The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-25
From the London Tribune.

From the London Tribune.
LTHOUGH the hoaXing of the Bur-
II gomaster of Koepenick was not
4 \ dreamed of by Professor Teufels-
droclxh in all his philosophy, history con-
tains many examples of the peoples dit-
ficulty in differentiating between clothes
and the man. In 1773 officials in court
uniform published a ukase signed by Car
Peter Ill, among the Cossacks OF the
Dnieper. This set forth the imperial COM
mand that they should rise and cast out
the usurper, Catherine. 1t mattered not
that Car Peter had been dead eleven
years. the peasants had seen the uniforms
of the emissaries and their gold lace was
confirmation strong enough to contute
dozen death certificates. They roSe sue
ceeded in almost shaking Catherine from
her throne, and did succeed in landing
Paugatshef, the instigator, on the scat
fold at Moscow.
Some three years ago a jeweler on the
Nevsky Prospekt of st. Petersburg re-
ceiyed a visit one sunny afternoon from
an old and decrepit officer In the uniform
of a general. The old gentleman was as
sisted from his carriage to the counter by
an attentive footman in livery. The smll-
ing jeweler received him with the deter-
ence due to his rank and accommodated
him with a chair. The gentleman had
come to choose a birthday present for
his wife
The tradesman displayed his most vaiu-
able collars and tiaras. The veteran ling
cred over them lovingly. AT last he made
choice of a costly suite, and intimated
that 1t would meet his purpose.
Tremblingly the old soldier sought in his
breast for his pocketbook. He had sailed
forth without i'll The disappointment or
both shopman and customer was acute.
The general, however, was not strate-
gist without resource. With apologies he
asked for writing materials and essayed
to pen a letter to his home. The excite
ment acting upon his palsied hands made
his writing illegble. The jeweler was in
despair The old man sighed, and re-
marked upon the sad consequences OF
campaigns. The jeweler was touched. He
had an inspiration.
''Will your excellency permit me to
write the inscription to your dictatlon%
The general was delighted, and most
gratefully accepted the offer.
On the business paper of his firm the
ieweler wrote the stumbling words OF the
veteran:
Dear Anna: | have need of money.
Please take 5000 rubles from my safe ana
return by bearer. Lovingly yours.
IVAN.
The Generals own footman was dis
patched with the note. The old man sat
lingering the Jewels until in due course
the servant returned with the 5000 rubles.
The tiara was bought and paid for The
ieweler assisted his distinguished client
to carriage and stood bowling as he
drove away.
That evening when the jeweler returned
to his home his wife asked why he had
withdrawn so large sum from the ram
lily safe.
what sum-" asked the shopkeeper in
surprise.
"Why, the 5000 rubes you sent for this
afternoon"
give thousand rubles! I don't under
stand.
Heavens, here's your letter."
The wife produced the letter in the
jewelers. own handwriting upon the jew
eIer's own business note paper. and he for
the first time realized that the common
name of Anna and the common name of
Ivan were respectively those of him
self and his wife, as well as of the palsled
officer and his visionary spouse
The jeweler had paid for the officer S
tiara.
OF the same genre, though differing in
detail. was another swindle perpetrated
upon a jeweler in st. Petersburg. Tho
mystery surrounding the composition OF
the secret service force is the most eff
fective tool in the hands of the intelligent
Russian criminal. On the Grade Nor
skaia Is one of the most magnificent
iewelry stores in Europe-the house OF
Fauberge To it some months ago drove
m spendidly appointed equipaee. in
which were seated two ladies. The ladies'
descended at Fauberge's and were re-
ceived az customers of distinction. The
older lady introduced herself as the wife
Of a well-known statesman recently re-
turned from abroad. She explained that
she had been authorized by her husband
to choose a collar of diamonds. The
ieweler spread before her the gems of
his collection.
After much hesitation the lady picked
one of the most expensive, but to her
dismay the price exceeded that suggest
ed nv her husband. The salesman dread
| cd to lose so profitable customer.
Gould not Madame obtain the consent OF
her excellency's husband to the pur-
chase? The lady meditated and at length
begged permission to drive to the Office
of her husbands mnistry-the distance
was not great-to show him the collar