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

capital. I'm the platform we found the
British ambassador awaiting us with
warm welcome, and his own sledge,
wherein we drove swiftly and noiseless-
II through the streets to the British
embassy. know of nothing more eS-
hilarating than the first experience OF
sledge driving in St. Petersburg, with
the tink,ing bells, and the handsome
Everies of the coachmen shouting at
each other as they passed by.
At dinner that evening we had our
first experience of the ''sagouska."
custom peculiarto Russia On the way
to the dining-roorn you pass through an
ante-chamber where you stop to par
take of the sagouska, which can best be
described as a course preliminary to
the dinner itself, answering very much
to the ordinary hors dioeuvre, but
served with some kind Of liquor as an
appetizer. The gentleman who takes
you into dinner himself fetches what
you fancy from the buffet: l myself al
ways preferred the national caviar,
which, served fresh in its native coun-
try, is very different from the caviar
you get elsewhere in its imported form.
We ascertained that the first court
ball would take place in a few days,
and that before then we should be re-
ceived by the empress in private audi
ence.
Next morning rose early, and l
shall never forget the novel experience
of looking out of my window on the
Neva just below, which was all frozen
over and alive with people, carriages,
sledges and droskies. Rising up behind
the Neva was the beautiful home OF ST.
Isaac's. the Kasan church and many
other fine buildings On one bank of
the river is the celebrated NevslSi Pros
pect. the fashionable promenade Of the
city, where, later in the day, one could
see st. Petersburg society il becoming
walking costumes, in which fur played
an important part, or driving in their
"Schubc," or pelisse, the great fur
cloak which is used on all occasions
when driving either by day or night,
made Of black or colored velvet coming
down to the heels, lined throughout
with some beautiful fur, sable, silver
or blue fox, or white goat, and large
fur collar to match.
Two days after we arrived we re-
ceived a summons to attend at the
Anitchkoff palace, where the emperor
and empress reside during the winter,
although the great entertainments take
place at the famous winter palace. The
Anitchkof palace is q very splendid
Inc ntSh AZ
eral members of the corps diplomatique
had to be presented first, we waited in
an ante-room, but were not sorry, as
the lord chamberlain, the mistress of
the robes and one of the ladies in wait
ing conversed pleasantly with us in
French, assuring US that we need not
feel in the least nervous, as the empress
had happy knack of Immediately set
ting every one at ease. This she GER
tainly did in the most gracious way
possible, talking to US in English, and
insisting that we should be seated while
she talked. She asked when we had
last seen her sister, the princess Of
Wales, and told US how devoted she
was to her, and how she seemed never
to get accustomed to the separation,
but looked forward all the rAs round
TO the annual family gathering in Dem
mark in the autumn. She told US, too,
that her children regularly corre-
sponded with their first cousins, the
children OF the prince and princess of
Wales in England.
The lady who is now dowager en-
press of Russia, although not so beauti-
full as the princess of Wales, bore
striking resemblance TO her sister: that
is TO say, she had the same g"ace and