AS ATTACHE AT ST. PETERSBURG -1854 -1855 457 



to present arms to an officer of lower rank, must, when- 

 ever he catches sight of a general officer, call out the entire 

 guard to present arms with the beating of drums. Here 

 our American was a source of much difficulty, for when- 

 ever any sentinel caught sight of his gorgeous epaulets in 

 the distance the guard was instantly called out, arms pre- 

 sented, and drums beaten, much to the delight of our 

 friend, but even more to the disgust of the generals of the 

 Eussian army and to the troops, who thus rendered ab- 

 surd homage and found themselves taking part in some- 

 thing like a bit of comic opera. 



Another example was also interesting. A New York 

 ward leader big, rough, and rosy had come out as an 

 agent for an American breech-loading musket company, 

 and had smuggled specimens of arms over the frontier. 

 Arriving in St. Petersburg, he was presented to the Em- 

 peror, and after receiving handsome testimonials, was put 

 in charge of two aides-de-camp, who took him and his 

 wife about, in court carriages, to see the sights of the 

 Russian capital. At the close of his stay, wishing to make 

 some return for this courtesy, he gave these two officers 

 a dinner at his hotel. Our minister declined his invita- 

 tion, but allowed the secretary and me to accept it, and 

 we very gladly availed ourselves of this permission. Ar- 

 riving at his rooms, we were soon seated at a table splen- 

 didly furnished. At the head of it was the wife of our 

 entertainer, and at her right one of the Russian officials, 

 in gorgeous uniform; at the other end of our table was 

 our host, and at his right the other Russian official, splen- 

 didly attired ; beside the first official sat our secretary, and 

 beside the other was the place assigned to me. The din- 

 ner was successful : all spoke English, and all were happy ; 

 but toward the end of it our host, having perhaps taken 

 more wine than was his wont, grew communicative, and, as 

 ill luck would have it, the subject of the conversation 

 became personal courage, whereupon he told a story. Re- 

 calling his experience as a deputy sheriff of New York, he 

 said: 



