The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-02-25
AN EMPRESS WORTH LOOKING AT.
The Amazing Splcnicr Of the Czariua.

The Amazing Splendcr Of the Czarina.
An American lady now in ST. Pc
iersbnr: thus describes court rCcep.
ton al tn" Water Polsc-:
| ''We Woman folk are accus;onit d
| thrnu.h ignorance l suppose) TO think
aud speak Of Russia AS a semi-barba-
r;uu> country. 1t is in some respects;
bat IN others ii is the most splendid
| coaahy-wtit the exception of our
| owr, IN the world, and ST. Petersburg
Is the most interesting of all European
cities. Tnrnugh the introduclions we
brought wi!h us, we have been enabled
10 obt'in entree into the pre- sence of
Royalty, aud see the interior of the
finest of all The pal tees. II was bitter
c9iI day when We drove ia Il gorgeous
sleigh To the winter Patace-which
Was tik" fairy picture in the fading
light without, and illuminated within
by the b. lliiancy OF thousands OF can.
dieS--'n attend Il court reception. The
eilc of the light on the snow and
upna the gay Cquipases of the numer-
Gus guests WAS iDdescribable. We ap-
preached the Empress through 5000
Off c;a's. Fret through suburb State
Departments, each blazing with II
thousand WAX tnpers and gorgeous
with priceless hausings, maiachite
pillars, WORKS ofart and tropical fl,A-
ers snd ferns. The sight was worth
the journey from New York to Russia.
The floors We're things OF beauty, iniaid
with ebony and rosewood aud ivory.
. ssAs we waited for our turn / had 4
good opportunity to see, and l made
M ~ I 1>0
throne room, and there surrounded by
a sea OF splendor, stood the Empress,
herself Il moving mass of diamonds.
She was the most dazzling sight of all.
On her head was crown once worn
by the great Elizabeth. 1t was tile
first time 1 had seen real crown on
royalty, for the diamoud tiara worn by
Qneen Victoria last summer at her re-
capiion was not crown except in
name. Mrs. Astor used 10 wear as fine
one, bat this one on the imperial
head WAS worthy to adorn the En-
press of AL the Russias. Describe 1t Z?
No. ] only saw millions of colored
rays and white sparks Of light emitted
from 1t ut every motion of the royal
person. The necklace was made from
what was left over from the crown.
1t reached from her neck to her waist
and had rubies, sapphires and diamonds
enough in ii to have supplied thous-
and ordinary royal necklaces. The
imperial orders worn on her breast
contained all the gems OF tho East.
They scintil!a,ed with light and that
is all l can say for them. The stuff
of her gown was emerald velvet en-
broidered with enough gold to stock a
mine and bordered with real gold
balls. The front CT the gown was or
namented with ropes of link pink cor.
al, set in diamonds and fastened at in
tervas. Never saw / human being
thus arraycd. Solomon might have
put on more, but 1 do not believe it.
She was enough of herself to take the
breath out of a body but surrounded as
she was by a grand duchesses, each one
ablazo with Jewels worth a Kingdom,
she was the most wonderful sight /
ever witnessed in my life. did not
know IL mortal could look so magnifi-
cent.
"Thc position Of her sister, the prin-
cess Of Wales, is almost obscure as
compared TO the peerless, destiny of
this Express OF all the Russias, and, If
the war party succeeds, Empress of
Asia as well. The officials, in their
scmi-ba! barous grandeur, numbered
hundr d upon hundreds, bu. paid no
attention to them the empress and
the palace were what 1 went to see,
the sight has thrown me into
peculiar mcaial condition. My less
facina'ed companion, who had been to
court bt fore, took my breath away
frn,,, tu y. .y,oo y r in, haf oh ,,if ,,J
the poor woman. Why? Because
She will not find anything new in
heaven in the way Of jewel: and sur
roundiugs. How about peace Of mind?
OF thai indeed, think she stands In
great need now poor thing -
The South For immigration