The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-17
PRELUDE BY RAcHMAN1NoFF.

; ttuSSldH EAIIeTHOOH OE d DWelleT III
 This City of iCosmopolitans.
 Lately, in what has been called the most cosmopolitan city in the world, a man enjoyed Russian afternoon. Two entirely distinct entertainments were accidentally linked together, separated only by an interlude in the shape of a walk down Fifth avenue.
 The first was a meeting of Russians and their friends to discuss certain practical matters. The second was at a studio to which the flavor and the per- fume of the first seemed to have escap- ed. And how the real poetry of hu- manity filtered into the combination of Russian tea in an American studio, served by Japanese servant, was odd. Inpromptu and unexpected the visit was. In the dark hallway, after 8 turn or two, the caller found a door in the blackest corner. He lifted the obscure knocker.
 When he entered, pushing aside a Yamanaka portiere, the broad, pale light from two great, dusty windows opposite threw the interior objects in- to a dull silhouette. A experimentation of persons, furniture, rugs statuary, was for an istant indistinguishable
 Sluggishly moving, under velvets, silks, or mctionless in their enbroider- les, he at length distinguished women { from sofa cushions. Tables, divans, were everywhere.
 Tn a moment his eye showed him that the rich golden embroidereies, the fabrics of Oriental satins, the ex- panses of hanging rugs, red or blue, were the background for green and purple gowned women, who reclined here and there or stirred spasmodically about. ... .j . 4 :4a
 What constrast to the gathering he had left, which fell back into 8 dim ghost with it's bare colorlessness it's plain faces, it's dark, simple cloth ing!
 As a hint of division in the great ob. long room, heavy curtain fell at one side from a crossbar On this side was Iuxury--shining tea tables, tFlickly stuffed chairs, balcony above from which depended rich yellow embroidery
 shields, sculpture, great branches oi palm leaves, sketches, brozes, jars couches, furs--all somewhat sombre ir the late graylsh light of the afternoon
 On the other side of the heavy cur tain-the light more permeating and pitiless--the floor was. bare. Boxes an6 scaffolding stood naked as the sculp. lures in progress. A figure in damr clay was covered with moist rags, g ladder accended to the balcony.
 Here, by the fire of the sculptor's quick iron stove, sat a rosy, black gowned chaperon, and within cal waited slight, sarcastic Japanese 2 servant.
 The samovar, more mysteriously tc balance these bare coals, held in the ante-room it's inner warmth, with g slight cracking of charcoal, faint fissing of the boiling water. A woman kfl1o looked astonishingly like g Beardsley drawing, low of forehead broad of lip, narrow of eye, pouting ot mouth, was languidly pouring Rus. sian tea. Voluptuous, slow, indolent unillumined was the picture.
 The late visitor beheld, came near accepted and drank, after a liberal al Iowance of Santa Cruz had, with dis regard to the unities, been added.
 For an istant this seemed like life.
 Another woman large lovely, suav, was inperiousIy pushing a, small plaii girl to the piano whose keyboard barr ed a dark corner into triangle.