The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-16
THE DOMESTIC CzARINA.
Averse to Pomp and Fond OF Homo Life
brilliant Dress at State Ceremonies.

Averse to POmp and Fond OF Homo Life
brilliant Dress at State Ceremonies.
The St. Petersburg correspondent OF the
Courier dee Etdts- Unis brings out striking
pen picture of the Czarina at home and at
court, with details which cannot fail to in
terest American ladies'. Here 1t Is, some
what reduced, in plain English:
-The Car finds the Empress In the apart
ments Of the children, to whom she speaks
sometimes in French, sometimes In German,
rarely in Russian She likes the French
language, and wants the little Grand Ouch
esses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia
to cultivate it. Nicholas H., who speaks
French perfectly, rarely drops into German.
But he and the Czarina never fall to read
together the literary novelties that appear
in Berlin and Paris.
1.-THE Empress detests formal receptions,
although she resigns herself to them when
circumstances demand self-sacrihce But
she likes little private parties where she
can prescribe luxury and ceremonies. Her
soirees intimes, to which a limited num-
Der Of persons are invited, have a special
attraction for her, because they permit
her to dispense with such extravagant
toilet. She appears at them generally
with dark velvet dress enhanced by a
single gem. Her hair, which curls naturally,
has no diadem and no comb sparkling with
wears no bracelets, and on her fingers there
are never more than two rings, without
counting the wedding ring.
"lhe simplicity of the Empress Is painful
10 the ladies Of honor. who are Obliged TO
follow her example. High Russian society
great fortunes in st. Petersburg; and
pompous luxury has no chance to display
itself in court except at great ofhclal re-
ceptions, when the Czarina appears in a
splendid toilet, the magniticence OF which
produces murmurs Of admiration. These
receptions are usually in the Nicholas hall
Of the Winter Palace, which makes an in
comparable frame for the display of re-
finement and opulence. This hall, more
spacious than any In the palaces OF
dered by tall mirrors which reflect thou
sand electric lights. All fairy scenes fade
away before these official receptions, at
which as many as three thousand guests
are present, The Empress appears with
her hundred ladies Of honor, and recalls
one Of those visions depicted by the poets
OF the Orient. She smiles graciously upon
all, who bow to her as she passes on. Her
light velvet robe sparkles with the fire OF
innumerable diamonds. Over her head
bird floats with outstretched wings. with
plumage bespangled with brilliants. with
eyes Of rubies and beak of coral. The
respect with which she is surrounded at
such moments reaches the veneration
point. Beauty and imperial majesty are
triumphant. Precisely in that moment
OF fascination the Empress OF Russia pre-
sents herself to the admiration Of the elite
OF her court like a goddess before whom
the people kneel and tremSle.
But what an unsus pected contrast! When
the dazzling reception Is over, when these
attributes Of magnifcence are replaced in
their caskets, when the Czarina reaches her
apartments where solicitude or maternal
anxiety call ; her, she busies herself in seek
ing the dishes which are best for the health
OF her children.
1T may be said without contra diction that
the Czarina Is the idol OF all Russian mothers.
and that all Russia blesses her name. To
be convinced Of this 1t is only necessary
to read the following significant lines in a
Russian Nihilist book which has just APP
peared in Germany and which INDUCES in the
passionate revolutionary invectives:
What a lesson there is in the simplicity
and the modesty OF the Empress Of Russia!
The Czarina has proved once more that true
happiness is not to be found in pomp and
splendors. but in the consciousness Of duty
performed. For a woman there Is no higher
or more sacred mission than the fulfilment
Of a mothers duties with religious care.
or this the Czarina Is the living proof