The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-05-02

decended from the ceiling In the form o
consultations, shedding around pospho
resent light and the mingling OF thes'
various lights formed the most perfect il
Illumination giorno which has ever cas-
; its rays an an earthly fete. The first i'm
preston upon looking down this immense
gulf Of light was feeling of giddiness
For the moment, what with the odors. th.
irradiations reflections, the dazzling effec
Of the wax candles, mirrors, gold, diamonds
precious stones, rich dresses, &c, it wa:
impossible to distinguish anything. The
scintillating appearance prevents your catch
ing any distinct form, but the eye By de-
grees accustoms itself to the blaze Of light
SO that the dancing spects frolicing before
its spectrum, as when looking on the sun,
gradually disappear. In short time you
are enabled to take view of the hall In is
immense grandeur, splendid in marble and
white stucco. in Jasper, porphyry, and Ba
bylonian architecture. The Kaleidoscope.
with its compartments of variegated colors,
ever changing and forming themselves into
new desi gns-shromatrope, with its dila-
tions and contractons. when star becomes
a flower, then transforms its petals into the
points Of crown, and ends by whirling
around as sun, passing from the ruby to
the emerald, from the emerald to the ame-
thyst, around centre of diamonds-these
alone. exaggerated a thousand times, are
capable Of giving faint idea of this mov-
ing parterre Of gold. jewels and flowers, ev-
er changing. and its arabesque figurers rem
dered all the more brilliant by the inces-
SAINT agitation. On the entrance Of the I'm
perial family the sparkling mass stood still.
and then it became possible to distinguish
the surrounding brilliancy. In Russia court
balls are opened by polonaise. This can
hardly be styled dance, but it is kind
Of promenade, procession, marche aur
famJeaur, graceful aid characteristic
The assembled guests divide, so as to leave
free in the midst of the ball room, long
space of which they form the two sides.
When all are ready, the orchestra strikes
slow. majestic, rhythmical measure. and
the promenade commences The Empe-
ror leads on, holding 10y tic h"4I P,;n
cess. or any other lady on whom he wish
es to confer especial distinction. The En-
peror Alexander III. was dressed in an ell
egent military costume, admirably adapted
to show off to the best advantage his noble.
full. well-proportioned figure. 1t consis-
ted of kind of tunic, or white jacket, de-
scending 0ms.Oufsse, q 6randen6OnrgS
dor, the collar and wrists bordered with
Siberian blue, and decorated with stars Of
the highest orders; sky-blue pantloons, Git
ting close, and the feet cased in thin boots.
The Emperor wore his has hair cut short,
exposing to view bis smooth, high and
majestic forehead His features, regularly
perfect, appear modelled as if on purpose to
to be transferred to the bronze figure or
the medal; the blue color of his eyes is
seen to advantage against the brown tinge
of the countenance-a healthy hue he has
acquired by frequent journeyings and exer-
else in the open air. The form Of his mouth
is beautiful as Greciau sculptor, and his
countenance is characterized by a noble
ness of expression, relieved occasionally by
smile affable and full of grace. The Roy
al family are succeeded by the high officers
of the army and palace, each grand digni-
tary conducting lady by the hand. And
now follow no end of uniforms covered
with gold, epaulettes starred with diamonds,
decorations ard precious stones, causing
the breasts Of their owners to glitter with
light Some of the most elevated in favor
and rank, wear an order still more friend
ly and distinguished, viz: the portrait o.
the Emperor set in brilliants, but these
favored ones are rare and can be counted.
The cortege continues its march, and sweiis
its numbers en- route. a gentleman steps
from the ranks on either side, and presents
his hand to lady: tho new couple take
their places in the de6le, adjust their step
to the rythm, now accelerating now slack
ening their pace. 1t is not easy to prone
made thus, holding each other by the tips
of the fingers. and standing the fire of q
thousand coolly ironical spectators the
slightest embarrassment of the countenance,
the most trifing awkwardness with the feet,
the most imperceptible departure with strict
tlIllt, stil IL lUtlCcu dllu fcUdIh htu pJ the
lockers on. Military manners save many
men; but how difficult it is for women
And yet the greater part acquit themselves
admirably, and Of many it might be said
Et uera tncessa patuit dea. They swim
lightly along under their feathers, flowers
and diamonds, either modestly casting down
their eyes, or gazing round with an air Of
perfect innocence manGuvering, By gen.
tie indexions of the body or turn of the foot
so as to be unimpeded by their trains o.
silk or lace; refreshing themselves by az
occasional use of the fan, and feeling a:
much at their ease as if walking alone il
some solitary alley of a secluded park IL
walk with noble, graceful, simple all
when all eyes are directed towards you Ii
no easy matter; many great actresses. even
have never accomplished it. The appear
ance Of originality preceptible in the Rus
sian Court is greatly increased by the cir
cumstance that young Circassian prince
with his slender figure and costly Orienta
dress, occasionally joins the coytegs, or els,
a chief of the Lesghiens, or Mopgrelia,
officer, whose soldiers still retain for thei
offence and defence the bow and quiyer ant
shield. Concealed under the white XII,
glove of civilization, the small Asiatic hand
accustomed to the use Of foreign weapons
stretches itself out to grasp that of the Eu