Connecticut western news., 1890-01-08
NO. 29.
A Spirited American Girl.

The following is . narrative of an incident which occurred in St. Peters burgh some years ago. The American lady concerned is the daughter of 8 prominent public benefactsr, has for years been a social leader in Washing ton, is the wife of leading Republi- can statesman and would be recognized instantly if her name might be men, toned. The half dozen initiates will remember the incident now published by "The Post"
 A grand reception was in progress at the palace of high Russian digni- tary. Members of the Cabinet, gen. erals of the Army, grand dukes, the nobility of the Empire, and the diplo- matic corps were present. It was a notable affair. Four young ladies' three Russian and one American-had gathered into little nook screened in palms, ahd were discussing in French the dowdy appearance of high court lady. Some eavesdropper caught their remarks and bore them to the criticized lady. She, in turn, indig- nantly reported the conversation to 8 noble duchess, who held the peculiar office of :'mistress of etiquette" She retired to 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 discourteously upon the personal appearance of Lady. You have committed grave breach of etiquette, and it is my duty as court mistress of etiquette, 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 gruel with audible lamentations, and Tanta followed the suffering Katia. All the while the American girl watched and waited. The lndlgnities thrust upon her companions reused the Hail Columbia in her. Her eyes fash ed and her little fists clenched with ex- citement.
 "It is your turn now," said the mis- tress of etiquette to the fair American, "your slipper, please"
 Columbia's blood was up. There was fighting 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 mis- sile and struck the old lady in the mouth fearful chp. Then she sailed in. Lace, feathers and furbelows flew. Fingernails fetched blood. Gray hair and the St. Petersburg fash ions of 1868 filled the air. The screams of the thoroughly frightened mistress of etiquette brought 8 crowd. The door was battered down. The three Russian girls were screaming in their respective corners. The old lady was hors du combat, and aery-eyed goddess of liberty stood in the center of the room, waving tuft of gray hair in one hand and jewelled hair dagger, with which she had been try ing 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 meted out to her. The matter was carried to the Czar. Nicholas made a pretense of punishing the young lady by issuing some order against her appearing at any ball for certain period, but the old liberator was immensely tickled. He showered the most embarrassing presents upon the American, beautiful slippers of every kind and description, silver slippers and gold slippers, and finally wound up by sending her hair dagger set with diamonds.-Washing- ton Post.