Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-25

used in any way was delight to the
eye. and the many men who served us
simply moved like shadows.
ENCHANTING WOMEN.
The women were the most beautiful.
hIgh-bred creatures I ever saw-such
grace such charm. such esse-and the
fiuency with which they slipped from one
tongue to another without apparently
knowing any difference as to the facility
In English. German, French. or Russian
fairly took away ones breath. And then
such gowns and jewels. have never seen
women 40 well dressed anywhere outside
OF America. The men weren't quite so
nice They had heavy faces. and brushed
their hair straight up like scrubbing
brush In that odious Continental fashion,
but they were quite rs brilliant and ac-
CON plished az the women. and the effect
OF the whole was Of the last perfection Of
civilization. luxury, and high breeding.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
We came away enchanted and saying:
isn't II just like a pert little provincial
mind 10 Judge a whole nation without
knowing anything about them?'
At first IL was all like tbat-everythng
was so picturesque so graceful. and
luxurious that we congratulated ourselves
on being obliged to live in Russia. We
raw only the pleasant sidc-the outside OF
life. Finally, we grew very tired OF living
In hotel. and concluded we would rent
furnished house for the season. There
was one which had taken my fancy
greatly. IL was occupied by people We
knew, and was particularly picturesque.
The owners were rich people, and they
had furnished IL In a semi-Oriental fancy,
which pleased me tremendously. Since
RnQCian Influence hae tafOrpa
in Persia. the best OF the Persian looms
conhne themselves TO supplying the Rus
sian market. and the walls of this house
were hung throughout with the most
beautiful rugs ] had ever seen. 1t made
the most charming picture when one went
In out of the bitter cold to have a cup Of
afternoon tea there. and was ushered into
this great drawlng-room. hung with these
gorgeous mosaics Of color wide. low
divans all around the room. more salen-
did rugs under foot. the samovar steam
ing on a pearl-inlaid table, low lights
making n soft, rich gloom. and a faint
smell OF incense mingled with the per
fume of the heaps OF dollhouse flowers
So that when heard these acquaintance
were going 10 Paris. and wanted to let
their house as 1t stood / said at once /
would take It. without taking the precau-
ton OF examining II.
The day after they left ] went over
from the hotel to have look about, and
see II there were any little rearrange-
ments i wanted made before moving in
and 10 order a thorough house cleaning
To my amazement, I found no bed-cham-
bers.
But where did the family Sleep" |
asked OF the woman left in charge. "Oh.
no place in particular" she replied. quite
as If that were a matter OF course:
wherever they happened to be when |
they were sleepy. Sometimes in the draw
Ing-room. sometimes here; there are di- |
vans everywhere, you see"
But didn't they take off their clothes?"
gasped in horror. |
Generally; but one doesn't need a bed |
chamber for that. One just rings for a |
servant 10 bring some negllgee or night !
lress and the same servant takes away |
the clothes one drops off and fetches a |
luret 20 spread over one"
DISENCHANTMENT.
That was enough That drawing-room |
md lost all It's charms for me Inquiry |
developed that when one woke up in |
hese haphazari beds In the morning one |
,alled n servant, who came with a break /
and one ate where one had |
slept Investigation showed that in the |
midst of all this luxury and beauty the |
,ommonest necessities and convenlences |
we're wanting. With n sinking heart ! |
made out "A list as long as my arm Of |
what il would be necessary TO purchase |
o make the house possible abode for |
IN American. Then | took up the sub |
ect of houseclcaninR and suggested that |
III the rugs had better come down from |
he walls and be thoroughly cleaned and |
shaken before being hung again. The |
ervant was very dubious. They had not |
)eon taken down for years
"All the more need for il, then" said J.
md lifted one corner only to drop 1t |
again with a cry OF disgust. Behind those
.lowing colors and rich designs were |
peacefully dwelling untold thousands Of
beetles. reaches, and creeping things not |
o be named. I gave one swift glance |
inder the divars. and picking up my |
kirts. fed for my life. Apparently for |
ears when the rooms had been swept
verifying had simply ueen pushed under
he convenient hiding place Of the divans,
nd my hasty iTspcction showed an indie
crlbable collection OF dust. hair. mouldy
rusts. dirty gloves. combs, broken glass,
,ins. handkerchicfs-any and every thing
hat would ordinarily be found IN an
American ash-can.
| finally realized that the whole Incl
lent was very characteristic OF Russian |
utilization. They are a people who say,
Give Us the Injuries Of life and We
Won't ask for the necessities"
MARCELLE DWIGHT.