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

wnicn were nandeu 10 ,netn oy The gen
tlemen during the dances. Even at
the court bali there is a room where
ladies can smoke as well as men
We also attended two of the smaller
dances given at the winter palace. In
these the empress and all the imperial
Emily took an active part. No royal
circle was formed and the royalties
danced with theit guests rather than
among themselves, and, but for the
magnifcencc of the scene, one could
have hardly realized that II could be a
court ball with such conspicuous want
of fornality. On these occasions sup
per was served in the long white room
called the Nicholas hall, with little
tables placed under numberless inc
palms. from the branches of which
hung endless colored fairy lights We
all sat down together as before, the en-
peror again walking among the tables
to see that everyone was comfortable
before going TO his OVID, and on these
occasions his own private band played
the music, and very well they did so. /
was told that he frequently played
with them himself. although not in pub
lie. being keen musician.
Now l come to the private life and
character of the woman who was a
most devoted wife, although she mar
ried the brother of her deceased fance.
as was the ease with the duchess Of
York. and the marriage might in con-
sequence have been put down as mere
4 II q
monarch who, in spite OF soldiers,
police, aide-de-camps and detectives.
went IN daily, and even hourly, dread
Of suddenly, without a moments warn
ing, being taken from life and ali that
he held so dearly. l saw much Of them
in ST. Petersburg, and heard more, and
/ believe there was never more de-
voted couple in public or private life /
was tod that be allowed no evening 10
pass without going 70 kiss his children
after they were in bed; that, Ia spite of
the notions which American ard Eng
glish people have Of the cruelty Of
the great Russian despo:, he and his
wife had very strong phasnthroPic
leanings-
The following story has, perhaps, al
ready appeared in print, but not 20 my
knowledge. II was told me by one Of
her imperial majesty's maids Of hooo-.
The empress had been OF. for a valic
alone IN her own private garden, au1 n
the meantime the sentry Of the i'm
perial guard had been changed ~ the
inner gate communicating between the
palace and tie private garden IL vas
the first occasion on which he had done
duty a. the palace, and not cnly had
he verT vague notion 81 the empress
personal appearance. but when she 40
preached the gate unattended he ras
con incs5 that she eonid not be & mem
be- Of the royal family. he in conse-
qze1oe challenged her, and blocked the
way across the gate with his rife, 50
that some oae rad % be fetched "a
identify her. The soldiers confusion
nay be vel imagined, but his royal
mistress took care that no harm shozld
come - him. and herself personally az
sured him that she fully realized :ha.
what be had done was Ia the interests
OF her orvn safety.
The two principal winter amusement
IN Russia are skating and t0boggauiags
II LoadOn there j. nosxzizTs 20 pfsoe
where the exclusively fssnionzt,s r.
SORT for slcaii,g, but n 81 PETER
burg this IA different. = is-ce sheet -