The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-11
SOME ODD STORIES

Something That Pleased the Gear of All
the Russias--Story of a Brilliant News
paper spondent-Phenomenal Pres
ence of Mind.
copyright, 1888. by American Press Associa-
ton
Lawrence Harrington was well known as
n brilliant, daredevil newspaper CORE
| kpondent during our civil war. Subsequent
! ly he figured in the same capacity in Mexi-
| co, South America and in all the European
campaigns since that day.
Harrington had so little of what phrenolo-
eists call ''the love of home" that it be-
came a positive torture for him to remain
as much as q month at a time in one place,
! and SO it came about that he made thou.
sands of acquaintance, and had but few in
| innate friends
He had wonderful aptitude for acquir.
! ing foreign languages, a faculty that stood
| him in good need on many an occasion. In
! addition to this, his self possession was
wonderful and his self assurance phenom
| email.
These peculiarities are best illustrated by
| an adventure he had in Siberia, whittier he
| had gone with Russian engineering expe-
dition some 10 years ago.
At the time of which I am writing the
ameer, or hereditary ruler, of the city and
province of Bokhara looked with jealous
eyes on the tendency of the Russians to
| ignore his authority, and he was partic-
ularly opposed to the introduction of rail-
roads or telegraph lines into country
which his forefathers had ruled without
such things since the days of Tamarlane
Major Roivoitch, the Russian officer in
charge of the army, like all others who
| knew Harrington, had conceived great
liking for him and took him with him on
| the many expeditions he was forced to
make away from the main party.
| Without having asked the leave of the
| Jealous ameer of Bokraua, the major and
| his newspaper friend accompanied by
servant one day ventured into the despot's
| territory. Without being aware of what
they had done. they heard loud shouting
! and the thunder Of hoofs, and before they
could attempt flight or resistance they
found themselves surrounded by swarm
of Asiatic horsemen.
In the name of all the Greek saints, what
are we to do?n said the major to his friend
''These people know the Tartar tongue
Let me talk to them, said Harrington, who
like Mark Tapley, was never SO happy as
when he was in a particularly critical and
dangerous situation
To Major Roivitch's unutterable sur
prise and the equal surprise of the fierce
horsemen, the American removed his hat
with courtly GESTURE, and riding up to the
chief or leader of the Bokharans he called
put, Long life to his high mightiness, the
noble ameer of Bokharal'
who are your" demanded the bearded
chief
1--WE are special ENJOYS from our noble
master, the great white czar of all the Rus
sias, to his excellent brother, the ameer
of Bokhara!" was the response of the una
Dashed American.
The chief consulted with his followers
for a few minutes, and then to the delight
of the men who had been regarding them
selves as prisoners they were escorted in
state to the ameers summer palace some
10 miles away.
81 am afraid, Harrington" said the ma
jor as he rode along, shat we are in a bad
box"
.How so2" asked Harrington.
'If the aIneer believes we came from the
car, he Will expect presents. That is the
usual thing"
1sOh, that's all right. Pll give him my
stemwinder American gold watch, and
you give him pistol and your silver han
died hunting knife If these don't satisfy
his royal nibs, Pll tell him that the rest of
the stuff is on the road. Now, don't fret,
major, but leave the bossing of this job
with the ameer of Bokhara to me, and you
can bet your bottom ruble we'll come out
right every time" said Harrington, with
that reassuring and refreshing self conf
dence that distinguishes the American
newspaper man from every other man in
the world.
The major said he hoped his friend was
right, but from the expression on his broad,
blond face it was evident that his faith
in the matter was not strong enough to
move a molehill, much less a mountain.
At length, and with all due ceremony,
the Especial ENJOYS of the great white czar'
were ushered into the presence of the bar
barrie ameer of Bokhara.
With amazing dignity and impressive
| ness, Harrington, who, it had been agreed,
should act as spokesman, conveyed to the
ameer the professions of profound regard
entertained for him by his royal brother,
the czar of all the Russias. He concluded
by laying at the ameer's feet the gifts that
had been agreed On.
Up to this time everything had worked
SO smoothly and satisfactorily that Major
Roivitch began to congratulate himself on
being we'll out of the woods, but he was
doomed to a swift and overwhelming dis
appointment. Like all barbarians, the
aneer had an exalted idea of his own dig
nity an d what was dug it. Addressing the
special envoy in the person of Harrington,
he said:
1--WE doubt not that you are in truth the
special ENJOYS of his exalted eXcellency, my
brother the czar, but the ENJOYS whom he
has hither deigned to send us have brought
from him letter addressed to ourselves.
You no doubt have such paper, but have
forgotten to deliver it."
On hearing this the major grew pale.
Much as he believed in the GOODNESS and in
genuity of the American, he could not see
how it was possible for him to meet this
unexpected demand.
But Harrington, after a seconds hesita-
ton, rose equal to the occasion by an exhi-
bition of presence of mind that must strike
all who read this as phenomenal.
"Your majesty is always right" he said.
C11,t