Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-17

knowledge Of forms and usnges. He is or
dinarily n man OF large experience in af-
fairs. and with this general training he
readily adaptS himself to the immediate de-
mands.
QUESTION or TASTE.
The same sort of facilc aptitude carries
the American abroad through the situation
in which he finds himself. During two years
at ST. Petersburg knew of only two acts
on the part of American visitors about
which any question even of taste or prOpri.
ETY. could be raised, and neither was at all
serious Cards to visit the Winter Palace
are granted uponsthe application of the va
| riouS legations. During one season of sew
| eral weeks while tho palace was undergoing
repairs, the legations were informed that
| it would be closed and requested to make
no applications. 1t happened that just
at this time a resolute young lady appeared
| upon the scene who. with rather more than
| ordinary American freedom was travelling
alone She was greatly disappointed to
| learn that she could not visit the winter
palace, and was not disposed to abandon
the effort On her tour she had made the
| acquaintance of an elderly Russian officer
who had 2sallantly preferred any assistance
| within his power during her stay at the
capital. To him she applied and finally sue
cecdcd under his escort in going through the
palace undcrprctcnSc of being connected with
| his family. She was lr,t exactly an 'oflcial
vie but Il sort Of official niece or cousin
! She illustrated in an extreme form the
American determination to triumph over
obstacles, and, aside from this forwardneSs
eNempIifyinG spirit that sometimes brings
reproach upon our travellers her conduct,
so far as | know, was unexceptonable. The
other case was that Of Young gentleman
who made the natural mistake of appearing
at morning function in morning coat
| instead of the conventional evening dress
which is required on the continent. Our
people are sometimes too confident. A sim
pie inquiry would have saved him some
| modification.
AMERICANS ~ RUSSIA.
Doubtless the chronicles of Paris or Ber-
lin or Rome with their greater floods of
tourists would show more eccentricities
Bur St Petersburg is by no means neg
lected. Through the summer months the
registry at the legation will average from
- to 10 names day. The travelling
American has exhausted the old and fam
ilar routes. He is signing for other worlds
to conquer. He is pouring by the hundred
take the 1000 mile ride by rail from Berlin.
Tho characteristic life of st Petersburg is
in the winter when Americans are mostly at
home. With the constant snow and the
little droschkies, with the merry troikas and
the dashng Orlofs, with the crowded
streets and the flaming braisers with the
padded lSvostChiks and the gay colored
snow netting, with the prince in his sable
and the mOoiik in his sheepskin. with the
stream of all classes on the Nevski and the
promenade Of fashion on tine Quai of the
Neva, with the plaintive Russian opera and
the finest ballet in the world the Russian
capital in its winter garb is full of bright
ness and animation. But it has much that
is attractive in summer Fashion takes its
flight by May even from this far northern
city. The court goes to Gatchina or Peter
hof. The noble goes to his estate or to Par
is or to Monte Carlo. But the glory of the
Neva and its delta remains: the drive on the
Islands, more picturesque than the Bots de
Bouogne, with more Of nature than the
Thiergarten; the Splendor of the long days
and the glow of the white nights: the
strange, wierd blending of Byzantine copies
and Muscovite forms; the canals and water
ways that make a northern Venice. and the
palaces and cathedrals that make northern
Rome.
The American goes everywhere practical
ly without let or hindrance. The only ex-
ception is that Russia puts up the bars
against the Hebrews, Our government has
steadily nrote,ted aroinst mi. nros,.rintior
1t has commended that undor the Buchanan
treaty Hebrews are entitled to all tho mi
vilepes of travel and commerce an iovad hv
anv American citizans The Rus.;on croy.-
eminent has renlied that tba treotv rvs to
Americans only the Same nri,iIegae which
Russians eniov and that under Rrssi.n
laws. Hebrews are on different footin,
from others The discussion hoe coma o9
for vears without conclusion Tatol1, - haa
-J ~ iit'"