The Van Buren press., 1895-03-09
LIVES OF RICH RUSSIANS.
The Wealthy Subjects of the Cxaf Arc Fat.
isfied with the LuxurIes.

LIVES OF RICH RUSSIANS.
The Wealthy subjects Of the Cxar Arc sat-
isfied With the LuxurIes.
An American, the circumstances Of
whose life compel her to live in Russia,
writes: "The housekeeping here is
very expressive OF the real character
Of the people. When first came all
my preconceived ideas seemed to be
quite upset. The first dinner we went
to was the most beautiful thing l ever
saw. Such flowers, such gold and sill
yer plate, such exquisite porcelains,
and such beautiful service. The table
was o square of oak as black rs ink
and as polished as marble. Very WISE
ly they had not hid its beauty under a
cloth. Its only covering was two
strips of splendid old altar lace, laid
along each edge under the plates. Up
the middle of the table marched twelve
candlesticks two and two, and these
were of that lovely Venetian glass
which has the milky green of shallow
sea water thickly powdered with
gold dust. They were made in
those fantastic dragon shapes Of
which the Venice glass workers
are SO fond, and the shades were Of
delicate gold filigree, hardly heavier
than cobwebs, set over pale violet silk
There were thirty or forty tiny gold
vases set about the table everywhere,
filed with white and purple double
violets-just careless little clusters
with long stems and few leaves. At
each plate stood small forest of wine
glasses, each one gem of the Vene-
tian factories, making a charming
mass of translucent color, milky green,
amethyst and gold. All the forks and
spoons and knives were works of art,
with handles of gold, of carved ivory,
of porcelain, or of the beautiful Rus
sian enamels and cisele work.
Everything one touched or handled
or used in any way was a delight to
the eye, and the many men who served
us simply moved like shadows.
1.-THE women were the most beauti-
full, high-bred creatures l ever saw
such grace, such charm, such ease, and
the fuency with which they slipped
from one tongue to another, without
apparently knowing any difference as
to facility-in English, German, French
or Russian-fairly took away ones
breath. And then such gowns and
jewels! have never seen women so
we'll dressed anywhere outside of
America. The men weren't quite so
nice. They had heavy faces and
brushed their hair straight up like q
scrubbing brush in that odious con-
tinental fashion. but they were quite
as brilliant and accomplished as the
women, and the effect of the whole
was of the last perfection Of civiliza-
ton, luxury and high breeding
"At first it was all like that-every-
thing was SO picturesque, SO graceful
and luxurious, that we congratulated
ourselves on being obliged to live in
Russia. We saw only the pleased side
the outside of life. Finally we grew
very tired of living in hotel and con-
cluded we would rent furnished
house for the season. There was one
which had taken my fancy greatly. 1t
was occupied by people we knew and
was particularly picturesque"
1.-THE owners were rich people and
they had Furnished it in semi-oriental
fancy, which pleased me tremendously.
Since Russian influence has become
paramount in Persia the best of the
Persian looms confine themselves to
supplying the Russian market and
the walls of this house were hung
through with the most beautiful rugs
/ had even seen. 1t made the most
charming picture when one went in,
out of the bitter cold to have cup OF
afternoon tea there, and was ushered
into this drawing-room, hung with
these gorgeous mosaics of color, wide,
low divans all round the room, more
splendid rugs under foot, samover
steanihg on a pearl inlaid table, low
lights making soft, rich gloom, and
d faint smell of incense mingled with
the perfume of the heaps of hothouse
| flowers. So that when l heard that
these acquaintances were going tc
Paris and wanted to let their house as
it stood said at once l would take it
without taking the precaution to ex
anime it. r.
"The day after they left I went over
| from the hotel to have look about and
see if there were any little rearrange
ments wanted made before moving in
and to order a thorough house clean
ing. To my amazement found nc
bed chambers. fa a.f
"But where did the family sleep?"
asked of the woman in charge. oh
no place in particular she replied
quite as if that were matter Of
course, wherever they happened to bt
when they were sleepy. Sometimes il
the drawing room, sometimes here
there are divans everywhere, you see.
"'But didn't they take off theil
clothes?' gasped in horror.
Generally, but one doesn't need g
bed chamber for that. One just ring,
for servant to bring up some negli
gee or nightdress and the same ser
want takes away the clothes one dropl
off and fetches duret to spread ovel
one.'
"That was enough. That drawing
room had lost all its charms for me.
Inquiry developed that when one
woke up in these haphazard beds II
the morning one called a servant, who
came with breakfast tray, and one
ate where one had slept.
Il finally realized that the whole in
cident was very characteristic of Rus
sian civilization. They are a peopl,
who say, Give us the luxuries of lif,
and we don't ask for the necessities
Baltimore Herald.
Wild Enough.
| At the dinner table in a country no