Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02

|
me show what her habits have been in
former homes. Americans themselves are
well aware of these defects in both children
and servants, and they are entirely to blame
Tor them.
CHARMING LADIES.
"How do I like the ladies of this country?
As all foreigners must. They are excep-
tionally charming. What 1 first noticed
was the sweetness Of their voices. To hear
a New York lady talk is like listening to
soft music. And then they are SO pretty
and petite and the variety Of their informa-
ton would be remarkable in Russian gem
tlemen. do not understand how they in
terest themselves in the monthly literature
and daily papers. It is not enough that
they read one, but let some friend speak OF
sketch or a print she has seen and the
listener buys the book in which it is, on her
| way home. To this prodigality, I may say,
her greatest charm is due. But I can't see
| why she is not better educated. By that I
mean she is not good history scholar and
she rarely knows one language and never a
second beside her own. We provide tutors
| for our children and at 10 they speak their
own and two or three other tongues equally
we'll.
"We speak and write English, French,
German and Russian, but cannot remem-
Der how or when learned, any more than
can remember when I commenced to be
polite or proud. In Europe we are taught
music, and while your ladies are also, /
must say that you have not the same general
excellence of execution nor the same soul
that we show. Your girls are bright and in
teresting, vastly more so than any European
women, but you are less thorough, less
serious. There you will find accomplish
ments. Here we find what exists in no
other country-smartness Do you see the
difference try to make?
AMERICAN VS. EUROPEAN LADIES.
Another thing. While, as have said,
the American women have beauty and deli
cacy and refinement, they lack the elegance
characteristic of high life and fine birth.
Don't misunderstood me now, for have
been most cordially received and my ad-
miration is sincere, but while politeness iSa
trait, I might say, common in New York
society, it is not the kind you would feel and
observe in Continental Europe. Your man.
ners are pretty and they win, but we think
ours are elegant and polished andwe know
they command respect. A few times have
seen in this city the aristocrat, but the COM
manding elegance of manner and bearing
does not force the attention of the traveller.
In no other country have I ever.seen more
sweetness than among your ladies. They
have hundred ways of showing you their
pleasure and as many ways of expressing
their gratitude for favor.
About the American men can say lit
tie, as I have had no chance to talk;with
them or find their views. To many have
been presented, but the conversation was al
ways limited to casual remarks. AS for
Difference to their wives and general respect
and courtesy think them far below the
well-born European. They are allowed to
travel side by side in public cars with the
ladies, and in studying their own comfort
forget entirely their presence. The manner
in which they will enjoy sitting while
dozens of ladies stand is so disgraceful to
me that have not words to express my feel
ings, and what could be more disgusting
than the way they spit tobacco everywhere
In Russia gentleman will not pass lady
in any public hotel or theater corridor with
out raising his hat; in this hotel no notice is
taken of her presence.
TOBACCO AND WINE.
"Smoke? Every lady smokes; men and
women, but not the young ladies, that is,
not until after marriage. With us whist is
q family game, and at cards cigarettes are
brought into the parlor and all smoke. La
dies will smoke three, and sometime seven
cigarettes before the evening is over. can
understand the objection of American ladies
to smoking-the tobacco here is so bad and
the ventilation Of the homes so defective. In
Russia we have the Turkish tobacco which
is grown in the South about the Caspian
and is as sweet and fragrant as spice wood.
From it our cigarettes are made. Cigars
are not seen much even in stag companies.
But no matter how many there may be in a
salon there is not the slightest discomft
about the room, as the ventilators are ad-
justed by the servant who brings in the
trays. Our rooms, too, are very much larger
than in the western homes.
I am often amazed at the length of your
dinners. I don't see how you eat them, not
one night, but all the time. The courses are
not only more numerous, but frightfully
heavy. We never sit longer than two hours
at a guests table and generally one is
thought formal. We do not like to carry
on our conversation among victuals, plate
and servants. We prefer the parlor where
there are plenty of easy chairs and cozy cor
ners with books and always music. And
then the way you drink ice waterl In the
name of health how do you live? am told
America is nation Of dyspeptics, and it
does not surprise me since my first dinner
in society. In Russian home ice never is
used in water service. The water is beau
i
where and I wonder why you spoil it with
ice.
'sWine? always. Generally claret, and
at dinner each person will drink about half
a bottle"
THE PRINCESS IN NEW YORK.
During her stay in New York the Prin-
cess has been guest at the Hotel Belve-
dere, where she has apartments, made un-
usually delightful by her own presence and
the charming people she attracts. Here one
meets factors of the 400, and such Brahmins
Of society as Charles Dudley Warner and
Mrs. A. A. Hayes, Won Bulow, Albert
Morris Bagby, the pupil and friend of Able
List, Kate Sanborn, Grace Greenwood and
Verestchagin when in the city.
To meet this lovely woman as guest is to
enjoy privilege but rarely extended to
traveller through, Russia. Her nobility is
as self-evident as her features, and from the
reposc of her beautiful hands to the hem of
her trailing robe she is every inch a prin-
cess. Personally she is tall and command
ing, not unlike Princess Louise in build
and bearing, with very small head, the
real tint of Titan in her hair and the colors
OF an opal in her eyes. Her throat and
wrists are truly patrician, and she has that
REPosE OF MANNER
that American students Of expression spend
mind and money to acquire. She has
piano in her little parlor and she plays like
a virtuoso, not one, but all the schools.
Among musical people her interpretations
of Chopin are considered most remarkable
and repeated efforts have been made to hear
her in public and always without avail.
After her musicals she serves tea to her
guests from a bright copper samovar, brew
ing the delicious mixture of orange and
flowers with her own beautiful white hands. |
1t would tempt lover of veritables to make