The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-11

RUSSIAN TEA
Given By Ramblers Yester-
day At Their Closing
Reception.
MADAME RAGOzrN SPEAKS
Talks of characteristics of
Her ~People-Russian Re-
freshments Served.

44O1 4CCPAC 1sdSSAoA
freshments Served.
1t was a very pretty and social affair
that given by the Ramblers yesterday af-
ternoon in Hasbrouck Hall. 1t was a
Russian tea, with Russian lecture, and
marked the closing event of a most de-
lightful Russian season. The hours as
stated upon the invitations were from
three to five, but it was nearer six when
the Ramblers and their friends at last
dispersed.
The entire Rambler Club acted as a
reception committee. received the guests
and ushered them to their seats with all
the chivalry Of and a little more grace than
the ordinary wedding usher of the dress
suit and white button flower. A number
of the Ramblers, mons whom were
Misses Margaret Page, Matte Nordine.
Mary Brown, Bessie White. Irene Phil
lips, Hattie Hartnett. Nellie Holbrook, S..
Evelyn Foster, Mary Sutherland and Mrs.
Martin, were stationed near the door and
made a pretty living picture. 1t was not
unlike an afternoon wedding, save for
the expectancy attending s.sthe arrival of
the bride, and the room was one buzz of
subdued conversation, with now and
again an almost inaudible ripple of
laughter. until Miss Meyers appeared on
the platform, with Madame Ragozin, the
lecturer for the afternoon, and requested
the audience to move further front in
order to improve its opportunity of hear
ing
Madame Ragozin is a large woman of
distinctly Russian type and complexion.
She has a most genial air which makes
lecturer and audience at once feel at
home with each other She sat through
out the discourse giving her address in an
easy, comfortable amer with but the
slightest suspicion of an accent and u.s.
ing only the simplest of English.
Mis- Meyers of course introduced the
Speaker. She told how the Ramblers had
been studying Russia all winter, saying
that it was impossible to appreciate Rus
STA without visiting that country, and as
the Ramblers could not do that they
had lone the next best thing and brought
Russia here. Miss Meyers then intro
duced Madame Ragozin, who she said be-
longed to the Royal Oriental Society of
DIlldlli AIN llGldllu WHICH SOlldlH-
ed but six members and to the American
Oriental Society. Before this, however,
Miss Gertrude Wolf, of Hasbrouck Insti-
tute, rendered a piece of Russian music
on the piano.
Madame Ragozin spoke of the names of
by which the Russians distinguished their
classes, as for example, peasants and
Christians. She told of the cross, given
the children at christening, which to lose
was a great misfortune to discard
was a sacrilege, and the duties it imposed,
saying no sharper rebuike can be given a
Russian than to say TO MIN Surely you
do not wear a CROSSE Or if the case is
hopeless the accused will add, .'God be
with you,' which the speaker explained
meant the guilty man was past redemp-
ton.
She spoke of the rural habits, describ-
ing a Russian harvest which was called
by the Russians Passion time,v and also
mentioned the popularity of the people
in speaking of the head of the house who
was referred to as himself quoting as
a common expression Himself is com
ing
A Russian wedding was also described.
There were no bridesmaids, the speaker
explained, but both bride and groom must
have at least two best men apiece for the
reason that during the ceremony, which
is very long, crowns, made of WOOD
gilded, must be held at arms length over
the heads Of the happy couple, and this
is SO tiresome that it has to be done in
relays. The wedding she said,
could not be performed anywhere but in
the church.
The regard with which the Russian
treated another's feelings was next men
toned, as in the case of c~onvicts and
criminals who were always spoken of as
"unfortunates." She also described how
the people came out to meet these con-
victs and criminals with gifts to express
their sympathy. The lead are never
mentioned as deceased, but as she who is
at rest" and the Russians say farewell
with a word which means forgive. A
number of other peculiarities of the Rus
sian language were also mentioned.
Miss Meyers asked Madame Ragozln
which was correct, 'Tsar" or Gear"
to which the lecturer answered "Tsar,'
because tina was distinctly Russian. The
other, she said, would be Polish. only
IN tndI case the SnOulQ De pro-
nounced *" Miss Meyers then thanked
Madame Ragozin in behalf of the Ram
blers, and a social hour ensued, during
which refreshments, consisting Of Rus
sian tea, caviare sandwiches, peanut but
tered biscuit and cream waters We're
served by the young ladies who received,
assisted by Misses Florence Clerihew,
Sarah Moe ind Elizabeth Mclean, all
members of the Rambler Club. The re-
freshment table was very prettily decor
ated with daffedils dropping from green
and gold Bohemian glass vases and rose
jars.
Among those present were:-Miss A. B.
Meyers, Misses Margaret Page, Irene
Phillips, Matte Nordine, Nellie Holbrook,
S. Evelyn Foster, Hattie Hartnett, Mary
Sutherland, Mary Brown Sarah Moe.
Bessie White, Florence C1erihew. Mrs.
Martin, Miss Cecilia Gaines, Miss Bowen,
Miss Clark, Miss Lord, Miss Jane Scott,
Miss Josephine Van Horn, Miss Emma
Van Horn. Miss Ada Fitch, Miss Helen
Cadmus, Miss Mary Cadmus. Miss Ade-
laid Scudder, Mrs. Frank Hall, Mrs. E.
W. Newbury, Mrs. G. w. Clerihew, Mrs.
Rowland, Miss Cornelia Bradford, Mrs.
Garland and Miss Garland of New York,
| Miss Woodward, Misses Craig, Miss Min