Newspaper Page Text
hat when you met me. . . . But I believe," the Czar
continued after a brief pause, "that though you are
a rabbi, it would have been your duty to take off
your hat to me. Are you really ignorant of who I
am?"
"I don't know. I take you to be an officer; per
haps a colonel!"
"Not well guessed, rabbi!" said the Czar, hardly
able to restrain a laugh. "lam more than a colonel."
"Perhaps a general," exclaimed the rabbi excited
ly, retracing his steps and touching his hat.
"More than a general!"
"Perhaps Rodinger?" And without waiting for
an answer he stepped further back, took his hat off
and bowed deep, because he doubted not that he was
in the presence of that mighty dignitary."
"More than Rodinger!" laughed the Czar, with
out taking off his eyes from the Jew.
"Then," stammered the Jew, almost palsied with
fright, "you must be Prince Paskiewitch!"
"More than Prince Paskiewitch, rabbi!"
Speechless and in pangs of horror, the rabbi held
his hat in his hand, trembling all over, he looked a
picture of despair. "Who might that gentleman be?"
he racked his brains. "Perhaps the adjutant of the
Emperor. And if it is he, what have Ito fear?" He
calmed his excitement, and taking fresh courage he
approached the Czar in confidence, and said : "I do
not believe that you are more than Paskiewitch.
Even Prince Paskiewitch would not promenade alone
without guard or protection and hold conversation
with a Jew, regardless of the fact that there is no
higher imperial dignitary in this city. You have pro
bably had your sport with me to enjoy my embar
rassment and fright. But I do not begrudge it to
you. Farewell! But before we separate let me re
quest you humbly not to speak to any one of the
conversation held between us, because bad men some
times interpret the most innocent words of the Jew
to be bad. Farewell, and do not be angry at the
bold rabbi of Sklow."
Before the Czar could make an answer the rabbi
had disappeared.
That very evening the Czar related his adventure
to the commanding general. Count Benkendorf, and
through him ordered the Chief of Police to find the
stopping-place of the rabbi, and to make provisions
so that he should have a quiet place quite near to the
Emperor.
An imperial carriage drawn by six horses stood
next morning in front of the imperial residence, ready
to transport the Czar to the manoeuvre held in the
neighborhood. A large crowd was assembled there
to feast their eyes upon the august personage, the
mighty ruler. Among these thousands, composed
largely of the nobility, high officers and leading citi
zens, stood also the rabbi of Sklow, excited with de
light at the surprising, accommodating courtesy of
the police, who assigned to him such a good place.
Suddenly there was a hush and all eyes were turned
to the palace gate, from which the Czar issued in the
simple promenade suit which he wore on the previous
evening. He was followed by Benkendorf, the com
•nding general, who bore a silken cushion, upon
ich rested a gold medal. The Czar cast his looks
over the crowd and, seeing the rabbi, he stepped up
to him and tapped him on the shoulders and suid:
"Greetings to you, learned rabbi of Sklow. This
medal I present to you for your fealty to your Empe
ror ; wear it on your breast as a token of my good
will and respect, in everlasting remembrance of yes-
Unable to utter a word of thanks, the rabbi fell
upon his knees and kissed the hem of the imperia
mantle and then the medal. m
Cheers from a thousand throats rose up, and whe
the rabbi had regained his composure the Emper*
had been driven off at a rapid gait. V
Slowly the rabbi rose and, his eyes filled with
tears, directed to heaven above, he prayed: "Blessed
be Thou, O God, who hast imparted of Thy glory to
mortals!"— The Menorah.
BnecOote of Hosa JSonbeur.
The following anecdote of Rosa Bonheur, the great
animal painter, who died lately on her estate at Bye,
surrounded by the brute creation she loved so well,
was published in a recent number of the Illustrated
London News:
"Rosa Bonheur was a Jewess. Just at the begin
ning of the Franco-German war she began one of her
five greatest works, 'A Stag in the Forest of Fou
tainbleau.' The whole was life-size, and when Paris
fell and the armistice was signed, thecanvas was not
finished. The then Crown Prince of Saxony (the pres
ent King) passing through the royal residence, re
paired to Bye, requesting the honor of being received
by the artist. Rosa sent her maid with the reply
that after the great misfortune her country had suf
fered at the hands of the Germans, it would be too
painful to her to receive German officers. The Prince
refused to take no for an answer, and sent word to
the effect that if he could not be privileged to see the
painter herself, he craved permission to see her work,
and, at any rate, her latest. The retort was simple:
'His Royal Highness must remember that not even
Frenchmen have been allowed to catch a glimpse of
it!'
"The Prince would not be denied. If he could not
see the picture, might he at least seethe models?
Rosa Bonheur's maid did the honors. She conduct
ed the Prince and his staff around the park, which
was then, as now, a kind of miniature zoological
garden; but the mistress of the domain locked her
self in her room.
"What does M Edouard Drumont say to this be
havior of the daughter of a race which he constantly
accuses of want of patriotism ?"
