Telegram-herald., 1890-02-09
"-sRg osY BEGINS AsOUT NOON


s-ssial LIE L. Ezs~l& a. Ds~~riesS - the
Pr~os-s E4S~iisSAes-
Ths Rasslzn pnResss, EGgsAtChen.
gave = yeTy psessaat ta-k - 1tse people
40 nll-d 1hs Womeu's Ulaioa = over
Rowing Her subject was 'Soclzi LIE
Ia Rllsia. sshich means. q ooarse, 80
cal aga lie, for she sold her audience
y nothing else She begsn by saying
thzr sociaI he = - similar ssery~ here,
exeept a. Il sszs Lao8ihed b ar.stocrssle
or democratic governments The loAg
severe = lnters u Russia, - far north IS
81 Petersburg are very favorable 70
trsliiSnr seasoas To the soIth tas cAss4ste
Is very mid. ana ln La-- Srlraea TIC wei
and dry seasons suggest tie tropics. Tat
pl.ce IS = resort for ilyahos
In summer, sad TIE lecturer, 81. Pc
tsrsblrg Is deserted livery body even
the poorest. GOES away L posslole. by
tb- .Ast Of May OF the tlrss 81 June tie
to,.a Is shut up. The schools close aud
there l. DO life again tiil Ia the fall =
cold weather approaches carpets are PAT
down. double windows are pat IN. and
every attention is paid 70 the general
comfort. Nearly every body hyes "A Hats
There are no small private houses, and
only the rich families live in their own
houses.
" Russians do not rise early. said
the lecturer 1T Is 10 or IL O'Clock be
fore anybody is astir, unless it Is the
children or teachers, who must be ia
school a. 9. and II one IS t. call on an
ofhcial he should wait till midday"
The DAY Of the high born Russian was
described At some length. Every BODY
drives in the afternoon, and brilliant
equipages with only two occupant, aIe
seen everywhere. At 4 O'Clock driving
IS at an end. for it H. dark by that time
III the winter season, All receptions are
IN order. Dinner is az 6, which 70 the
foreign mind, appears 10 De 2 series OF
standing lunch. sitting meal. smoking
s0iree-for women smoke cigarettes as
we'll as the men-and card party. Every
body plays whist, and for money. The
stakes are small usually, though ag the
clubs fortunes are won and los, in a 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-
ceded by the national air, and passion
ate plays and music are popular. The
ballet is excelled only IN Paris. After
the play follow long drive TO a restau-
rant, a leisurely supper 10 the most raw
ishing music, and the day draws to
close. Then were described the balls at
the WinteS palace, led by the emperor
and empress, the carnival, Lent and Fast
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 forInality, no
grand dressing. Ii was with evident
sadness that the princess declared that
Russia was poor and growing poorer.
There were only few very rich families.
''As rule we are poor" she said The
women generally dress in dark colors
and not extensively. What would your
Young ladies think of only two ball
dresses in a whole season. After hav-
ing seen our Saratoga and Newport the
lecturer was ready to say that Russian
watering places were bad. There were
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 10 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 sociable 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. Buffalo Express.