Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-22
An Empress Worth Looking at.

An Empress Worth Looking At.
An American lady now in St. Peters
burg thus describes court reception
at the Winter Palace:
I'VE women folk are accustomed
Through ignorance. | suppose) to
think and speak of Russia as n semi
barb.rous country. 1t is in some re-
spects; but in others it is the most
splendid cOuntry-with the exception
OF our own-in the world, and st.
Petersburg is the most interesting of
all European cities. Through the in
Productions we brought with us we
have been enabled to obtain entree to
the presence of royalty and see the in
terror of the finest of all the palaces.
1t was bitter cold day when we drove
in gorgeous sleigh to the Winter Pal
acs-which was like fairy picture in
the fading light without, and illumined
within with the briIliancy of thousands
of candles-to attend court recep-
ton. The effect of the light on the
snow and upon the gay equipages of
the numerous guests was indescriba-
bic. We approached the Empress
through 5000 officials. First through
superb state departments, each blaz-
ing with n thousand wax tapers and
gorgeous with priceless hangings,
malachite pillars, works of art. and
tropical flowers and ferns. The sight
was worth the journey from New York
to Russia. The floors were things of
beauty, inlaid with ebony and rose
WOOD and ivory.
A. I
good opportunity to see, and | made
much of it. At last we entered the
throne room, and there, surmounted
by Il sea of splendor, stood the En-
press, herself a moving mass of dia-
monds. She was the most dazzling
sight of all. On her head was a crown
once worn by the great Elizabeth. 1t
was the first time | had seen real
crown on royalty, for the diamond
tiara worn by Queen Victoria last
summer at her reception was not
crown except in name. Mrs. Astor
used to wear as fine 4 one. But this
one on the imperial head was worthy
to adorn the Empress of all the Rus
sias. Describe it? No | only saw
millions of colored rays and white
sparks of light emitted from it at every
motion of the royal person. The neck
lace was made from what was left
over of the crown. 1t reached from
her neck to her waist, and had rubies,
sapphires and diamonds enough in it
to have supplied thousand ordinary
royal necklaces. The imperial orders
worn on her breast contained all the
gems of the East. They scintillated
with light, and that is all [ can say of
them The stuff of her gown was en-
erald velvet, with train of white vel
vet embroidered with enough gold to
stock mine, and bordered with real
gold balls. The front of the gown was
ornamented with ropes of linked pink
coral, set in diamonds and fastened at
intervals. Never saw | human being
thus arrayed. Solomon might have
put on more, but l do not believe it.
She was enough of herself to take the
breath out of body, but surrounded
as she was by Grand Duchesses, each
one ablaZe with jewels worth a king
dom, she was the most wonderful sight
ever witnessed in my life l did not
know mortal could look so magnifi-
cent.
The position of her sister. the
Princess of Wales, is almost obscure
as compared to the peerless destiny of
this Empress of all the Russias, and,
if the war party succeeds, Empress of
Asia as well. The officials in their
semi-barbarous grandeur numbered
hundreds upon hundreds, but paid
no attention to them; the Empress and
the palace were what l went to see,
and the sight has thrown me into a
peculiar mental condition. My less
fascinated companion, who had been
to court before, took my breath away
from me by remarkihg that she pitied
the poor woman. Why? Because she
will not find anything new in Heaven
in the way of jewels or surroundings.
How about peace of mind? OF that,
indeed, think she stands in great
need now, poor thing!"