San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-13
ASTOUNDED THE DOWAGER.

An American Girl i'm ST. Petersburg
Asserts Her Independence.
The following is a narrative of an
incident which occurred in st. Peters
burg some years ago. The American
lady concerned Is the daughter of a
promin emit public benefactor, has for
some years been a social leader in
Washington, is the wife of leading
Republican statesman aud would be
recognized instantly if her name
might be mentioned. The half dozen
initiates will remember the incident
was published by the Post.
A grand reception was in progress
at the palace of a high Russian dig
nitary. Members of the Cabinet,
Generals of the Army, Grand Dukes,
the nobility of the Empire and the
Diplomatic Corps were present. 1t
was notable affair. Four young
ladies-three Russians and one Amer
ican-had gathered into little nook
screened in palms, and were discuss
ing in French the dowdy appearance
of high court lady. Some eavesdrop-
per caught their remarks and bore
them to the criticised lady. She in turn
Indignantly reported the conversation
to a noble duchess, who held the Pc
culiar office of mistress of etiquette"
She retired to private room and
had the four culprits summoned be-
fore her. They appeared, the Rus
sian girls in fear and trem bling, the
American calm and self-possesed.
Young ladies, "said she, "you have
been commenting discorteously upon
the personal appearance of Lady.
You have committed grave breach
of etiquette, and it is my duty as
court mistress of etiquette to punish
you. Olga, your slipper"
The trembling Olga took Off her
slipper and meekly received a sound
punishment of the sort confined in
America exclusively to the nursery.
"Katia, it is your >turn. Give me
your slipper" said the memorable
duenna, as the weeping Olga arose
from her castigation. Katia took her
Cruel with audible lamentations, and
Tania followed the suffering Katia.
All the while the American girl
watched and waited. The indignitles
thrust upon her companions reused
the Hail Columbia in her. Her eyes
flashed and her little fists clenched
with excitement.
at is your turn now" said the
mistress of etiquette to the fair Amer
lean, "your slipper, please"
Columbia's blood was up. There
was fighting stock back OF her for
generations. She removed her slip
per and drew near, but she held the
slipper by the toe. At proper range
swung the missile and struck the old
lady in the mouth a fearful clap.
Then she sailed in. Laces, feathers
and furbelows flew. Finger nails
fetched blood. Gray hairs and the
ST. Petersburg fashions of 1868 filled
the air.
The screams of the thoroughly
frightened mistress of etiquette
brought crowd. The door was bat
tered down. The three Russian girls
were screaming in their respective
corners. The old lady was hors du
combat, and fery-eyed Goddess of
Liberty stood in the center of the
room waving a tuft of gray hair in
one hand and a jeweled hair dagger,
with which she had been trying to
stab the Russian, in the other.
The mistress of etiquette fairly
screamed with impotent rage, show
cred maledictions in broken French,
German and Russian upon her con-
queror and demanded that the most
condign punishment be melted out to
her. The matter was carried to the
Car. Nicholas made a pretense of
furnishing the young lady by issuing
some order against her appearing at
any balls for a certain time, but the
old liberator was immensely tickled.
He showered the most embarrassing
presents upon the American-beauti-
full slippers of every kind and des-
cription. silver slippers and gold slip
pers, and finally wound up by send
her hair dagger set with diamonds.
Post.