Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-08

A SINGULAR
CUSTOM
And How II Was Illustrated
by a Russian Countess
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

calsee at ST. Petersburg. There were
tsw persons In the Respondent throng
rbo were not titled. and In Russia
avon a prince cannot hold his position
IN the court circle without complying
With a number of requirements.
Among the few at the ball without the
nre6x to the name Of count. baron,
suke or even general. without gold
lace or a string of decorations on the
breast but In plain black evening
dress, was Adelbert wyman. an at.
tache to the American legation.
II Wyman was bereft Of artificial
nluuage nature had endowed him with
an attractive personality. He was
finely built, being tall and proportional
for an athlete, while his countenance
bespoke a manly spirit within. Hav-
ing inherited a fortune and work not
being necessity with him, he had
adopted a profession In which money
making had no part and which to him
seemed full of interest--diplomacy.
Wyman had prepared himself for
bis career by the study Of international
law and more especially OF several for
eIgn languages, Russian among the
number. He was therefore enabled to
chat in her native tongue with young
Russian girl. with whom he danced
several times at this imperial ball The
Countess Olga Ivanovna was one Of
those women OF the north whose COM
plexions are fair, whose eyes are blue
and whose hair Is fiaxen. Notwitb-
standing the fact that she was noble
and her companion was commoner.
she seemed to be pleased with him.
Indeed. there was something unique In
that unadorned figure among hundreds
of men most of whom relied for ad-
nlration on their velvet clothes. tinsel
and the medals strung on their breasts
had homely faces. and all were dress
ed as If for play. Wyman alone was
unadorneda
"How do you like Russian" asked the
countess. All visitors are asked this
question and IL they are we'll bred
usually reply that they like the coun-
try they visit very much. Wymans
reply was that the country interested
him. When asked why, he said that 1t
was In the marked difference to what
he had been accustomed
IN what way2" asked the girl.
First, with you Russians everything
points from the people to the govern
ment, while with us everything points
from the government to the people. In
other words, here the people seem to
be for the government, while with US
our government is for the people. But
II is the many singular customs in
the different parts OF your great en-
pire that especially interest me. the
pronounced varied types of your peo-
pie, have read that In a certain
province dowryless girls are ratified for
as wives. the money paid in for chances
being given for marriage portion"
There is a more singular custom
than that" added the countess. I'm
certain part of Russia the girls pro-
pose TO the men. Ii girl wants to
marry man she goes to his house If
he refuses to marry her he Is regard
ed as insulting her and her family, and
they take revenge upon him."
The privilege Of proposing mar
Rage" said Wyman, accorded to the
man Is a mere custom. For my part l
See no reason why a woman should not
be as free to ask a man to marry her
as that man Is free to ask her to be
bis wife"
DO you really mean that?" asked
the countess, looking up at Wyman
archly.
u certainly do. But you must not
take me In that respect as representing
my countrymen. like to think for
myself and am not slave to Gus
toms"
The two parted at this point, but just
before the ball closed they met again.
We go next week to our home in the
province of viatka." she said. If you
Will make US visit there l think l
can show you some more of our odd
customs. The people about US have
some very singular ones"
i assure you l feel highly honored
oy the invitation and shall accept 1t
with much pleasure"
In time Wyman received formal in
ntauon to visit Count Ivan Ivan
oHha's estates In viatka. A time was
sci Tor his coming, but none for his
departure. This surprised him, for IT
usual among most entertainers In
nigh life all over the world to invite
.heir guests for definite period. The
american was cordially received by
tne young lady's family and a suit of
rooms placed at his disposal. He had
not before met any of them except
Viga' and he seemed to be considered
ner especial guest At any rate, she
sook upon herself his entertainment.
uriVing him about herself, showing him
ene people, how they lived. how they
worked and how they reared their chill
uren. Wyman was much interested in
= all and more especially in the igno-
rance Of not only the children. but Of
their parents.