RUSSIAN PRINCES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 352, 9 June 1877, Page 4

RUSSIAN PRINCES.

It is the fashion now to tell Russian ■tones, and particularly stories about the Russian princes that live habitually here in France. Two have just been published that are worth repeating. The Russian Princes in Paris are all men of large incomes, but generally spendthrifts. One of them borrowed the sum of ten thousand francs from a money-lender, giving his note for the same. On the day it fell due the holder presented it for payment, and was told by the prince that he had no money to waste in paying debts. At that moment a gentleman entered, and tbe prince handed him twenty thousand francs to. meet the losses of the night before at the club. The Jew tore up his note of hand, and said when going out, "Now, Prince, there is nothing between us biit a debt of honour." The Prince bowed, and handed over the money without a word. The second begins in the same way, but when the Jew presented his note the prince flew in a passion, called him hard names, and, drawing a revolver, made him eat the note of hand. A few days later the Jew received his money, with a thousand franc bill thrown in for interest. Shortly afterwards the Jew received a letter from the prince, telling that he was again in want of money, and telling him to present himself with ten thousand francs and stamped paper upon which to write his infernal note of hand. The Jew came with the money. " Where is your paper for the' note ?" he said, taking the money. /'Here it is, prince," said the Jew, drawing a large cake of gingerbread from his pocket. Tne prince laughed at the joke, and shortly afterwards paid tb- 3 debt with interest,—From a Paris Letter