The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-14

zurka especially so, and very g-acefus
when well performed. The cotillion IS
always ALI important feature, and there
are-also other somewhat similar dances,
but bearing other names. The waltz
is as fashionable in Russia as anywhere
else. A gentleman who is known to
dance well is selected as dirigeur or
leader for the evening and superintends
every dance that takes place. At the
first court ball the dancing is usually
rather quiet and stiff, the etiquette be-
ing strictly maintained, so to speak, in
stead of the free and casipeSs of the
smaller and more select dances, which
are attended by few hundreds of the
aristocracy and official classes of the
highest order, all of whom are on in
innate terms with one another.
Supper was served at midnight in two
rooms In the middle of the largest of
these, the table was raised at the CEN
ter on a platform of scarlet cloth.
Round it sat the whole of the imperial
family, with the chief secretaries of
state, the ambassadors End their wives.
Branching from each side of this table
there were two long wing tables
stretched out toward each end of the
hall, the whole resplendent in massive
gold plate, Sevres porcelain, and deli
cate hot-house flowers. There was no
confusion, each guest having an allotted
place; we, ourselves. felt highly hon
ored by having our seats close to the
imperial table. The imperial circle go to
supper in procession, the empress lead
ing the way with the emperor, the
pages bearing the trains as at their
entrance to the ball. The emperor.
after conducting his consort to her seat,
remains standing with his brothers and
equerries N the middle OF the room
until all the guests have entered. Then
thew wall, around the supper tables in
turn to see that every guest is properly
seated. the emperor being the last TO
take his seat at the raised table. Such
is the true hospitality OF the Russian
court.
Just as the seats were admirably ar
ranged, the supper was served with
order and precision. The tables, which,
BY the way, were not connected with
the ROYAL table. were arranged with
silver instead of gold plate but there
was no distinction as regards the pro-
fusion of floral decorations The sew
eraI courses were served very much a.
at dinner. The waiting was admirable
in every respect, ard the handsome
red ana gold iiverios OF the servants
much enhanced the beauty Of the
scene.
After supper the entertainment was
over and We descended 70 the inner
hal. where all the tootrnen were in
waiting. holding the ladies' big fur
cIoaks and warmly-lined Russian ovsT-
shoes. the latter being necessity from
the fact that we had 70 walk several
yards through the snow 20 our car
riages 1t is the custom In Russia,
even when making an afternoon call,
to leave these eloaks and shoes IN the
inner hall on arriving, and 20 put them
on again there when leaving.
The 81 Petersburg ladies have their
DAYS at-h0Tne very much the same as
n London A remarkable difference,
however. between the two cities IS
that IN the Russian capital Fentleler
are conspicuous more hT their presence
than. IN our case, by their absence on
these occasions II IL also very com
mon .or q Whole regiment 20 oe rep-s-
scented at an afternoon st-6oce: taz-
Is 20 ssy, the colonel viii attend accom-
panied b. ali the offers who are not
Immediately On duty. AZ thee a.
homes tea is served BE- q with rliils and
slices Of lenacn. and grest variety OF
s.sestsceats ! partskea II freely
hzss seen . g1arars oiiesr at nearly
~hale disL fri G. bozDcaS q tie
1oc-s- % hall knar's ell