"Having” Peter the Great.

Lake County Press, Issue 905, 5 April 1900, Page 2

"Having” Peter the Great.

There Is a story told of Peter the Great in the character of a dentist which strikes one (writes Mr. James Payn) as very characteristic of his Impulsive and high-bunded ways. Petoi had studied dentistry, in co>nmon with most other useful arts, and plumed himself on his dexterity in draw in? a tooth, though one finds no record of his giving himself the trouble to stop one. Observing one of his valets de chambre to be in bad spirits, he asked what was the matter (an unexpected trait In Peter), and was told that it was the spectacle of his wife suffering from toothache that so distressed him. Why doesn’t she have it out ?” inquired the Czar, beginning to feel the professional instinct. “ I can’t persuade her. Sire : she always pretends not to suffer when we wish to give her case ; but renews her lamentations twhich distress me to hear) when the dentist is dismissed.” “ Let me see l-cr,” said the Czar ; “ I’ll cure her.” Me was introduced to her apartment. :MVlv ' I the matter, examined her month. Having satisfied! himself as to which was the peccant molar, the Czar said to the husband : •• Hold her head and arms and she shall bo cured in an instant.” Then, in -pito of her cries. lie extracted her tooth with great address, and without the aid of an anaesthetic. Hearing a few lays afterwards that the whole affair was a tgjck of the valet to torture his wife, with whom he had quarrelled, the t’zar beat him within an incli of his life —not so much, it was shrewdly suspected. on account of the deception practised upon him, as because it had caused him to make an incorrect diagnosis.