OFFICIAL LIFE IN ST. PETERSBURG- 1892-1894 105 



I have no apology to make for the Russian system far 

 from it; but I would state, in the interest of international 

 comity, that it is best for Americans not to be too prompt 

 in believing all the stories of alleged sufferers from Rus 

 sian despotism, and especially of those who wish to use 

 their American citizenship simply in order to return to 

 Russia and enjoy business advantages superior to those 

 of their neighbors. 



That there are many meritorious refugees cannot be 

 denied; but any one who has looked over extradition pa 

 pers, as I have been obliged to do, and seen people posing 

 as Russian martyrs who are comfortably carrying on in 

 New York the business of counterfeiting bank-notes, and 

 unctuously thanking God in their letters for their success 

 in the business, will be slow to join in the outcries of refu 

 gees of doubtful standing claiming to be suffering perse 

 cution on account of race, religion, or political opinion. 



Nor are Russian- Americans the only persons who weary 

 an American representative. One morning a card was 

 brought in bearing an undoubted American name, and 

 presently there followed it a tall raw-boned man with long 

 flaxen hair, who began orating to me as follows: &quot;Sir, 

 you are an ambassador from the President of the United 

 States; I am an ambassador from God Almighty. I am 

 sent here to save the Emperor. He is a good man ; he is 

 followed up by bad men who seek his life ; I can save him ; 

 I will be his cup-bearer; I will drive Ms team/ This 

 latter conception of the Emperor s means of locomotion 

 struck me as naive, especially in view of the fact that near 

 my house was an immense structure filled with magnifi 

 cent horses for the Emperor and court a veritable equine 

 palace. &quot;Yes, 7 said my visitor; &quot;I will drive the Em 

 peror s team. I want you to introduce me to him imme 

 diately. My answer was that it was not so easy to secure 

 a presentation to the Emperor, offhand ; that considerable 

 time would be necessary in any case. To this my visitor 

 answered : &quot; I must see him at once ; I am invited to come 

 by the Empress.&quot; On my asking when he received this 



