be-
e~-1 r Al L1-s. 4