Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-01-10
AsTouNDED THE DoWAGER.
An American Cir in st. Petersburg As
VIZ. Tier Independence.

An American Girl in ~, Petersburg As
s.,ia Her Independence,
The following lisa narrative Of an
incident which occurred in 81. Peters
burg some wears ago. Tie American
lady concerned is the daughter of a
prominent public benefactor, has for
years bceu "A social leader in Washing
ton. il the wife of a leading statesman
aud would be recognized instantly if
her name might bs mentioned. The
half dozen initiates will remember the
incident.
\ grand reception was in progress
at the palace of IA high Russian digni.
tary. Members of the cabinet. gen.
erals of the army. grand dukes. the
nobility Of the empire and the diplo.
matte corps were present. II WAS a
notable affair. -Four young ladies
three Russian and ulg. Amcrican-had
gathered into "A Ntllc nook screened in
palms, aud were discussing in French
the dowdy appearance of a high court
lady. Some eavcsdroppcr caught their
remarks aud bore item Ia the criti-
ciScd lady. She in turn Indignantly
reported the conversation 10 "A noble
duchess, who held the peculiar office
of mistress of etiquette. She re
tired to a private room and had the
four culprits summoned before her.
They appeared, the Russian girls in
fear and trembling, the American girl
calm and self possessed.
Young ladies'" said she. ''you
have been commenting di~scourteouSly
upon the personal appearance of Lady
-. You have committed a grave
breach of etiquette. and it is my duty
MS court mistress OF etiquette 10 pun
iSh you. Olga, your slipper"
The trembling Olga took off her
slipper, and mcekly received "A sound
punishment Of the sort confined in
America exclusively To the nursery.
"katia. il is your turn. Give me
your slipper said the memorable
duenna, rs the weeping Olga
from her castigation. katia took her
cruel with audible lamentations. and
Tania followed the suffering katia.
All tie while the American girl
Ndltu'u anu Nail'NN' llf lilll'N
thrust upon her companions reused
the Hail Columbia in her Her eyes
flashed and her little la Z, rlinched
with excitement.
1T Is your turn now, said the mis-
trcss Of etiquette to the fair American;
your slipper, please
Cu~Iumbia'S blood was up. There was
ighting stock back of her for gcncr-
ations. She removed her slipper and
drew near. but She held the slipper by
the toe. At proper range She swung
The m. ~ ,truck the old lady IN
the mouth "A fearful clip. Then she
sailed in. Laccs. feathers and furbc-
lows flew. FingernaiiS fetched blood.
Gray hair and the st. Petersburg fash
ions of 1868 filled the air.
The screams OF the thoroughly
frightened mi>trpssu ' etiquette brought
acrowd. The door WAS battered down.
The three Russian girls were scream
ing in their respective u The
old lady was hors du combat, and "a
fiery eyed Goddess of Liberty stood in
the center of the room. waving "A tuft
of gray hair III one hand aud IA jewclco
hair dagger. with which She had been
trying To stab the Russian, III the
other.
The mistress of etiquette fairly
screamed with impoteLt rage, shower.
ed malcdictioms in broken French
German and Russian urou her con,
queror, and demanded that the mos
condign punishment be melted out tc
her. The matter was carried 10 the
ear. Nicholas made "a pretense {:
furnishing the young lady by ISSUING
some order against her appearing a
any ball for IA certain period, but the
old iibciFtur Was immensely ticklcd.
He showcrcI the most embarrassing
presents upon the Amcrican-bcauti
full slippers pf every kind aud dc>crip.
tioL, silver slippers and gold slippers,
and fpully wound up by sending her
a hair dagger sci with diamonds.
Washington Post.