The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-16
Season Enlivened by Entertainments
Given by Ambassador and Mrs.
Char1emagne Tower.
AMERICANS AT COURT BALL
GEN. HORACE PORTER AND WIFE
AMONG THE GUESTS.
How the Women We're Gowned-Pre-
sensations to the Gear and Gar
ina-Newspaper Suppressed.


ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 3O.-This city is
enjoying one of the gayest seasons ever
known here. During the last fortnight
there has been a succession of dinners,
receptions and dances in the upper circles.
1t would seem that society is trying to
make up for the dullness of last year, when
there was virtually no season owing to the
illness Of the Car.
The first "at home" at the United States
embassy since the return of Mrs. Charlie
magne Tower, wife of the ambassador, from
abroad brought a brilliant assemblage to
their splendidly furnished residence, on the
English quay. Ambassador Tower was the
recipient of numerous congratulations on
account of his success in retaining the
dwelling.
The great events of the week have been
the first court ball and the first state din
ner given in honor of Gen. Horace Porter,
the United States ambassador to France,
and Mrs. Porter, during their visit TO this
country. For the dinner, which was given
on Monday evening, the day before the
court ball, the embassy had been trans
formed into a veritable tropical garden.
Mrs. Tower received her guests gowned
charmingly in white satin, embroidered
with garlands of carnations. Those who
were invited were Count Lamsdorff, the
Russian minister Of foreign affairs; the
Marquis De Montebello the French ambas-
sadOr, and the MarQuise De Montebello;
Sir Charles Scott, the British ambassador,
and Lady Scott; Baron Lexa D'Aehrenthal,
the ambassador of Austria-Hungary; NJ.
Leghait, the Belgian minister; Herr De
LOevenoern, the Danish minister; Cheva-
lier Van Der Staal De Piershil. the Meth
erlands minister, and Nine. Van Der Staal;
Count OerlOff-Davidoff, the grand equerry;
Prince DollgOrouky, the grand marshal,
and Princess Dollgorouky; NJ. De White,
the finance minister, and Nine. De White;
Nine. Naryshkin. the acting grand mis-
tress of the robes; Nine. Arapoff, the grand
mistress of the robes of the Grand Duchess
Marie Pavlovna; Countess Kleinmichel; NJ
Boutiron, counselor of the French embas-
sy. and Nine. Boutiron, and M. and Mrs
Thomas Alexander Reilly and Miss Snyder
Of Philadelphia.
After dinner there was a concert by the
bands of the Horse Guards in the music
room which was attended by about two
hundred representatives of Russian So
ciety and the diplomatic corps. Dancing
tons were issued for the court ball. bu;
such is the immensely of the winter palace
no one would have guessed that half this
number were present The members Of the
diplomatic corps were stationed~at one end
OF the long concert hall near the door by
which the imperial party entered. The lat
ter appeared shortly after o'clock. The
Car wore the uniform of the Cossa cks
bOdyguard regiment with the insignia OF
the Andreas order. The Czarina was clad
in white ball costume and wore the rib
bon of the Andreas Order and a diadem OF
diamonds and pearls. Followed by the
highest court functionaries and ladies, the
imperial couple made the tour of the room
in the two succeeding polonaises their
MajeStes had as partners ranking person
ages from the diplomatic corps.
After these dances the Marquise DE
Monticello presented the ladies of the
diplomatic corps to the Czarina. Amone
those presented was Mrs. Slocum, wife OF
the United States military attache, Capt
$. l. H. Slocum. In the meanwhile the
Car greeted the diplomatic representa-
tives.
Ambassador and Mrs. Tower presented tc
their Majestfes the party which arrived or
their invitation on Friday. Mrs. Tower
wore cloth of gold with trimmings of Vene-
tan lace and train of pale pink and greer
brOcade embroidered with gold. Mrs. HOr-
ace Porter was gowned in white satin with
gold brOcade and a front of mousseline d.
sole embroidered with gold and trimmed
with rich lace and satin. Miss Porter wore
tdtfeta with applications of painted roses
and gold lace, pOmpadour style. The mater
ial for the costumes of Mrs. Porter AND
Miss Porter was woven by special order in
Lyons, Ateliers. Miss Katherine Eddy OF
Chicago, another of the Americans present
wore cloth of gold with long garland OF
twisted blue satin. tulle and roses
The British presentations included the
Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. The
Duchess of Marlborough's diamond tiara
and the Duchess of Sutherlands diamond
tiara and ropes of pearls were among the
most admired ornaments seen during the
evening.
The American party also included John
Wallace Riddle. the first secretary; Edwin
V Morgan, the second secretary, and Can
tain Slocum, the military attache of the
United States embassy here and General
Horace Porter. the United States amba =
sador to France and r. 5. Reynolds Hit
the third secretary Of the United States
embassy at Paris.
During the first quadrille Ambassado
Tower had for his partner the Grand Ouch
ess Sergius. Opposite them were the Car
ina and Sir Charles Scott. Supper was
served in the great hall of courts of arms
The CZarina sat on dais, surrounded by
ranking representatives of the diplomatic
corps and the great courtiers. The Car,
as is the Russian custom, passed from
table 10 table. greeting and chatting with
the guests. During the time that he was
seated he had on his left the Duchess of
Sutherland. The ball continued until a. m.
Ambassador and Mrs Porter were enter