Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-08-14
A SINGULAR
CUSTOM
And How II Was Illustrated
by a Russian Countess
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

A ball was in progress in the Winter
palace at St Petersburg. There were
few persons in the resplendent throng
who were not titled, and in Russia
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 string of decorations on the
breast but in plain black evening
dress, was Adelbert Wyman. an at
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 manly spirit within. Hav.
ing inherited a fortune and work not
being a necessity with him, he had
adopted 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 flaXen Notwith
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
miration on their velvet clothes, tinsel
and the medals strung on their breasts
Some Of them were misshapen, some
had homely faces, and all were dress
ed as if for play. Wyman alone was
unadorned.
"How do you like Russian? asked the
countess. All visitors are asked this
question and if they are well 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 it
was in the marked difference to what
he had been accustomed.
'1n what way?" 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
1t 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. l have read that in a certain
province dowryless girls are rafled for
as wives, the money paid in for chances
being given for marriage portion"
"There is more singular custom
than that" added the countess, In
a certain part of Russia the girls pro-
pose to the men. If girl wants to
marry a 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
riage," said Wyman, accorded to the
man is a mere custom. For my part |
see no reason why woman should not
be as free to ask man to marry her
as that man is free to ask her to be
his wife,"
do you really mean that?" asked
the countess, looking up at WYman
archly.
II certainly do. But you must not
take me In that respect as representing
myself and am not slave to GUS
toms"
The two parted at this point, but just
before the ball closed they met again.
1--WE 60 next week to our home in the
province of Viatka," she said. IF you
will make us visit there / think l
can show you some more Of our odd
customs. The people about us have
some very singular ones"
81 assure you feel highly honored
by the invitation and shall accept 1t
with much pleasure"
In time Wyman received a formal in.
vitation to visit Count Ivan Ivan
ovna'n estates in Viatka. A time was
set for bis coming, but none for his
departure. This surprised him, for it
is usual among most entertainers in
high life all over the world to invite
their guests for a definite period. The
American was cordially received by
the young lady's family and suit of
rooms placed at his disposal. He had
not before met any Of them except
Olga, and he seemed to be considered
her especial guest AT any rate, she
took upon herself his entertainment,
driving him about herself, showing him