ESL Blogs

The story is told about the Russian Emperor Alexander I.  Once he was travelling somewhere in Russia, maybe to visit a relative or a nobleman, or on business. That is irrelevant anyway. They stopped at a station to change horses. While the servants were busy, Alexander I entered the station to keep himself warm. On the table in the room he saw an open Bible. The Tsar asked the stationmaster: “Do you read it?” The stationmaster answered promptly:”Certainly, Your Majesty! Every day!” When the man left the room to attend to his business, Alexander I took five hundred -ruble banknotes (a large sum of money in those times!) and put them between the pages of the Bible, turning over just one two pages.

On his way back Alexander I stopped at the same station again. He went into the station, saw an open Bible where he had seen it before. He asked the stationmaster if he had read the Bible. The man assured the tsar that he had read the Bible as usual. The Tsar turned over the page and saw the banknotes. The stationmaster froze with gaping mouth and Alexander I took the money saying reproachfully “Seek the Kingdom of God and you will get everything!” He then ordered to give the money to charity.

The story has an obvious moral against being a hypocrite. But I see here one more aspect. People often want to present themselves at their best before their seniors and try to behave as it is expected from them. I wonder if you agree with me?