The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-07
The LAND OF THE GEAR.
Where they Don't Go Homo till
Morning.
Buffalo Express.

The russian princess, EngalitcheH,
gave very pleasant talk to the people
who filed the Womens union to over
flowing. Her subject was "Social Life
in Russia, which means, of course, So
cial high life, for she told her audience
of nothing else. She began by saying
that social life was similar everywhere,
except as it was modified by ariStocratic
or democratic governments. The long
severe winters of Russia, as far north as
st. Petersburg, are very favorable to
brilliant seasons. To the south the climate
is very mild, and in the Crimea the wet
and dry seasons suggest the tropics. That
place is q resort for invalids.
In summer, said the lecturer, st. Pc
tersburg is deserted. Everybody, even
the poorest, goes away if possible. By
the last of May or the first of June the
town is shut up. The schools close and
there is no life again till in the fall. AS
cold weather approaches carpets are put
down, double windows are put in, and
every attention is paid to the general
comfort Nearly everybody lives in flats.
There are no small private houses, and
only the rich families live in their own
houses.
"We Russians do not rise early" said
the lecturer sit is 10 or II o'clock be-
fore anybody is astir, unless it is the
children or teachers, who must be In
school at 8, and if one is to call on an
official he should wait till midday"
The day of the high born Russian was
81 slxx
drives in the afternoon, and brilliant
equipages with only two occupants are
seen everywhere. At o'clock driving
is at an end, for it is dark by that time
in the winter season, and receptions are
in order. Dinner is at 6, which, to the
foreign mind, appears to be series of
standing lunch, sitting meal, smoking
soiree-for women smoke cigarettes as
well as the men-and card party. Every
body plays whist, and for money. The
stakes are small usually, though at the
clubs fortunes are won and lost in night.
The lecturer described the Russian the
atre as the finest in the world and the
most fashionable. Wraps are left in the
hall. The performance is always pre-
ate plays and music are popular. The
ballet is excelled only in Paris. After
the play follow a long drive to restau
rant, a leisurely supper to the most raw
ishing music, and the day draws to a
close. Then were described the balls at
the Winter palace, led by the emperor
and empress, the carnival, Lent and East
er-all of which are observed in grand
style, just as they were of old. Nobody
eats meat during the six weeks of Lent.
The theatre gives way to grand concerts,
and after Easter many leave town.
The summer resorts are very rustic
and very quiet. There are cottages:
there is no fine style, no formality, no
grand dressing. 1t was with evident
sadness that the princess declared that
Russia was poor and growing poorer.
There were only a few very rich families.
"As rule we are poor" she said. 1.-THE
women generally dress in dark colors
and not extensively. What would your
young ladies think of only two ball
dresses in q whole season. After hav-
ing seen our Saratoga and Newport the
lecturer was ready to say that Russian
watering places were bad. There WEI
no entertainments, few conveniences,
and only very poor music. Once the
people were rich enough to seek these
things abroad, but now they could not
and were obliged to accept such as they
found at home.
The lecture was followed by pleasant
reception. Coffee was served down
stairs and Russian tea up stairs, which
latter, to the provincial American sight
and taste, was merely good tea sweet
ened with candies and given a foreign.
character by lemon juice. The princess
was very socable and made everybody
at home about her. She passed freely
from one part of the gathering to an
other, and everybody was charmed with
her manner.