Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-12
aalisesllaneo,ls Rsaains.
CAR AND SENTINEL.
Incident In the Life of Alexander l.
of Russia.

CAR AND SENTINEL.
Incident In the Life of Alexander !.
of Russia.
During Napoleon's ill-starred inva-
sion of Russia, when he poured the
armies Of all Europe into that vast
and ice-defended empire, only to see
them waste away in fruitless battle
and in driving storms Of sleet and
snow, the czar, Alexander /, followed
his own troops and watched with his
Iown eyes every move Of the cam
paign. His advisers were distracted
lin their opinions, and his own anxiety
was very great.
1t was often his habit to envelop
himself in a long military cloak and
personally examine his outposts and
lines Of defense, unaccompanied by
any attendant. One evening, in
very wild and desolate bit Of forest,
he lost his way. AS the darkness
deepened he was much pleased to dis
cover in the distance a stalwart and
lhigh-booted soldier. who immediate
ly ordered him to halt and give the
lcountersign. The czar did so and
then inquired the way to the main
body of the troops. Receiving the in
formation, he turned and was about
to leave, when the soldier called out
to him very grudly:
"Ho, you Stop a bit. I'd have
you know that I am not a private SOL
dier. You seem to belong t the ar
my, but you must have been badly
trained. A raw recruit, I suppose. You
haven't given me the proper salute"
The car returned with an air of
difference and said:
MAY I venture to ask what rank
you hold?"
"Well," returned the soldier, some
what mollifed. "You might try to
see whether you can guess it."
Possibly" said the czar, you may
be a corporal"
| Higher than that" said the senti-
mel. "I am not an ordinary sentry,
but am placed here on special duty"
'Then," said the car, 'it may be
that you are a sergeant"
| Higher than that"
| "a sub-lieutenant, them" remarked
the czar.
| Higher still than that"
"Then you surely must be at least
a lieutenant"
Now you have guessed it," said
the sentinel complacently; land
may say that should not be here had
I not attracted the favorable notice
of his imperial majesty"
"Oh, does the czar know yoa?"
WELL" returned the soldier, "he
has never spoken to me; but it stands
to reason that a soldier Of my rank
would not have been assigned to this
sort of outpost duty unless he had at
tracted the attention of his majesty"
Have you ever seen his majesty"
asked the czar, assuming a look of
wonder.
"Oh, often. A splendid figure he
is; and, as I have told you just now,
he must have had his eye upon me
for some time. But I see that you are
anxious to be off. AS you appear to
be a teachable sort of fellow I will
give you instructions how you ought
to salute an officer Of my grade when
you are fortunate enough to meet
him. Move back, there, twenty PAGES.
Now advance ten PAGES toward me.
Bring your heels smartly together,
and carry your hand to your cap in
the prescribed fashion. Yes, that Is
the way. You have really done IT, very
well. Now you may go. But hold en- a
moment! You evidently belong TO the
army, too. OF course, you are new
ly enlisted private"
mo" said the czar," higher than
that. You might try to see whether
you can guess It,"
| "a corporal?"
Higher than that"
"a sergeant?"
Somewhat higher than that"
What! A sub-lieutenant?"
Higher than that"
| "a lieutenant?" said the sentinel
with a look of great surprise.
| Higher than that"
mot a captain?"
Higher than that"
| The soldier clicked his heels to-
gether, stiffened himself up, and sa-
luted promptly.
"Can you possibly be major?" he
asked, staring.
Higher than that" answered the
czar easily and with a smile. The SOL
dier seemed aghast.
"a lieutenant-colonel?"
Higher than that"
"The colonel Of a whole regiment?"
gasped the soldier.
Even higher than that"
Can it be that your excellency is
a general?"
Higher than that" said the czar.
"a field-marshal!" cried the lieu
tenant who was now in a state Of
tremendous excitement.
Higher than that"
The lieutenant fell upon his knees,
while terror and astonishment were
depicted on his countenance.
His Imperial Majesty the Czar!"
he stammered.
The czar threw open his heavy
cloak and displayed to the eyes Of
the crouching man before him the dec
oration of the Order Of st. Andrew,
blazing with diamonds.
Even So" remarked the czar.
will your imperial majesty ever
forgive me?" asked the soldier, whom
fear was shaking like an aspen leaf.
Forgive you for what?" asked
the czar in a friendly tone. you
have given me a little lesson in mill
tary manners. I asked you the way
to the main camp, and you have shown
it to me. 1 am indebted to you for
hotb fayorS NV hraVe vOunp friend