A "melancholy anecdote" from Russia, 1846.

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This story was printed in the February 2, 1846 issue of The Republican Compiler of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, concerning an incident which occurred between the Russian Czar and some Jewish sailors. Impressed with a demonstration of their skill, he immediately promoted them. The trouble is, he was reminded, that there was a ukase (imperial decree) forbidding Jews from wearing epaulettes. The Czar's solution was that they should convert to Greek Orthodoxy. Upon hearing this, and seeing no way out, the two sailors asked to be allowed to show some more of their skills. Permission granted, they ascended the mast of their ship, embraced and jumped into the water.