Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 214, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1920 — MUST HAVE SURPRISED CZAR [ARTICLE]

MUST HAVE SURPRISED CZAR

John Randolph Had His Own Ideas of What to Do When Presented at Russian Court. When John Randolph, erratic American statesman from Virginia, was in Russia he was about to be presented to the czar. Someone undertook to teach him the presentation etiquette of the Russian court. As minister he was to enter the room and bow; at the center of the room he was to pause and bow a second time, after which the czar would meet him and engage Mm in conversation. But Randolph was Indignant at the thought that anyone could presume to teach him anything, and declared that he knew all about H without being shown. The day of presentation arrived and Randolph entered the door of the audience chamber and bowed very low; he advanced tn the center of the room and bowed again very deeply. Then he approached nearer to the czar, took off one gauntlef'and threw It to the right ot the czar, removed his • other gauptlet and cast It to the left of the czar. Next he pitched off his hat In front, threw off his mantle, unbuckled his sword and discarded It upon the floor and then fell upon his knees at the feet of the czar. The court was speechless and the czar astonished. However, the czar was equal to the occasion, so he'approached the prostrate Randolph, required him to rise and engaged him in conversation. But the reception did not meet Randolph’s expectations, and within a month he left Russia in considerable of a huff at what he deemed mistreatment at the hands of the czar.