SNUBBED IN CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 128, 30 May 1914, Page 17

SNUBBED IN CHURCH.

AMERICAN WOMAN'S CONFCSJOX. TOO DECOLLETE.

In a remarkable IncWeent which occurred last month, and set St. Petersburg societytongues a-wagging, an American woman, the Countess Nostitz, whose husband Is chief of staff of the crack Gnards Regiment, figured. It was tbe tenth anniversary of the sinking of the battleship Petropawleowsk by the Japanese When Admiral Vakaroff and nearly the whole of his staff went to the bottom of the Pacific. Memorial services were held at the new church, situated iv the English qnay, and built to commemorate the naval tragedy. The Dowager Empress Marie and all the members of the Imperial family noVv in St. Petersburg were present. The Countess Nostitz, who was Lydia Madeleine Booton, was present, attired in a maegnlflcent fashionable black gown, embroidered with white, with corsage cnt as low as possible, and covered wt_h jewels. She happened to be placed so that the Dowager Empress had to pass her on her way out of the chnrt-h. As the Empress Dowager reached the Countess Nostitz. she stopped, and looking ihe Countess full in the face, said In a voice 'loud enough for everyone to hear, to a lady in waiting, who was following:— "It is extraordinary ■ bow these foreign ladies never know how te. dress for an ~.-e ..siuii. A funeral service is nol a ball, and a countess ought to know that it ts not seemly to appear on snch an occasion covered in jewels and wearing evening dress." The poor countess, who is very popular in St. Petersburg society, appeared to feel ihe humiliation keenly. The Empress Marie never has been an admirer of tne present fas-hions. and always dresses with the ntmoest simplicity, bnt this is the firest lime die has given Tent to ber feellnjE ln public