The morning times., 1895-09-01

of the way they danced them. For instance
In the waltz they only turn one way, and
never reverse, and they turn about three
times as fart as we do The result was
soon got very dizzy, and once or twice
nearly fell TO the floor. The little Greek
girls, However. did not seem to mind a bit
and whirled about perfectly happy. With
them dancing is a second nature and they
seem TO know the most difficult steps in
stinctiYely from babyood Besides that
they have private dancing masters to make
them Perfect in all the movements.
A cha'rming scene it was as all these black
haired darkeyed little gentlemen and la
dies whirled about to the inspiring music,
while King George, Queen Olga and all the
grand people of The court looked on in smil-
ing approval There are very few fair
haired girls in Athens, child with golden
curls being regarded almost as a curiosity
Many of the girls are pretty and all of them
are graceful, bat they are sure to grow up
stout like their mothers and TO fade while
they are yet young Most OF them are clever
Iinguists, speaking French and other Ian
guages fluentIy, but few of them, or even Of
their parents, can read the ancient Greek,
which is very different from that spoken to-
day.
While the children danced the King CON
yeTsed with his ministers or with guests Of
Importance, and the Queen sat i'll the midst
OF the ladies of the court, often pausing in
her talk to bestow a smile or a kind word
upon some little child who would never for
get this mark OF favor King George, being
German by birth, and consequently fair
does not look at all like a Greek On this
was almost completely covered with stars
and crosses.
Neither King nor Queen took part in the
dance, but the princes and prineesses did,
and seemed to eni Joy the ballas much as any
Of the children. OF course they had to pay
strict attention TO the rules of etiquette
in choosing their partners, only the mem
bcrs OF distinguished families being eli
gIble. Among all the princesses my favor
ite was the Princess Marie, who seemed
always so good natured and unaffected.
She waso only a young girlatthis umeandas
fond OF romping about the gardens as any
Of US. One day q friend OF mine chauced
to be walking in the royal grounds, when
the princess, knowing her by name, came
running up, her face all aglow, and said:
Il want you TO write your name IN my
birthday book, madamoiselle to-day is
my fete, and 1 want to know when yours
comes"
My friend glanced at the book and saw
that the signature OF the Prince of Wales
was in the line directly above where she
would have to write. His birthday Chanced
TO come onthe same day as her own. Rath-
er embarrassed, my friend hesitated to
comply with the request
But princess she said, II have no
pencil"
Never mind" said Princess Marie; II
l will get one from papa's study"
with tins the princess went running back
into The palace, ana presently came flying
down the steps again, her hair tossed and
tumbed the perfect picture OF simplicity
aud klnduness, In her hand she carried
long pencil which she held ont 70 my friend,
sayiug: Here it Is; now you can write
your uame."
Brightest among all the dancers at the
ball, aud most lovely, so 1t seemed TO me,
vast the Princess Marie, as she danced in
the cotilliou which began at O'Clock, and
ended the ban. IL was led by the Crown
Prince Cons tanun, who, being heir to the
thrOue' has been brought up entirely amoRg
the Greeks, aud belongs TO the Greek Church,
Like his father he Is quite stout, aud re-
sembles the Germans more than the people
he viii be called upon 10 rule. Among the
other royal ia uceFs IN the cotIlion was the
Princess Aie1andra, who about a year later,
made tha frs love match among the royal
children Wien she was betrotbed to the
Grand Duke PAU OF Russia. She, too, is q
decided blonde
The cotiIlou lasted until 2 O'Clock, and
then all these proud little girls and boys
kissed each other good night, and were
hindieG off home by their mammas and
chaperones, very happy in the memory OF a
pleasure that marked au epoch in their Iiyes
MABEL MOFFETT.