The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-05
AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA.



-----------------------e
Court Fashions In Russia.
MAGNIFICENT BALL AT THE WINTER PALACE IN st
PETERSBURG SPLENDID SCENE OUT OF DOORS
ARRIVAL OF TIE CzAR, THE EMPRESS AND GRAND
DUKES-APPEARANCE OF TAE ROYAL BALL ROOM
the DANCES AND DREssBs-THE EMPRESS HER
GUESTS AT SUFFER- NEGRO SERVANTS ON HAND
ETC
The following account Of the tal whicn recently took
place in the winter palace OF the Gar at ST. Petersburg
will deeply interest the general public
On the Place Alexsncrine, which was carpeted WITH
mantle Of snow were stationed numerous eqapges rnr
cold VAS 40 intense as 10 have to death Partisan
horses and coacbmen but enough for IN haa
Russians TO kindle the usual nres unoer the Nhmee'
mosques the winter palace me trees noN ,1s =,
miral,y sparkling with boar frost, looked Tx imgnens
white feathers bursting out from the grouno nna ihe ~
granite point of the riumphal pillar WAS wo't ma '
ana stIkmgly resembed sugar conc; the moon, ceaf
and pure Shed lis cold light this nocturnal pslenes
and gave blue fantastic tpge 10 the crowd OF ,qips
whose frozen lanterns and polar looking penCs euone o
and there IKE yellow points the immenss expaot
Beyond the colossal winter palace presented hsn' ~
windows radsni WITH light, and having the appearance OF
mountain pierced with hoes ana ihlniuhee
from within by volcanic free.
Perfect eipce prevailed The severity OF the cmat'
prevented the imense crowd which France would IL
aby have nocRed to witness great tSte; and even
had thousands Of spectators been there the space Deof
the palace SO vast that they would nave been scaea
A eledge appeared, rayened diagonally the snowy
mantle the heightened shat Of the Alexandria
n,
rating Winter Palace from Hermitage, whose aer'l
bridge gives somewhat the appearance OF the Canal ne
10 Paile at Venice.
few mipnt's afterwards an eye-we will Imagine j.
for not incorporated with q Dody-darled along A
cornice belonging TO gallery OF the palace The rows OF
lights painted Ia the inches cast so brilliant IA
dance eectnally prevent It's feeble gmmsr beios
in tho slightest degree perceptio,e Light cnceaed It
better than darkness became lost IN the blaze OF sur
rounding briiancY.
deep with It's polished columns us waxed floor gttering
Az limit, n.f
the space between the pillars the subjects OF which II
impossible TO discern owing 10 the imuiense length
splendid u1orms ans o"ng court crosses were aires
be there B. degrees re numbers increased and
IKE spark pg vaSiegasd str rn1 o we'd along the ga
ey already become 100 small, notwthstan ling its colo-
sal dimensions.
Every eye directed towards the door ut which the
sovereign was 10 make his appearance. Suddenly thc
portals thrown o,en aud thu Emperor Empress anG
the Dukes avers. the gallery, in the a,st OF tue
guests has lily formed m two rows, hs Majesty address
ips occasionally few persons o. dstno
,,tn with a nozzle and aifahe Then tho mperia
group disappeared through door Opposite To the one
which hoy had entered followed NJ respectful
the III ogptsFes OF the State the Diplomatic corps
and various feBersla ana courteis
Scarcely had the coatec entered The bali room than the
was likewise there furnished his with GOOD
occra glass. The air furnare ot light AMI heat
| you could almost have imagined the place on tire
gircle Of light along the cornices; in the cmbasure
| OF the wiudoss caDdssbras with a thousand arms
burned brilliantly; numerous chandeliers aud lustres
descended from the ceiling in the form OF cancellations
shedding around phos escent gt and the mugug
Of these various lights formed the most perfect lllu
nipa,iop go,no which has ever cast its rays on an
| earthly tt5r.
