The Potteries Examiner : — 1875-05-01 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

REPAIITESES.—GeneraIIy speaking, the strong have refused to put up with jesting from the weak. The Czar Nicholas, who had some fine qualities, was hardened against an act of clemency he meditated by the undaunted spirit of a prisoner. Relieff, a man of letters, had been implicated in the conspiracy of Decem. I bee, 1825, and sentenced to be hanged. He was actually launched from the fatal ladder, when the rope broke, and he was thrown to the ground, severely bruised but conscious. He picked himself up, and said quite quietly, "They can do nothing in Russia, not even twine a cord properly." It was formerly the custom in Russia to grant a pardon to the condemned, who seemed to be thus saved by the special interposition of Providence. Nicholas was informed of the accident, and his pleasure demanded. "What did Relieff say ?" demanded the Emperor. "Sire," replied the messenger, "he said that they could not even twine a cord properly in Russia." "Prose him the contrary," rejoined Nicholas. When royalty takes an unfair advantage of its inviolability, it may inflict the most cruel sufferings without fear of retribution. Thus Napoleon said to a prefect's wife, about whom people talked, and who was present at a state ball, "Well, madame, are you as fond of men as ever f" The poot lady had enough presence of mind to answer, "Yes, sire, when they are polite ; " upon whizb the Emperor turned away rather abruptly, and illustrated the littleness of hie mind by depriving her husband of his place three days later. The prize for good nature combined with a sense of humour, for a perfect readiness to give and take, should be assigned to Henry IV. of France. It is a pity that the jests of the wise and witty king are, as a rule, impossible to re. produce in an English conventional dress; but we may give a charming instance of his kindly forbearance which is related by the grandfather of Madame de Maintenon. It was the turn of H. de Aubigne to sleep in the king's antechamber. Fancying the king was asleep, he began to talk to H. de In Force, who abased the watch with him, saying aloud, "Your master is the most ungrateful of mem" La Force, half asleep, asked him what he was talking about, when Henry cried, "Wake up; he is telling you I am the most ungrateful of men." "Pray, go to sleep, sire," interrupted d'Aubigne ; "we have a great deal more to say about you." The king never showed less kindness to his servant for what he bad overheard. But the cynical generosity of Frederick the Great is unique. A lseJsey, who owed him a grudge, had determined to poison him. One morning he brought in the king's chocolate, and appeared visibly troubled in countenance. "What ads you ?" said Frederick, looking. fixedly at him; "you look as if you had put poison in my food." The wretch fell at his feet and avowed his crime. "Get out of my sight, you scoundrel said Frederick, and took no further notice of the man's attempt to murder him. A delicate compliment is a work of far higher art than the most biting sarcasm. Every one knows the story of the poor creature who found himself seated between Mdme. &seamier and Mdme. de Steel, and managed to offend them both by saying that be sat between wit and beauty. The court of Louis