THE GUARDSMAN AND THE EMPRESS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2331, 26 June 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE GUARDSMAN AND THE EMPRESS.

I A letter from Berlin relates the I following HiiecdotoA lew day's ago a bale old man, in a pennant's qostame, lint decorated with several orders and crosses, was seen to ascend the flight of stoj-s loading to the terrace of the palace of Sana Souci. A sentinel posted tJiore stopped him, informing liini that lie could noi he allowed to go farther, us the. palaco. was inhabited, by l the Empress of Russia. ' Why thaiV the very rriasoii I must go on,' replied the veteran sturdily, An altercation ensued, which was interrupted bv the arrival of Oolrmel Count Von Alhensleben, first equerry to the Empress, who asked what was tho matter. The old inun replied that ha had walked

nine Qormaii.niiJeß to see i 'l'fpflp de(thilieilavfi)g ii'tvetr ilir learning this, the Count bade him wait and having: .informed thfi Empress of the : occtii:rence, was ordered to iutrdfltice him. ■. :■ ■: . .. [' JyiO) a linn step, and tiion ■exclaimed |: t :--'T recognise her well , though she ii much changed.!,. He then reuiindetl. Herilfijt!Btj((( of an; occurrence whicli tookj ||lftoeS/jli 18(|6. in the Park of 'OhwlolJtenl'liltg, 'where tho: late • kini used to pass the summer, living there!, in the style Tlifr'Eiiipiess"p£ tlnjA Princessj ofj age, was one day playing iuiiu' the| ornamental piece of water called tliftj iCavp Asilip' with her '.little Bister,. Jylxaiidrina, and her brother j Ghaiies whom she was drawing! along in a bath chair, in which 'exercise she iiappened.to gp ratherHtoo near tke not tar on, called to her, warning her of her danger, but in vain; the little IJrintfess. laughed? at her adviser, and cbntibpedita driiw the Bath chair close tothe'lirink.

The soldier on seeing this,.. stepped lier, and cried' Halt!' The Princess, in n fright and fell into the water. The sentinel plunged in after her, got her safely out, and, 'dragging the go-cart along with him —Princess Alexandrina running by his side, and crying all the while—carried ber, dripping wet as she was, to Queen Louisa, who was sitting before the palace reading. The Queen on learning what had happened, bent over her child, took from her neck a small medallion containing a lock of her (the Queen's) luur, ahd gave it to the guardsman, "Thissmallmedallion- the- veteran now showed to the ; Empress,, who, immediately recollecting the occnrance with deep emotion requested him to restore to her the medallion with her mother's hnir, and turning to Princess Gagaziiie, her lady of honor, detached her own portrait, set in diamonds (an ornament-which the ladies of the Russian court generally wear as a mark of special affection), from the bosom Of that lady, and. gave it to the old guardsman, who went away' delighted and proud, and :in-passing by the sentinelwho had-stopped him, showed him the trinket, saying, 'Do you see that, you. stupid fellow i"'