Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-12
PRINCESS sbRTHE .EHGAlITtHEFF.
LIFE AMONG THE ARIsT0cRATs OF
THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE.
Dissipation Among the NOTES.-The Gar
Leads Society-Degraded Condi-
tion of the Serfs.

EDS. RECORD UNION: On Friday even
ing, March 21st, the parlors at 1915 Sutter
street were well filed with an assemblage
of gentlemen and ladies who had come to
listen to lecture given by a Russian
Princess who is now visiting in this city
| The Princess Marthe Engalitchefi7s FAM
lily is one of the oldest and most aristocratic
in the Empire, and when at home she
moves in tie highest circles, as her lofty
bearing and proud step fully indicate
! Though high in stature she is not too tall
to be graceful. Her figure is perfectly
symmetrical the pose of her head naughty
| and her manner dignifed her under lip
curls with the accumulated family pride OF
centuries; her complexion is of the fair
northern type; the features Of her face
regular and the nostrils flexible like those
! Of high-spirited animals; she has blue
penetrating eve and auburn hair. She
was dressed in perfect French taste, which
adorned and beautifed her person. She
remained seated while speaking, but be-
! fore she commenced her lecture she arose
from her seat to the full hight of her COM
manding form, and in all the dignity and
power with which true Princess is sup
posed to be naturally endowed, she en-
| phaticaliy denied that she had been sent
ont here from Russia, under the auspices
of the Car. TO contradict erroneous i'm
pressions made among the people of the
| United States by late writers against the
| Government of Russia
She said she came here of her own free
will and pleasure, having a desire to see
and learn something of America and its
people. She then sat down and proceeded
with her lecture, saying that she should
speak more particularly Of society Is 10
be found in St. Petersburg, which Jm-
posed of families who have been educated
and cultivated for centuries. There are no
better educated and cultured class Of peo-
pie in Europe. OF course society there is
led by the Gar, and consists of all those
belonging to the reigning family, together
with the court officials, officers belonging
to the army and navy and the foreign En-
bassadors The one great ambition in So
ciety in St. Petersburg, to those who have
not this right by birth, is to be introduced
| at court.
The Russian nobleman is not ambitious
to make money, but to have high official
position. Large fortunes were formerly
more common than now. Since the serfs
were liberated the peasants ask a high
price for their labor, and the MOBILES, or
lords, do not like to be bothered about
rents, and they employ agents who cheat
both lord and peasant, and it is altogether
bad business. Meantime fortunes dwindle
away The people in st. Petersburg live
in flats. There are very few small houses as
in American cities. The houses are very
large and the rooms spacious, with every
thing in them that wealth, luxury and art
combined can do to make them attractive
abodes for intellectual, cultured and re-
fined people. They all sleep late in the
morning-even the trades people. There
are never many people astir there before
10 or II o'clock; and if you wish to call
upon a high official it is best not to go be-
fore y O'clock. This is not because the
people are indolent, but because they sit
up so late at night. They are very fond
Of opera and theaters; and IL is very
common thing for gentleman and lady to
invite large party to dinner and to the
opera afterwards. A while before dinner
the family and guests assemble in the
dining-room, and there, standing IN cor
ner of the room, is a table spread with
cakes bread, crackers, pate de .foie gras,
ham, several kinds of dried fish, whisky
and brandy, with various other things
which the guests are expected to partake
of as an appetizer. At o'clock they sit
down to dinner. The first course is soup,
served with a small patty filled with fish
IL AT1l, fo1ID Gel
and the usual courses of meats and desert,
to be found upon the .ables of the wealthy
among all the nations of civilized Europe.
There ere some strictly Russian dishes,
but the cooking is mostly French. None
but men wait at table.
After dinner the guests, children and
every member of the family 60 up to the
host and hostess and shake hands, the
ladies kissing the hostess, and every one
thanking her for her salt and kind enter
tainment. After returning from the thea
ter a delicate supper awaits them of meats,
cakes, whisky, brandy and cigars. The
samovar (tea-kettle) steams with hot tea.
They sit long over these midnight meals,
and reluctantly leave their pleasant social
talks to go to bed at all. When they do
not go out for the evenings entertainment
friends come in, informally, without invi-
tation, to pass the evening. The elders
always Join in cards, while the younger
ones have music or dance or firt. Their
rooms are so wide and spacious that guests
| seeking different amusements do not inter
| fere with each other. The card PLAYERS
seldom speak unless it is to say sharp
word of reproof TO some one who has, made
a mistake. They always play for money,
| though in private houses it is for small
sums. At the young mems clubs enor-
nous quantities of money change hands,
and men often ruin themselves and their
families at play. The room where the
card players sit is denseiy filled with
! smoke, for the women smoke as well as
! the men. So attached are they TO card
| playing that very few old people could be
! induced to 90 out for an evening unless
| they could indulge in their favorite game.
The city is almost deserted in summer
| Every one goes to the country, or away
! somewhere, both high and low. They
return in the autumn and put up stoves
in every room in the house ire-places, also
in the rooms kindle kindly light, and
when the ice cold days come, and the snow
| flies in the air, the bright lamps and can
dies are lighted, delicious warmth per-
yades the atmosphere of the large rooms,
and the inside of Russians palatial
! house, luxurious in all It's appointments,
forms strange contrast to the fierce
breath of the outdoor air. Then come
balls, music and entertainments, thick and
! fast, until lent
y ball at the Winter Palace is a gorge
Gus sight. The guests arrive in carriages
deeply wrapped in furs. They ascend the
marble steps of the wide, grand staircase,
and at the top are met by servants who
relieve them of their furs and wraps.
After the arrival of all the guests the
Car and Czarina enter, and with impos-
ing dignity walk through the room, the
| guests falling back on either side, the Gar