ONE OF THE LATE CZAR’S ESCAPES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 490, 12 November 1881, Page 1

ONE OF THE LATE CZAR’S ESCAPES.

♦ — Among many infernal machines employed by the Nihilists in Russia, the American apple-pie was much used* Four times in one week did the Lord Chamberlain detect this dreaded viand among the dishes on the Czar’s table, where it had been placed by some unknown hand. About a month before his death the Czar was invited to attend the annual picnic of the United Order of Buttonhole Workers at Scadger’s park, on the other side of - the Neva. After playing Copenhagen for seven or eight hours, the Czar was offered some suspicious-looking lemonade, which he prudently declined. Noticing this, a baffled Nihilist approached, and, after walking carefully round the Emperor, said to him, with assumed respect, “ Your Majesty wears light pants, I perceive.” “As you see,” replied

the Emperor. “Is not that correct ?” “ Precisely,” exclaimed the conspirator; “ but it is the custom for wearers of light pants to sit down on a pie.” “Is the custom imperative ?” asked the Czar gloomily. “Absolutely, sire. It is a matter of tradition.” “Then let a pie be produced,” said the Czar. This was instantly done, the great American cemetery crowder being placed on a stump in front of the Empetor. it; ! vitally ’’'iiOfcessary that it should be a

blackbbi^pief ’’ ! the of all; the SiTssiaC dmdrh'g hi>;; coat-tail with a t f I doigWct'te. hssiteteg,. the diSpo&L; ff Suppose you sit dowp : first, .jusb to show me how. i—your Maji«^,^4tattimerdd; r the conspirator $ II r Sed, trousers - - are old aid—Md have been be no—- “ ferdarjed autjpcrat, suddenly Whippiag out his revolver, The miserable wretch sat down,with a groan, and, instantly after vanished through the. tree-tods: The pie had been loaded with— mtro-glycerine. “I knew it,” muttered the Emperor, and, calling togeffifir his privy ; council with si ! ’ddg T whistle, he4ook the next car for the ferry.— .Utils Rock (Ark.) Gazette,