The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-06
THE RUSSIAN czAR's BALL.
GIimpses of Gorgeous Imperial
Function at the Winter Palace.


st. Petersburg Letter in Boston Tran
script
Last evening was the first court ball. We
were commanded to be there at o'clock,
remarkably early hour for st. Peters
burg; so al $50 o'clock we were en- route
and, although we live within a stones
throw of the Winter palace, we were fully
half an hour in reaching our destination,
so great was the crush of carriages in the
streets, which can be readily understood
when 1 tell you that there were nearly
1900 invitations issued, and you may be
very sure that none of them were refused
except for serious illness.
Arrived at the door of the palace, we
were escorted by most gorgeous lacl1ey,
in the brilliant red livery of the palace
through the numerous and beautiful suites
of .rooms. His hat, whose fashion dated
from the time of Catherine was most
unique. 1t was a large three-cornered at
fair, from one of which eurled three long
ostrich feathers, white, orange, and black
respectively, which were intertwlned and
fell over the left ear. Following this
splendid creature, while admiring his we'll
developed calves, which showed to great
advantage in white silk stockings, we
came 10 the entrance of the first bali
room. Here we left our sorties de bal
having previously given our heavy furs
to our valet de pied on entering the pal
ace. Then We were again led through
a series of beautiful rooms, brilliantly
lighted by electricity and decorated with
palms and flowers, until we reached the
Nicholas hall, which is of truly gigantic
proportions, but does not look as large
as il really is, so harmonious is its whole
On one side of the room was the majority
of Russian society, while on the other
were assembled the diplomatic corps and
other members of the court. What
beautiful sight it was! The ladies in ex-
quisite gowns and wearing superb jewels,
while the gorgeous uniforms of the men
added much TO the brilliancy of the splen-
did scene
Opposite the door large space was kept
clear the whole extent of the room for the
entrance of the imperial party. About $3.50
o'clock the orchestra struck up the beau
tiful polonaise from Glinka's opera OF
Life for the Car. the double doors were
thrown open, and to all our eXpeetant eyes
came the imperial cortege. First, the young
Emperor, leading his beautiful and stately
wife, then the Infapta Eulalie of Spain,
with the Grand Duke Vladimir, and then
all the other members of the imperial fam
ily in order of their rank. The first polo
naise being danced, or rather walked, for
one could not call the polonaise a dance,
the Empress DANCED with Husni Pasha, the
Turkish ambassador, who is the doyen Of
the corps diplomaique. The Emperor mean
time did the same thing with the distin-
gulshed stranger Eulalie, and afterward
with the several Grand Duchesses ambas-
sailors, etc. The Emperor wore the uni
eorm of the Lancers of the Garde, and the
Empress a beautiful gown of cloth of gold
covered with gold embroidered tulle Her
jewels were truly imperial. for her tiara, or
kokocAnik.i was a mass of beautiful gems
with many points, each tipped with large
pear-shaped pearl. Her neck and throat
were covered with beautiful diamonds and
pearls, the pearls being enormous in size,
but beautiful in color and shape.
The Infanta's toilet was a heavy cream
satin. trimmed with sable and covered with
exquisite point lace, ia which were woven
the arms of Spain Her jewels were also
pearls and diamonds, and very splendid
they were She looked not day older than
when we had the honor of being presented
to her in New York six years ago. Her
lovely blue eyes had the same frank ex-
preston and her golden-blond hair was
unchanged. When b, was presented to her
that evening by the Spanish ambassador
she told, him. with the subtle 1attery of a
woman. that she had recognized him from
afar from his resemblance 10 his cousin
Commander Davis, who was attached 10
her suite while in America. II did not make
the slightest difference that B. and his
cousin do not in the least resemble each
other; the intention was kindly. She ex-
pressed herself as being much pleased with
her visit in America and spoke of the uni
versal kindness shown her.
Meantime the dancing is going on for all
WHO care to indulge in IL, and the EN-
press having gone into another room,