The sun., 1892-05-08
GA BELLE SIPPLEUSE."
Mrs. Shaw and Her Whistle
in the Cars Empire.
SHE FOUND RUSSIA DELIGHTFUL


Russia was Considered Demented or Pos
tho People Change Their Opinions on the
suhject-Some OF the New Fashions.
Mrs Alice ]. Shaw enjoys the double dis
tinction OF being whstling prlma donna and
OF having travelled more extensively and pcne-
trated further into the interior OF Russia
than any American artist. Tho whistle is n
universal language. appealing with equal
power and no change In dialect to hearers OF
all nationalites and tongues. and Is particu-
larry mover ana interesting TO Tho musc-loving
people OF Russia, where whistling Is un-
known and never hoard. Indeed. tho person
who can whistle In tho Cars unhappy domain
Is looked upon with compassion rs being
slightly demented or possessed of witchinG
spirits.
An advantage the whistler has over tho
singer Is that whistle is not q delicate scnsi.
tive thing like the voice. but boars changes in
climate. exposure to extremes OF cold. and
hardships of travel with no disastrous conse-
Quences. Indeed. at hcr recent concert In New
York, Mrs. Shaw was suffering with severe
cold that would have prevented singer from
appearing but affected tho exercise OF her Pc
cullar gift not in tho slightest deErco.
Speaking OF the Russian people. Mrs. Shaw
said that sho was most impressed with their
great lovo for music in all its forms. even ex-
ceeding that OF tho German pcoplc. In tho
homes OF not only tho wealthy people. but also
Of those in comfortable circumstances. the
music room Is as indispensable Il feature rs tho
dining room. and the Russian Is. as Artcmus
Ward says, passion6tely fond OF food" llo
is very dilatory in keeping appointments and
late ut all ceremonies. but he is never late at
dinner. Tho women arc not beautiful. but are
extremely courteous and hospitable. and. like
all women on the Continent. are remarkably
good lnguists.
Tho only pretty women saw in Russia"
said Mrs. Shaw. wore in the grand ballet In
ST. Petersburg. and they wcro Poles. This
ballet Is maintained by tho Government. and
each musician in tho orchestra must have re-
ceived medal from the Conservatoire before
he Is accepted. 1t is tho great Sunday night d.
version in oil the towns to go to tho ballet.
Church in tho morning. tho ballet or con-
cert in tho evening. No matter how small
the towns. or how Insignificant and plain
its one-story houses. the music hall or
opera house is sure to be a large and splen-
did building. each town striving to outrival all
the surrounding towns in tho cost and mag
niflcence of its decoration. and in the beauti-
fully draped picture OF tho Car which always
appears at tho head Of the hall.
Travelling in Russia is delightful. There
Is only one train day. and that goes at night
and goes slowly. but in every military station
you can find at any time OF night a hot meal
most excellently cooked and served with won-
derful tea or coffee. Tho cooking In Russia is
more delicate and savory than anywhere else
In the world. The tea and coffee are unlike
anything ever tasted anywhere else. and
some OF the peculiarly Russian dishes with
unpronounceable names are delicious. France
has no cooking equal to it. have been CIV
ing some Of the Russian recipes to we'll
known restaurdteur here. and IL he succeeds
with them he will confer q great benefit upon
the public. 1t is to be q surprise to his patrons
II the dishes turn out well: II not, haven't
told his name.
1.-THE great motto OF the people is comfort
comfortable houses. comfortable garments
suited to the climate. and comfortable ways
Of doing things. Not being able to speak their
language. could not become as familiar with
them as would like. but had no difficulty in
going about or In asking for the things I
wanted. The people who 60 there to live seem
to learn the language readily. 1t Is terribly
cultural. like the German. only sweeter. and
the people speak it without those con-
torttons OF countenance that one secs
in many countries Indeed. all Of the
English colony in St. Petersburg speak
Russian entirely. and you catch In their
English slight suggestion OF foreign accent
One thing you notice in all the houses. even
the poorest apartments. and that is tho beau
fully polished floors. In the poorer families.
where no servants arc hired the mujiks como
IN twice week to polish the floors. and in the
hotels you hear the servants going up and |
down the halls. sliding over the floors In their
II think my most interesting experience in |
Russia was the trip over the Caucasus Noun |
tains. You know. I am the only American |
artist who ever crossed tho Caucasus. We |
-ynVk L., r1fr rt, rk ntu
bells jinglng. the cerynsse and the courier in
Danion a little, Russian maid. who travelled
GOLD and We stopped and changed horses and
had something f. eat every hour an and half.
was one night when, had to drive twelve
miles overland to catch the midnight courier
roa %sers to svG s
lighted with lamps all the way. caught the
train. but It was three hours late and landed
Russian stations is that they usually arc a
pile OF. two from tho town. found ny trunks
enc Sne and one.half miles from the opera house;
WhsSa %s ssEys ony a69ut @ Ia late
pr 1T was 2 great delight to whistle before the
Hussians ss They had such against
syed moye Gp anG nowrs is
whistle, before his Majesty, though he D and md
queen Victoria are the only royal people WHO |
nave not given menudicncc. Indeed. with both |
g them audiences were arranged but WAS in |
81: fetersbnrg lusi ut the time tho Grand Duke |
the day OF my appointnent. saw Hs Tie el,,ie Gnnr
cnid cnHidaghdi Standing nuFencadod on II bitter
Neya and tho rcasants Eraskinr EE.eEf OF holas tas
In the tnicI ice 70 Ill their bottles With the
20 back 70 Russia through N5rwtEyn nd HwoJs TO
IN tne fa.i but owing to III" ,aaino. tn" dis
tbat Sapeu sta,e oi me Gomntry and tho epdcnirs
anu aiter Keeping my engagements in Enn. ,
!and through tho summer ! shall return fn
travel In my own country, Of which | Know
almost less now. than Of Russia N'0"
Speaking OF her success with this to n |
woman. peculiar and ,Lnusua! gilt which has
kept her engaged in different parts Of lurouo
Tor the past three years. NJ rs, Shaw said, 'N
Such success as have had comes liko nh
success. from hard work and tireless ;liuuition ::
besides. have had sharper spur and n
Wben n ntnsplratioh 10 w9rE tnan swomen.