The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-10

strictly u1ainf4fned % 10 eDeak. $1,000
g tne nee and easfness Of he ezrxz11er
eno more select dances. which are At
te1aed ~ = few hundreds of tie arfs-
nd o4ncjhl classes Of the hi.h-
- oro ~ Of whom ere On inf,unste
y. - u oue smother.
Wna n1fved at nsA3nlxht IL fwo
rocm Il 1lse middle Of the inrxexs 81
49, Il 1n1bie wus ratsed = H. rrnter
GO = 11oN1m ct scax5e< Cloth. Rn,rd
e - - whole Of xlse ius,eri.1 f.urt,v
vita tie c1s6ef kecre4sriee of $500. 90
passa1aoEs and Their wives. Branch
- 1rUm sach side of this table fhere
Nefe no long xfngstaA8es stretched out
toward each end Of the hail, the whole
pleudent n massive suzd plate. se-
VIZ poeceaain and delicate hot-AousA
nowerA There was no confusion. each
guest hAving IN allotted place: Ne. oszr.
selves felt hikhly honored BY having
our seat Close to the imperial table. The
imperial circle 60 to supper In proces-
non. the empress leading the way with
the emperor. and the pages bearing the
kxasns a. at their entrance 10 the han.
Nne emperor, after conductfnx his con-
e0rt 70 her seat. remains standing with
nin brothers ard eQueriez .n the middle
* tae roon until all the guests have
entered Then, they walk round the
snpper tables In turn 70 zee that every
eue0 t. properly seated, the emperor
being the last to take his seat af the
raised table. Such = the true hosrstau-
" OF the Russian court.
just - the seats were no admirable
arranged. the supper was served with
oruer ana precision. The tables. which,
~ 1ne way. were not connected with
the royal tabae. were arranged with sill
yer instead OF gold plate. but there was
no distinction az regards the profusion
o. norad decorations The several
courses. were served very much ae at
Qnner. the waiting was admirable in
every respect. and the handsome red
and gold liveries OF the servants much
enhanced the beauty Of the scene.
After supper the entertainment was
over. and we descended TO the inner
hall. where all the footmen were In
waiting. holding the ladies' bsg fur
cfoaks and warznly-Ined Russian over
shoes. the latter being necessity from
the fact that we had to walk several
yards through the snow 10 our car
raxes. 1t ID the custom In Russia. ever,
Wnel yoz make an afternoon cal. to
leave these cloaks and shoes In the In
ner hall On arriving. and TO put them
on again there when leaving.
Inc 81 Petersburg ladies' have their
days af-home very much the same as in
London. A remarkable difference, how
ever. between the two cities e, that In
the Russian capital gentlemen are CON-
spicuous more by their presence than.
In our case. by their absence on these
occasions. II Is also very common for
9 whole regiment to be represented at
an afternoon at-home: that is 90 saw.
fhe colonel viii attend accompanied by
AL the omcers who are not immediately
on duty, these at-hones tea Is
served both with milk and slices OF
demon. and a great variety OF sweet
meats Is partaken OF freely. / have
seen a guard 3 Office: eat nearly a whole
dish fun OF bonbons in the course OF =
half hours CALL
We went to one very pretty ball given
by the wife OF one OF the ministers of
state. In her beautiful villa In TIE sub
urbs which. stands on the shores OF the
Neva. 1t was really like fairyiand. the
preetiiy decorated and well lighted hal1.
room opening into q large round con-
servatory overhung with 4axinias. cam
elias, and lovely fiot-house crerDerx in
full bloom. and bcrdered by fine stand
arGrosetrees forming almost a hedge
round the conservatory, the latter IN
Guiding two long corridors branching
on nom either side OF the main portion
as profusely furnished with blooms and
plants OF all kinds as the conservatory
proper. And outside through the big
panes OF glass;. we could see the brilliant
moon and stars shining upon the great
white world Of snow. The conservatory
was also used for smoking. and not only
by the men. Several OF the ladies
smoked cigars. which were handed 20
them by the gentlemen during The
dances. Even at the court ball there is
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 adj the imperial
family took an active part. No royal
circle was formed. and the royalties
danced with their guests rather than
among themselves, and but Tor the mag
nificence OF the scene, one could have
hardly realized that It could be a court
ball with such conspicuous want OF
Formally. On these occasions supper
was served In the long white room
called the Nicholas hall. with little TIA
bles placed under number:ess fine
palms. from the branches OF which hung
endless colored fairy lights. We all sat