New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-15
AT THE RUSSIAN COURT.
A NETWORK LADY DESCRIBES A BALI

We have the pleasure Of printing the following
| extracts from letter received by friends mere
from a New-York lady who has been spending th'
winter in Northern Europe
Mr.. Wurts came for after O'CLOCK
Punctuallty IS de rlgeur, and Mr. wurts Is grea'
authority In all matters Of court etiquette.
We walked up tho palace stairs between hedge Of
superb creatures In great variety Of brilliant Nv
cries. somo OF the servants wearing extraordinary
caps, with hugo bunchos Of red and yellow pinmcs
over one ear. After making a tour OF tho principal
apartments admlring the miles Of buffet with ltS
services Of gold and silver and all the marveis OF inc
general coup d'oell, We came back to await tnoii
Majestles at the entrance Of tho great ballroom Inc
ncessan entrance OF high dlgDitaries, foreign amoas
sailors and native grandocs each in their own dis
tinctlye uniforms tho men rival and, In fact, quite
eclipse the women), made our attcnte highly interest
Ing beautiful music RECALLED US, ana VIC had lcit no
mpatence when o hush announced the ARRIVAL VI
their Majesties. Tho Gar led bis Empress oy 'ho
hand followed by the grand dukes and duchesses IN
close proximity. They Walked slowly round circle
which had been formed amid silence and proiounu
courtesles then broke into a long line to dance the
poldnalse.. Tho Empress led with foreign ambassa-
dor After that contre dance was walked through,
tho fair Dagmsr dancing with her eldest son, boy
OF plneteon, looking younger, and resembling his
mother and not his fathers family.
Shortly after this the English Ambassadress touched
~'A'SN'
for u.s. We were then passed on to the Austrian Am
bassadress Madame do walkensteln, who duly pre-
sented US TO Her Majesty. We made low cOurtesieS
and conversed few moments, the centre " all eyes
for the nonce. Dagmar spoke In pretty foreign Eng
llsh and ended The conversation by saying to me-
nope You will have much pleasure in Petersburg"
sho IS petite and slender with soft dark eyes, brown
hair nose slightly retrousse, red lips, and fresh,
youthful appearance; in fact, amazed at the
grllshness OF her face and figure, and charmed with
her tranquil simplicity and the gentlcness OF her
ners She IS ono OF those women Of whom one would
say at once that sho was emnenly womanly and
lovabe She WIS dressed in pacst yellow. tho front
Of her gown Of satin embroidered in white ict, the
train not very long, OF spaneled ulle and wreaths Of
crushed at the side. She wore a high diamond
coronct and blue ribbon order the breast her
neck and shoulders fairly glstened with diamonds
whose size and brllllancy extraordinary marvel
lous gems also sparkcd here and there amid tho loop
lngs Of her gown. Tho long decollette bodies
st worn IN Russia Off tho shoulders" the fcmi-
nine phrase IS.
The Emperor was in scarlet uniform and high boots
lie very tall and large, bald with full blond beard
His face IS not one to be quickly read; It IS somewhat
sOmbre in expression, with rather duh and impcnc-
trabe gaze handsome, but not altogether pleasing
marked, however, by an air OF great distinction. He
Is said to be Ill in society, but this alb
surd for born in his sphere; HIS manner, while
cold, is afable and betokens gauchere.
Soon after these prelminares tho entrain' Of tho
ballroom began. mazurBs formed and danced.
Tho Grand Duchesscs Serge and vladimir took part
The latter princess Elizabeth Of Hesse, graoddaugh-
ter OF Queen Victoria) Is the regning court beauty
and great favorltc with the Emperor and Empress.
She wore rcd scllienne, rubIes and diamonds She
is elegant, distiDgue blondo-would only pass in
America for very pretty Tho absence Of
beauty at this ball struck remarkable. There
0fpo b,t etril,I
and with the exception OF the Royal ladies' the dresses
not remarkable The jewels, however, beggar
description So indeed did the complete splcndOr OF
the sccnctho dmly III conservatory with It's statues
and its tables where the were kept in readl
to dispense delicious tca-the banquet halls to
which We afterward adjourned
The tables fairly groaned under their weight of
coslDess-fowers in of wrought silver the
Empcrors table is slightly raised above the others)
china and glass with Imperial crest. knives
and forks in solid gold-all, IN their
way, works of art OF the highest value, and
this in rooms in Of which six of our Demonco
bathrooms could dance G jig a splendid concert dur
ing the repast.
In the anechambcr Of the supperroom we parsed
to allow their MaIestes to enter first they passed in
the cortcgc These great people learn how TO
walk well The grand old Grcnddler Guards Of tho
former Emperor drawn up in line to salute them
There were cheers as they passed IN
Mr. LOthrOp was most Kind and courteous he con-
Quoted TO supper and Colonel dc Ylaume sat next
to me on my left Of the Chinese Legation. We
were amazed TO find names our plates; it
seemed such cleverncss. The delicious supper
quickly served by brilliantly attred noiseess servants.
Behind tho Emperor stood Moors In gorgeous East
crn raimcnt He walked about among his guests to
see that they wanted for nothing. Personally had
delightful time; many people were presented to me.
The Chinese Zulus, Circassians, Japanese Egyptians
all form a group Of wonders Mr. Lothrop and Mr..
Wurts are made extremely conspicuous by wearing
the only black coats In this gay assomblage. Tho
Misses LOthrop arc charming girls, and much admired
here The dancing IS so different from ours-rapd,
coQuettlsh, at times a little wild, but amusing as a
spectacle.
on the way down to our carriage we passed through
another beautiful round salon, lighted from a pink
chandelier whore at table set with beu dc la refine
sevres candles, fruits and cakes served in great
wrought gold dishes, while smoking samovars invited
to moro delicious tea
The moonlit, snowy streets seemed calm and grand
we emerged into the night, wrapped to the eyes In
shukas and the drive homewa ard through the white
silent city was strangely lovely.
The coachmen warmed themselves outside tho pal
portals at hugo fires mado in the snow.