Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-14
MAKING AUNIFORM
It Was For the Car, and He
Wanted 1t In a Hurry.
A SCARED CRIMEAN TAILOR.
When Pouneed Upon by His Maiesty'a
General, Who cloaked His Mission In
Mystery, the Knight of the Shears
Thought His Time Had Come.


General, Who cloaked His Mission In
Mystery, the Knight of the Shears
Thought His Time Had Come.
BY special permission of the court
authorities an amusing account Is pub
llshed Of the circumstances attending
the ordering Of military inform by
the car from Il little tailor in the
Crimea, Khaim Kurlchkess by name,
who,lived at Simferopol, the headquar-
ters OF the Crimean Dragons.
When the imperial family came to
Lividai. and some days before the an
nual fete Of the Crimean dragons, the
czar told the colonel that he had In
store a gift for him and the regiment
the czarina had consented to become
they chief. His majesty added: II
shall be there when you and your Of
ficers are presented to the empress
and shall wear your uniform. The
only thing is believe haven't the
uniform Of the regiment. But that
doesn't matter, there is time, II you
hurry. to have one made. You seem
to have an excellent tailor. Your uni
form fits beautifully, Who made TT"
The colonel gave the name Of Kurlch-
kess, whereupon his majesty asked him
to arrange that Kurlchkess should
make a uniform for himself, adding,
smiling, "rell him to do his best and
to turn 1t out as well as yours"
There Is next given a seriocomic de-
scription Of the alarm occasioned
among the Kurichkess household, con
sisting Of father, mother and nine chill
ped outside their door and clOaked
general officer descended.
The general said in staccato SEN
tences; you must come with me.
Don't be frightened. You'll know
later where I'm taking you. can't
leave without you, We've lost much
time already. Get dressed quickly"
The tailor obeyed, went with his cap
tor and was absent for four days.
Nine. Kurichkess was doubtful wheth-
VI BIG Wub u Nllb VI WluuWs
Eventually the tailor turned up safe
and recounted his adventures The
drive with the general had lasted two
hours and half During the whole
journey the general did not address
single word TO him. When they reach
ed their destination, Yalta, all he said
was. "Khalm Kurichkess, get out and
follow me-"
He was assured that he need not be
alarmed; he would be provided with
lodging and with food. and the next
day he would be told why he had been
brought to Yalta and what he had to
do. He was told he need not try to
escape. as he would be watched.
His fears were dlssipated when a
colonel entered the room, and the "gen-
eral of generals" addressed him to the
following effect:
Great good fortune has fallen upon
you. His majesty the emperor wishes
you to make for him n uniform Of the
Crmean Dragons But 1t must be as
good as that OF the colonel Of the regi
ment | hope you won't make mess
OF It. will take you ut once to the
palace, where you will be admitted to
the czar's study to see his majesty's
figure"
When the general Of generals" took
Kurlchkess to the cars study his maj
esty was standing reading document
with his back to the door Some min.
utes elapsed before he turned around.
In the meantime Kurlchkess was root,
ed to the floor.
The cZar on realizing his presence
fnced him and said; "0h, you are here
alrendy, You are Khalm Kurlchkess,
the tailor. want you to make me a
uniform Of the Crlmeun dragons, DO
your best and see that II is u good ut.
Get to work ut once"
Kurlchkess went on to describe how
God had helped him In his work and
how satisfied the cZar had been with
the uniform and thanked him for II,
klrlchkess refused to accept any.
thing In payment, but "hs" general in
sisted that, according to law, he was
obliged to receive 10 rubles for his
expenses, Moreover the general added
the minister OF the court was aware
that Kurlchkess was In debt, and he
gave the tailor nm envelope containing
800 rubles from the minister TO dis
charge his obligations,
Eurlchkess was driven back In a
motor to slmteropol and some days
later an Imperial messenger brought
20 his shop n case containing gold
watch aud chain. The double eagle
was engraved on the watch, which also
bore the inscription, "1o Ehaim Ku
rlchkess for Zeal Argos.