Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-06-14
PAINTING AN EMPRESS.
Amoiia Condert, the Miniuturist,
Describes StttinGs IN .
Russian Palace.

''Amalia Kuessner Coudert, the NINA
turist, thus describes her visit to the
Czarina
:" AS | was driven to the Winter
Palace | noticed that a policeman stood
IN the center of every street crossing
and that all of them saluted me as
passed. / dld not understand this at fine
time, but later | learned that these
wonderful men knew every citizen and
every stranger in st. Petersburg. that
all of them were fully informed as 10
who | was. exactly why / was going
to the palace, at what hour | was ry-
pected, and when / would leave, and
that If | HAD not left at the time an
nounced inquiries would have been made
| have been told, indeed, that this sys-
tenn is so perfect throughout the empire
that there IS not Il night when the Gar
could not learn n 4 moments notice
II he wished, where any one of his mil
lions of subjects is sleeping. Thus the
police know also, when the Car drives
IN the streets of st. Petersburg. at ex-
actly what minute he will pass given
corner. While at work on his miniature
| one day expressed my regret that
had never seen him taking his drive.
He said that he would pass my hotel
at ten minutes past : the next after
moon. It somewhat oddly happened that
at that time my attention was distract
ed for an instant. and when | went to
the window he had Just passed like Il
whirlwind. On the following day, after
he had again named the hour, | was
more successful. and as he disappeared
/ looked at my watch and found it just
fraction of a minute past the time,
sufficient. indeed, only for him TO have
driven by, When next we met | eX-
pressed my surprise at the possibility of
such exact scheduling of ones move
ments. That" he replied, with u
somewhat sad smile, SIS the first thing
we are taught-punctuality."
81 found the Winter Palace a huge
granite pile facing the River Neya.
You can imagine its immensely from the
fact that 600O people live there
when the Gar makes it his residence.
At the entrance an usher awaited NE.
clad in a gorgeous uniform. the detail
chiefly impressing me being the absolute
magniticence of the great plumes in his
hat He led me through a vast hail
filled night and day with armed soldiers
that form the Cars favorite regiment,
and of which the Empress is herself q
colonel. As l entered all rose and
stood ut salute. the clatter of their scab-
bards always alarming me until after
several visits.
''AIy first portrait was that of the En-
press, but in proceeding to her apart
ments we passed those of the Gar,
guarding whose door | noticed three
fierce-loohing Cossacks, armed to the
Il
door of the Czarina. and against it
leaned giant turbaned Nuhian in native
costume. 2 MISUNDERSTANDING poniard
thrust behind his sash. | afterward
learned that he never merely stands in
front of the door, but invariably leans
against it, and that he or a fellow Nj
bian maintains this position night and
day. He was the most gigantic human
being ever saw. Despite all this for
mality, | found no sign of il once inside /
the private apartments of the royal fam
lily. The Empress received me in the
simplest, sweetest manner. with the ut
most kindness and cordialty.
Il mentioned to Miss l<uessner a we'll /
known portrait of the C2arina. in which |
some splendid furS, falling away. reveal /
her graceful neck ornamented with one
of her famous pearl necklaces. the mead
bearing q demi-crnwn, but in which what
most impresseS one is the sadness of the /
downcast eyes. =
eyes. that is her natural expression
she replied but really she is not sad. /
She is very. very beautiful. with the /
most youthful pearance-and OF course /
she is Young. being even now only ~; I
but actually she has all the manner of |
charming. shy girl of rs. Whenever | /
spoke to her she dropped her eyes and [
hluShed eXQuiSitcly. So l, roo, painted /
her with her eyes cast down--lt was 50 /
characteristics. and | also feared l should .
never eaten thSill luI Il SbulNiSht iNHStH I
of time in any other position. She gave (
me twelve or fifteen sittingS and | found /
her most difficult. Not because she was I
irritable or hard 20 pose, but simply be +
cause her expression is so constantly ,
changing. The slightest thouEhtfulnesS, .
an entrance, the sound Of a voice in the /
distance. almost. | might say, the pass
ing of a breath of air. caused an instant !
alteration. her face showing happiness,
expectancy. uncertainty, merriment or
sorrow. i'm the most wonderful manner | /
have ever known on a human coun-
tcuance. The charm OF her face is indie
Unable. She is Strikingly tall. even for
woman. hat that does not affect the inn
preston she gives one Of graceful girl
hood. And she can be merry. despite
the misleading sadness of her face, and
Frequently she is witty. There. IS she
not charming QCeeu| Prank ).
Araett in AiuScc's Magazine