The Grs, impression looking down upon tbs i'm
| meme gull o! light iechng OF gddness For the
romept what with the otors tho rays irraiiations
iectops the dazzling effect of the cancles mirrors
geld diamonos, precious stones, rich drs sses &c. WAS
impossible to distinguish anything The sciuIlating
pearance prevents your catching distinct FORM but
eye by degrees Itself the blaze Of light
that the dancing specks rocxirg before its spectrum
when looking on the sun, gradually disappear In
short time you are able ia the idea of the hail in
rs imme grandeur splendid in marble and white
s'oseo in jasper porpnyry and Bao! ionan arcateere
col,s, changing and forming themselves into new
desgpsthe chr cmatope, with its Citations and conrac
when star becomes flower, then transfo ms its
e,als the points of crown, and ends by whirhng
oupd Us sum- passing from the ruby 70 the emera
from he emerald TO the amethyst around centre of
oiamonds-thse alone exaggerated Thousand times
capable of giving faint idea OF this moving parerre
OF gold jewels ard flowers ever changing and
besque figures rendered ali the more brilliant by the
| bcessant agitation
On the entr ancs of the imperial family the sparkling
stood STILL and then became possible TO distinguish
the various persoEages and counenanccs
| the surrounding brilapcy.
In Russia court balls are opened by poonaise Thu
scarcely be styled Dance but is kind Of prone
made, procession, ndrce aur ddmbednr, graceful ant
characteristic. The assembled guests divide, so as
leave free, in the midst Of the ball room, long space,
which they form the two sizes When ali ready III
orchestra strikes up slow majestic rhythmical measure
and the promenade commences. Tue Emperor leads of
holding by the hand princess, or any other lady o.
whom be wishes 70 confer especial distinction
The Emperor Alexander II was dressed in an elegan
military costume admirably adapted TO show of to tn
best advantage his noble, full well proportoned figure
It consisted OF kind Of tunc, white jacket descend
ing mi csi. brdndenJourgs dor the collar and wrist
bordered with Siberian blue, and decorated
the h,ghest orders sly blue panssoons fitting close
! hair cut Short exposing to view his smooth, high and
majestic forehead His features regularly perfect appear
modelled as on purpose 10 be transferred 10 the bronze
figure the medal blue color his eyes seen to
advantage against the brown ngc Of the counenauce-a
exercise the open air The for OF his mouth is beau
tful Grecian sculpture, his counenance is cha
ractersed by nooleness OF EXPRESSION relieved OCCASION
| ally by emile afiable and full Of grace
The Royal family succeeded by the high officers Of
the army and palace each grand oignitary conducting
lady by the hand. And now follow end OF unifoim
covered with gold, epauettes starred with diamonds,
decorations and precious stones causing the breasts Of
their TO glitter with light Some, the mos. ee
waited IN favor rank still friendly
and distngushedviz the portrait OF the Emperor set
III brillans; but these favored ones and be
| counted.
The ocrtege continues It's march, and swes its numbers
| IN route gentleman steps from the ranks on either
zoe, and presents his hand 10 u edy the couple
take their places in the cehe, afus; their step TO the
rhythm, now accclcratng, nov slackenng their pace.
not eay to promenaoe thus, holding each other by
The tips OF the Dgcrs and nj1g the fire of thousand
cooiy ronca spectators the slightest embarrassment
couDteDapce, the most frng wardness with the feet
The NEST imper ceptbe departure from tmc all
| noticed and remarked by the lockers Military man.
GERS save many men, but how difficult is for the women
and yet the greater part ac1ut themselves admir- ably
and Of many IL might be SAID TT patit dec
They swim lightly along under their feathers flowers,
and diamonds, either modesy casting down their eyes,
1
| DGuvring by gentle infex!ons OF the body turn OF
| the foot, as 10 be unimpeded by their trains OF
six lace; refreshing Themselves by an occasional
OF tie FAM feeling much At their as walking
aione IN solitary alley OF secluded park To walk
with noble, graceful, simple air when all eyes d
| rectea ,owarcs you is easy matter; many great
| tresses, even, have never accomplished it
The appearance OF orig nalty pcrcepbe in the Russian
Court s greatly increased by the circumstance that
ycurg Gu prince with his slender figure and costly
oriental oress occasionally joins the coege else chief
o the Lesgh.ens or hongrelsn officer whosc sodiers
s retan TOR their arms e. oc1ce and defence the
aud culver an shield Concealed under the white kid
glove civilization, tbs small Asiuc hand, accustomed
10 the use OF foreign weapons stretches itself out grasp
shat OF the European princess countess This appears
TO aston,sh no oDc In short, pa,ura than
mat MongI esn Mshom-dan prace should walk the
po!onaFe with noble lady Of 81 Petersburg belonging ~
the ertlodcx Greek Church? Are they not both subc,ts