Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-21
AN
AMUSING
BLUNDER
A Russian story.

During the reign of Catherine II
of Russia, there was, Mt her court. an
exceedingly rich banker who had
been born in England but who had
made Russia his home and had sworn
allegiance to the empress. His name
was Sunderland and not only did he
enjoy a uositon of much influence at
court, but he had also risen high in
the favor of the empress.
Life had fallen in pleasant places
for the estimable Mr. Sunderland, so
pleasant that his surprise and aston
ishment was overwhelming when, one
morning as he was finishing dressing.
his servant came, open-mouthed, to
tell him that the house was surroun-
ded by an armed force and that the
chief of police had asked to speak
with him.
Gracious heavons!" gasped the
banker, while terrible visions of ST.
IBERIA flashed before his bewidered
gaze, what can it mean? / have
done nothing"
He entered the room, where Reliew,
the chief of police, was pacing up and
down with troubled face.
"Mr. Sudeland," he began in a voice
of deeep CONSERVATION, 81 assure you
that it is with greatest reluctance that
! am forced to execute command
issued by our gracious sovereign.
am overwhelmed at the severity of the
order and cannot imagine what crime
you have committed terrible enough
to raise Her Majesty's resentment to
such height"
Mr.. Sunderland grew pale. What
terrible plot was entnngling him, an
innocent man, in its dark coils?
"sir, he replied. your ignorance is
only exceeded by my own. l have
done nothing by which / could incur
Her Majesty's displeasure. What is
the order she has given you?"
OH" the chief of police answered,
with long sigh, for his heart was
larger than that officials was generally
supposed to be: "I do not know how
to tell yau.p
"Is II possible that the empress has
lost her confidence in me?" cried the
banker,
"If that were all should not mind,
said his visitor. Confidence may
easily be restored and a lost position
Emay be won back"
Does she wish me to return to my
mother country"
"That would be rather vexing,
know" replied the officer, "but a mar
of your wealth is comfortable any
Ewhere."
Powers above!" whispered Suder
land, trembling, ut cannot be that
am TO be exiled. sent TO Siberian"
ALAS! man may come back, ever
from that land OF snow and ice"
"oh! what can she have done7 Am
l to be thrown into prison?"
"If that were all, you would be al
ready there, sir" said Reliew.
Lord Of mercy! is It the knout?"
THAT is terrible, but 1t does not
Emean death"
"Oh!" cried the banker, almost sob
Ibing with fear at the terror that lay
behind the others reticence, "am
in danger OF my life? What can II
IAN mean? II was only two days age
that the empress spoke with me SO
graciously and said that she wished
but | cannot believe it! In mercy
tell me what horrible thing is threat
ening me; death itself would be less
cruel than this suspense"
"Well, then" said the chief Of po-
lice, in a lamentable voice: MY
gracious sovereign has commanded me
to have you stuffed"
Stuffed" cried Sunderland, looking
fxedly at his interlocutor. you
must have lost your senses, man, or
the empress has lost hers; why you
couldn't have received such com.
mand without making her aware OF
the barbarlty and extravaganza Of
such a thing"
Alas my poor friend, did what
ordinarily | should never have dared
to do, made clear my surprise, my
sorrow, and even ventured TO re
monstrate humbly, but to no avail
My gracious sovereign reproached
me, in an irritated tone for my hesi
tatioH, adding these words which still
echo in my ears: Go and do not for
get that it is your duty to fulhn, with