The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-02

How an Anserscaa GirE Tznaulshed Ga
Mistress 81 Etiquette.


Mistress 81 Etiquette.
Washington Post
TIE f0sl0xfng Is s narrative OF Al incl
dent which occurred in - Petersburg
SOME years ago the American LADY con
eefned il ihe daughter Of 3 proainsat
psatsie beneiactor. has Tor some years been
d social leader Ia Washington. IS the wife
Of leading Republican statesman, and
would te Recognized Instantly L her naEae
micisg be mentioned
grand reception was in progress at the
palace Of high Russiaa dignitEry. Mem
bers Of the ,.abiuet. generals Of the army,
grand dukes. the nobility Of the empire
and he diplomatic corps we're present. It
vas i nosat3e affair -Four young ladies
three Russian and one American-had
gathered into q little nook screened in
palms. agsd we're discussing in French the
dowdy appearance OF 3 high court lady.
Some easesdropper caught their remarks
ard bore them 70 tue criticized lady. She
in turn Indignantly reported the c0nyersa-
ton 10 a noble duchess. who held the pecu-
liar Office Of mistress of etiquette. She
retired 70 private room and had the four
etIipyits summoned before her. They APP
peared, the Russian girls in fear and trem-
bling. the American cain and sslf-possessed.
Young ladies' said she. you have
been commenting diseourseously upon the
personal appearance Of Lady You
have committed q grave breach OF eti-
quetse. and il is my duty IS eourt-mistress
Of etiquette to punish you. Olga, your
slipper"
The trembling Olga took Off her slipper
and meekiy received sound punishment
oil the sort confined in america exclusively
10 the nursery.
skatia, il Is your turn. Give me your
slIpperf' said the inexorable dueana. as
the weeping Olga arose from her castiga-
ton. katia took her cruel with audible
lamentations and Tania followed the suffer-
ing kasia.
All the while the American girl watched
and waited. The indignities thrust upon
her companies reused the Hail Columbia
IN her. Her eyes flashed aud her little
fists cIencAed with excitement
1T is your turn nov, said the mistress
OF etiquette 10 the fair American, your
shipper, please
Coiumbia's blood was up. There was
lighting stock back of her for generations.
she removed her slipper and drew near,
but she held the slipper by the toe. At
proper range she swung the missile and
struck the cid lady III the mouth q fearful
clip. Then she sailed in. Lace, feathers
and furbelows flew. Finger nails fetched
blood. Gray hair and the st. Petersburg
fashions Of 1853 filed the air. The screams
81 the thoroughly frightened mistress of
etiquette brought crowd. The door was
battered down. The three Russian girls
we're screaming in their respective corners.
The old lady was hers ae combat, and
aery-eyed goddess of liberty stood in the
center Of the room. waving a tuft OF gray
hair in one hand and jeweied hair dagger.
with which she had been trying to stab the
Russian in the other.
The mistress OF etiquette fairly screamed
with impotent rage, showered maledictions
Ia broken French, German and Russian
upon her conqueror, and demanded that
the most condign punishment he melted
out 20 her. The matter was carried to the
car. Nicholas made preiense OF punish
ing the young lady by issuing some order
against her appearing at any ball for a GER
tain period, but the old libera;or was inn
mensely tickied lie showered the most
embarrassing presents upon the American.
beautiful slippers OF every kind and de-
scription, silver slippers and gold shippers,
and finally wound up by sending her
hair dagger set with diamonds.