The Press., 1890-09-11
Issued Every Thursday Evening.
INCIDENT AT A COURT BALL.

The following IS narrative Of an incl dent which occurred in St. Petersburg some. years ago. The American lady. con cerned is the daughter of prominent pub lie benefactor who has for years been a social leader in Washington, is the wife of 8 leading republican statesman, and would be recognized instantly if her name..might be mentioned. The half dozen initiates will remember the incident now published, says the Washington Post.
 A grand reception was in progress at the palace of high Russian dignitary. Mem bers of the cabinet, generals of the army, grand dukes, the nobility of the empire, and the diplomatic corps were present. It was notable affair. Four young ladies three Russian and one American-had gathered into little nook screened in palms, and were discussing in French the dowdy appearance of high court lady. Some eavesdropper caught their remarks and bore them to the criticised lady. She ill turn reported the conversation to no- ble duchess, who held the peculiar office of mistress of etiquette" She retired to a private room and had the four culprits summoned before her. They appeared, the Russian girls in fear and trembling, the American calm and self possessed.
 "Young ladies'" said she, "you have been commenting discourteously upon the personal appearance of Lady L.. You have committed a grave breach of eti- quette, and it is my duty as court mistress of etiquette, to punish you! Olga, your slipper P
 The trembling Olga took off her slipper and meekly received sound punishment of the sort confined in America exclusively to the nursery.
 'Katia, it is your turn. Give me your slipper ]" said the inexorable duenna, as the weeping Olga arose from her castiga- tion. Katia took her gruel with audible lamentation, and Tania followed the sui fering Katia.
 All the while the American girl watched and waited. The indignities thrust upon her companions reused the Hail Columbia ln her. Her eyes flashed and her little fists clenched in excitement.
 ''It is your turn now" said the mistress of etiquette to the fair American "your slipper. please
 Columbia's blood was up. There was fighting stock back of her for generations. She removed her slipper and drew near, but she held the slipper by the toe. Al proper range she swung the missile and struck the old lady in the mouth fearful clip. Then she sailed in. Lace, feathers and furbelows flew. Finger nails fetched blood. Gray hair and the St. Petersburg fashions of 1868 filled the air. The screams of the thoroughly frightened mistress ot etiquette brought crowd. The door was battered down. The three Russian girls were screaming in their respective corners The old lady was hors de combat, and g tiery-eyed goddess of liberty stood in the center of the room, waving tuft of grey hair in one hand and iewelled hair dag ger, with which she had been trying tt stab the Russian, in the other.
 The mistress of etiquette fairly screamed with impotent rage, showered maledictions In broken French, German and Russian upon her conqueror, and demanded tha the most coEdign punishment be mete6 out to her. The matter was carried to tht Czar. Nicholas made pretense of pun ishing the young lady by issuing some or ders against her appearing at any ball fol certain period, but the old liberator wa. immensely tickled. He showered the mos embarrassing presents upon the American |-beautiful slippers of every kind and de scription, silver slippers and gold slippers and finally wound up by sending her hos loc l: