Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-29

few persons I'm the Respondent thronl
who were not titled. and in Russii
even a prince cannot hold his position
in the court circle without complying
with number of requirements
Among the few at the ball without the
prefix to the name Of count baron
| duke or even general, without gold
lace or a string of decorations on the
! breast, but In plain black evening
I dress, was Adelbert Wyman, an ats
/ tache to the American legation.
! If Wyman was bereft of artificial
| plumage nature had endowed him with
/ an attractive personality. He was
/ finely built. being tall and proportioned
for an athlete, while his countenance
bespoke a manly spirit within. Hav-
ing inherited a fortune and work not
being a 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
his 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. Notwfth-
standing the fact that she was noble
and her companion was a 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-
mira ton on their velvet clothes, tnsei
and the medals strung on their breasts.
Some of them were miSshapen, some
had homeIy faces, and all were dress
ed as if for play. Wyman alone was
unadorned.
How do you like Russia 2" asked the
countess. All visitors are asked this
question and if they are well bred
reply that they like the coun-
try they visit very much. Wyman's
reply was that the country interested
him. When asked why, he said that it
was in the marked difference to what |
be had been accustomed
'1n what way?" asked the girl.
First, with you Russians everything |
nent, while with US everything points
from the government to the people. In |
other words, here the people seem to
De for the government, while with us
,ur government is for the people. But
t is the many singular customs in
he different parts of your great en-
)ire that especially interest me, the
varied types of your peo-
%InA ~, %a;,~
'rovince dowryless girls are raffied for
S wives, the money paid in for chances
eing given for a marriage portion"
There is more singular custom
han that added the countess. "In
certain part of Russia the girls pro-
ose to the men. If a girl wants to
larry a man she goes to his house. If
e refuses to marry her he is regard !
i as insulting her and her family, and
ley take revenge upon him."
THE privilege of proposing mar
age" said Wyman, accorded to the
ian is a mere custom. For my part
ee no reason why a woman should not
= as free to ask a man to marry her
that a man is free to ask her to be
s wife"
DO you really mean that?'' asked
lie countess, looking up at Wyman
chilly.
Il certainly do. But you must not
Ike me in that respect as representing =.
Y countrymen. L like to think for
yself and am not a slave to Gus
ms"
The two parted at this point, but just
fore the ball closed they met again. !,
We go next week to our home in the !,
ovince OF Viatka," she said. IF you I
ii make US visit there l think /
n show you some more of our odd
stoms. The people about US have
ne very singular ones"
L assure you 1 feel highly honored
the invitation and shall accept it e
tn much pleasure"
n time Wyman received formal In
alton to visit Count Ivan Ivan n
mas estates in Yiatka. A time was u
for his coming, but none for his u
oarture. This surprised him, for 1t u
usual among most entertainers in
h life all over the world to invite Il
ir guests for a definite period. The ST
lerican was cordially received by ti
young lady's family and a suit of "
ms placed at his disposal. He had al
DeIore met any or them except al
"a. and he seemed to be considered cd
especial guest At any rate, she w
k upon herself his entertainment,
ling him about herself, showing him
people. how they lived, how they st
'ked and how they reared their chill to
q. Wyman was much interested In Al
II and more especially in the igno- Oh
ce OF not only the children, but of loI
r parents. pr
Sut you have not shown me-" ssid thu
man one day when they were out WI
,ther. "any of those singular Gus tar
s you spoke OF when IN st. Peters
=" abb
,ou must be patient" was the re- in
"You Americans are always I'm
-e. II you are to be q diplomat you
t get rid OF that American trait"
couple of weeks passed Olpa