The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-15

Idly through Lithuania on his return to st. Pc
tersburs. II Is evident from some anecdotes re-
corded by our author that prosperity and glory
had not lessened his amiability. One day he
entered incognito the house of a country gentle
man. who received hip cordially and who.
charmed by the friendly way in which his guest
received his hospitality. exclaimed: III only
all your comrades resembled you! unfortun-
ately the greater part Of them, especially the
officers OF the guards. are hard and insolent
and make us dread like the plague IT,. passage
Of the Russian troops through Our country.
And now, my dear friend" hs said. becoming
more and more enusive with each glass of beer
which he drank. tell me-. I beg OF you. your
name. that ! may know whom ! have the honor
10 receive under my roof" The Emperor. "A
little embarrassed. answered that he was called
an honest man." Very well. my dear honest
man. " replied the other heartily, the blessings
Of heaven be upon you!" Just then several
persons Of the imperial retinue arrived; the
incognito was disclosed, and the gentleman.
trembling and confused. fell at the feet Of the
Gar. who raised him kindly and at parting left
a token OF remembrance. Another story which
our author had from the Czar himself runs as
follows: Travelling as usual without retinue,
VI NtoC SCpdiutEu " " bN NhpNh'
stopped at a country church to hear mass; when
it was finished he approached the priest to kiss
his hand. a mark OF respect which is always
accorded to ministers Of our religion. The
vicar. not knowing the Emperor. kissed his
forehead In leaving the church. which was
empty. he perceived only one woman. who was
waiting for her carriage. He bowed. asking
her where she was going. She answered. TO
yrtll~uts ~u. slu t,v,r ,rkAra bic Ma taatr
was to change horses. As the lady's carriage
did not arrive the Emperor proposed that she
should 60 In his chaise. Thinking that no
was a simple Russian officer. she consented
gladly and explained to the Emperor that she
was obliged TO 60 TO vilkomir to attend n law
suit. which she feared she would lose, although
her case was inst: for. added she. what justice
can q poor widow without protection expect?'
She had been advised. she said, 10 apply to the
Governor General of Lithuanla, but she had
not the honor Of his acquaintance and had no
means Of attracting the interest Of the Secretary
Of the Government. Tho conversation amused
the Emperor extremely. and he fastened to
offer his influence fos the Indy with NJ. Korsa-
kof. The poor widow thanked him for his
kindness. but did not seem to attach much
importance to the offer OF the services Of an
oficcr Of low rank. Finally they arrived at
Vilkomir. What was the surprise of the fol-
lowers Of the Emperor to see him arrive seated
at the side OF n woman who was neither young,
pretty. nor in any way distinguished In her
appearance. But nothing could equal the
confusion and astonishment Of the poor woman
when she saw by the signs OF respect which
were shown TO her travelling companion that
she had been so long with the Emperor. her
sovereign. The most fortunate part Of this
meeting for her was that she gained her suit.
thanks to the influence In which at first
she had so little confidence"
We have passed over those large sections OF
the book wherein II IL evident that the writer's
information Is procured ut second hand. and
we do not think 1t worth while 10 note what
she has to say about the tragic death Of Alex
ander l., which she chooses TO cover with a
more or less transparent veil. Where the au-
thor writes Of her own knowledge, she may be
undoubtedly accepted az an authority. though
she seems to have been an incurab'e snob and
incapable Of approaching the vast intellectual
superiority possessed by Napoleon over Alex
ander I.