St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-07-02
MAKING AUNIFORM
Il Was For the Gar, and He
Wanted 1t In a Hurry.
A SCARED cRIMEAN TAILOR.

When Pounced Upon by His Majesty's
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
lished of the circumstances attending
the ordering of a military Uniform by
the car from a little tailor in the
Crimea. Khaim Kurichkess by name.
who lived at Simferopol. the headquar-
teHs of the Crimean Dragons.
When the imperial family came to
Lividai. and some days before the an
nual fete of the Crimean Dragons, the
car told the colonel that he had in
store a gift for him and the regiment
the czarina had consented to become
their chief His majesty added: Il
shall be there when you and your of
6cers 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, if you
hurry. to have one made You seem
TO have an excellent tailor. Your uni
form fits beautifully. Who made it?"
The colonel gave the name of Zurich
xess. whereupon his majesty asked him
to arrange that Kurichkess should
make a uniform for himself. adding.
smiling. Tell him to do his best and
to turn it out as we'll as yours"
There is next given a seriocomic de
Bcription of the alarm occasioned
among the Kurichkess household, con
BiSting of father. mother and nine chill
dren. when handsome mOtorcar stop
ped outside their door and a cloaked
general officer descended.
The general said in staccato SEN
fences: You must come with me.
Don't be frightened. You'll know
later where I'm taking you. I 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
er she was u wife or widow.
Eventually the tailor turned up safe
and recounted his adventures. The
drive with the general had lasted two
hours and a half. During the whole
journey the general did not address a
single word to him. When they reach
ed their destination. Yalta, all be said
was. "Khaim 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 be 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 dissipated when a
colonel entered the room. and the gen
eraI 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 a uniform of the
Crimean Dragons. But it must be as
good as that of the colonel of the regi-
ment. | hope you won't make mess
Of it. | will take you at once to the
palace. where you will be admitted to
the cars study TO see his majesty's
figure"
KurichkeSs to the cars study his maj
esty was standing reading a document
with his back to the door. Some min
utes elapsed before be turned around
In the meantime KurichkeSs was root
ed to the floor
The car on realizing his presence
faced him and said: "Oh. you are here
already! You are Khaim Kurichkess.
the tailor. want you to make me a
uniform of the Crimean Dragons. Do
your best and see that it is good fit
Get to work at once"
Kurichkess went on to describe how
God had helped him In his work and
how satisfied the car had been with
the uniform and thanked him for it
KurichkeSs refused to accept any
thing In payment. but ''his'' general in
sisted that. according to law. he was
obliged to receive so rubles for his
expenses. Moreover, the general added.
the minister of the court was aware
that Kurichkess was in debt, and he
gave the tailor an envelope containing
300 rubles from the minister to dis
charge his obligations.
Kurichkess was driven back In a
motor TO Simferopol. and some days
later an imperial messenger brought
to his shop a case containing a gold
watch and chain. The double eagle
was engraved on the watch. which also
bore the inscription. ITO Khaim Ku-
reckless for Zeal. Argos.
A Lady" Is Defined.