The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-02-22
she WAS THOROUGHLY MAD.
How an American Girl Venqulshed
q Russian.

Inc. IOllOWlIiS Is d Adi dtls0 VI
an incident which occurred in st.
Petersburg some years ago. The
American lady concerned is the
daughter of prominent public ben
efactor, has for years been social
leader in Washington, is the wife
of a leading republican statesman,
and would be recognized instantly
if her name might be mentioned.
A grand reception was in progress
at the palace of high Russian dig
nitary. Members of the cabinet,
generals of the army, grand dukes,
the nobility of the empire and the
diplomatic corps were present. 1t
was q notable affair. -Four young
ladies three Russian and one
American-had gathered into lit:
tie nook screened in palms, and
were discussing in French the dow
dy appearance Of a high court lady.
Some eavesdropper caught their re-
marks and bore them to the criti-
cised lady. She in turn Indignantly
reported the conversation to a no
BILE 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 discourte-
ously upon the personal appearance
of Lady -. You have committed
grave breach of etiquette, and it is
my duty as court mistress of eti-
quette to punish you. Olga, your
slipper!"
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 castigation. Katia took
her Cruel with audible lamenta-
tions, and Tania followed the suf-
fering Katia.
All the while the American girl
watched and waited. The indigni-
ties thrust upon her companions
reused the Hail Columbia in her
Her eyes flashed and her little fists
clenched with excitement.
cts your turn" said the mistress
of etiquette to the fair American,
your slipper, please"
Columbia's blood was up. There
was fighting stock back of her fol
generations. She removed her slip.
per and drew near, but she held
the slipper by the toe. At proper
range she swung the missile and
struck the old lady in the mouth a
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 mis-
tress of etiquette brought crowd
The door was battered down. The
three Russian girls were screaming
in their corners. The old lady was
hors de combat and a fery-eyed
goddess of liberty stood in the cen
ter of the room, waving tuft Of
gray hair in one hand and a jeweled
hair dagger, with which she had
been trying to stab the Russian, in
the other.
The mistress of etiquette fairly
screamed with impotent rage, show
cred maledictions in broken French
German and Russian upon her con
queror, and demanded that the
most condign punishment be metec
out to her. The matter was carried
to the Gear. Nicholas made pre-
tense of Furnishing the young lady
| by issuing some order against hel
appearing at any ball for certain
period, but the old liberator was
immensely tickled. He showerec
the most embarrassing present:
upon the American, beautiful slip
pers of every kind and description
silver slippers and gold slippers
and finally wound up by sending be-
hair dagger, set with diamonds
:, Washington Post.