Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-02-07
A Russ in Urbe.

Seriously speaking, American society, as the
immortal Count - observes, is monolonous.
We are not sufficiently sure of ourselves 10 in
dulge in that eccentrici,y which gives variety
10 character We seek safety in pure conven-
iionalism dress out of The fashion plates, and
dine by the cookery book.
l do not, however, 60 quite as far as Count
- in his structures on our society. The
Count is a character. Who is it that does not
know the Count Who or what he is, is
somewhat of mystery. He is Russian Pole,
or Polish Russian. He is gentleman by
birth, with the manners Of pioneer and the
information Of a ralet de place. lie knows ev-
erybodys private history; has conversed with
everybody who is celebrated. Slept with Lou
is Napoleon, saved Bonapartes life at Arcola,
showed Talleyrand how TO give dinners. assist
ed Humboldt in the preparation of his Kosmos,
picked Rachel out of the streets before DR.. We
ron heard of her, and correspondent from this
country with Todlehen on the best method Of
terrifying Sebasiopol. His family have been
equally fortunate. Peter the Great threw a
chsel al one Of his ancestors at Saardaam, and
ever since the descendants have been intimate
with the great. His sister, according TO his
own account is married 10 the entire Spanish
Corlez, and the connections that the remainder
of the family formed are SO exalted that | should
call in the assistance Of German Cour; herald
before venirred TO retail it,
in personal appearance the Count bears a
striking resemblance TO carriagc-lamp. owing
to his concealing at least half his face behind a
pair Of gigantic specacles, which, as he never
looks through them, but always orer them, seem
to be worn more for disguise than use. He
has very much The air of police spy, or IA man
who is being hunted by the police, the fnriive
glance which he CASTS being common 10 both
extremes.
This being The only country in which the
Count finds it convenient to live, he is natural.
ly "down on" our social institutions. To the
American female is he especially unkind. She
never washes her hair, he says. and has nc
femme de ehdmbre. Then as 10 good breeding
there is no snch thing in this country No re-
pose of manner no refined department. 81
tell you vat Sare," roars the Count at dinner
with piece Of celery in one hand and carv
ing knife in the other, brandshing both 10 iht
next to him, and speaking in roar that wonlt
amaze an African lion, ~ tell you vat, Sare
dere is no gentilman in this conlhry. Deg
make themselves de most abominable peoples a.
messing ever vas Dey are all snobses ~
) He was proceeding somewhat after this fash
ion couple of months ago al dinner-party
at which young Englishman happened 10 b,
present The Saxon not viewing MS as sucl
unmltigated barbarans, venlured TO say that h
thought The gentleman was not indigenous Il
any soil, and that he had met as highly bre
men and women in America as ia any oihe
country.
"Vat you know about socieiyl' shoute
the enraged Count. "You nevaIe were in SO
cie,y"
"If you were aware" returned the English
: man gravely, ''of the position occupied at tn
British Court, think you would scarcely doub
my claim To social position"
The Count pricked up his ears at this; for
like all Russians, he is a tuil-hunler, and h
thought that this young man, whose name h
was Ignorant of, might be great unknown.
"Nat position did you occupy, Sare!" h
demanded little less brusquely.
The Englishman, without moving muscl
; Of bis face, replied, calmly,
81 was for three years maid of honor t
Queen Victoria"
The Count glared at him for moment, br
for the rest Of the evening was silent as a sci
In Siberian mine. .or n....
Ihe weather Cor week past has been warm an