The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-05-30
LIVES OF RICH RUSSIANS
The Wealthy Subjects OF tho CZar Arc rnt.
ished with tho I.uxurics.

/ ~,
The Wealthy Subjects OF tho Czar Arc <at.
| isiied With tho I.uxurics.
An American, the circumstances ot
whose life compel her to live in Russia,
writes: '"Ihc housekeeping here is
very expressive of the real charactc
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 | ever
! saw. Such flowers, such gold and sill
yer plate, such exquisite porcclains,
and such beautiful service. The tablo
was square of oak as black rs ink
and rs polished rs marble. Very WISE
~ 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 thicl1ly 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
dellcate gold fligrce, hardly heavier
than cobwebs, set over pale violet silk
There were thirty or forty tiny gold
vases set about the table everywhere,
1lllcd with white and purple double
vlolets-just careless little clusters
with long stems and few leaves. At
each plate stood Il small forest of wine
glasses, each one a gem Of the Ncnc-
tlan factories, making Il 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 cnamels and cisclc work.
'Evcrything 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.
''Thc women were the most bcauti-
full, high-brcd creatures l ever saw
such grace, such charm, such ease, and
the flucncy 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 IL
scrubbng brush in that odious con-
tinental fashion, but they were quite
us brilliant and accomplished as the
women, and the effect of the whole
was Of the last perfection Of civiliZa-
tion, luxury and high breeding
AT first 1t was all like that-cvcry.
thing was SO picturesque, so graceful
and luxurious, that we congratulated
ourselves on being Obliged to live in
Russla. We saw only tho pleased side
the outside of life. Finally we grew
very tired of living in Il 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 -
"Ihc owners were rich people and
they had Furnished it in a scmi-oricntai
fancy, which pleased me tremendously.
Since Russian influence has become
paramount in Persia the best Of the
Persian looms contine 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 a cup Of
afternoon tea there, and was ushcrcd
into this drawing-rOOm, hung with
these gorgeous mosaics Of color, wide,
low divans all round the room, more
splendid rugs under foot, samovcr
steamihg on a pearl inlaid table, low
lights making Il soft, rich gloom, and
Il faint smell Of incense mingled with
the perfume Of the heaps Of hothousc
flowers. SO that when | heard that
these acquaintanccs were going 10
Paris and wanted to let their house rs
it stood 1 said at once ! would take it,
without taking the prccaution to cx-
anime it.
'rhe day after they left went over
from the hotel to have a look about and
sec if there were any little rcarrange-
ments wanted made before mo, inc in
and to order a thorough house clean-
ing. TO my amaZcmcnt | found no
bed chambers.
"But where did the family slccp?" I
asked Of the woman 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 drawing room, sometimes here,
there are divans cvcrywhcre, YOU sec.'
But didn't they take of their
clothes? I gaspcd in horror.
Generally, but one doesn't need
bed chamber for that. One Just rings
for a servant to bring up some ncgli-
gee or nightdress and the same ser
want takes away the clothes one drops
off and fctches Il durct to spread over
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 in
the morning one called servant, who
came with breakfast tray, and one
ate where one had slept.
Sl finally realized that the whole in
cident was very characteristic Of Rus
sian civilization. They arc Il people
who say, Give us The luxurics Of life
and we don't ask for the necessities"
baltimore Herald.
MI