A RUSSIAN COURT BALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1745, 16 August 1905, Page 24

A RUSSIAN COURT BALL.

A very interesting article o-n the Russian Court-, written by Mr Herbert J. Hagerman, formerly of the American Embassy at St. Petersburg, appears in the “Century Magazine” for June. Very few foreigners get introductions to the Russian Court. Hence there is a certain amount of novelty in Mr Hagerman’s glimpses behind the scenes. He describes the ball with which the St. Petersburg season opens. “This -ball generally takes place toward the middle of Russian January (about Feb. 1, our style). The suite of enormous rooms on the second floor of the palace, part of them overlooking tile Neva, and adjoining their Majesties’ private apartments, are used. The palace is so large that probably not onefifth of its available State apartments are used on this occasion, in spite of the fact that about four thousand people are entertained. The guests, entering by various entrances as indicated on their invitations, are escorted; by heralds through hails and anterooms to the Salle Nicolas I. During this long and interesting progress one is constantly astonished at the beauty and variety of the liveries and uniforms. At every coiner is stationed a paiaoe servant clad m some gorgeous 00-stume of immaculate neatness—chasseurs, footmen, postilions—and guarding each doorway, two cavalrymen, in the splendid uniform of the guards, are standing with drawn swords, as MOTIONLESS AS BRONZE. At various intervals are squads of soldiers, who from time to tune flash their sabres in thrilling unison as a salute t>o some illustrious personage. In the Salle Nicolas 1., under the blaze thousands of eiectrio . lights, the guests are assembled around the huge crystal candelabra which nse from the floor and bolder the room. Every man among them, with one or two exceptions, wears a more or less brilliant uniform—military, naval, civd, or diplomatic —glittering with gold lace, grand cordons, and decorations. The diplomats are assembled near the -entrance of the bade des Concerts, through which room tiie Emperor and jUi. list pass to reach the ball-room. Toward this door is directed the gaze of all m eager anticipation of the entrance of the imperial party. “Suddenly the doors are thrown open from behind, and the orchestra, hitherto silent, bursts forth in the regal polonaise of Glinka. His Majesty Nicholas H, and

THE EMPRESS ALEXANDRA Feodorovna, proud and beautiful, appear. They pause for a moment Avhile the Avhole assemblage, actuated by a single impuxse, bow low m respectful homage. After the polonaise of the Imperial party (.nothing more, in fact, than a stately AvaLk once or twice around the room), the Emperor and Empress speak for a ieiv minutes to the chief diplomats, and the dancing begins. The Empress herself cannot enjoy it very much, as conventionalities require her to request the Ambassadors to accompany her in the contra-dances. Sometimes these gentlemen, however, aristocratic or powerful, are neither young nor graceful, and, as they frequently know little or nothing about the dance, the result cannot be entirely pieasingeither to themselves or to the Empress. She occasionally calls upon some young offi-

oer to dance the deux-temps with tier, but even then she must dance quite alone: the wands of the masters of ceremony tap the floor and . all other dancers immediately retire. “JUST BEFORE SUPPER, as at all Russian dances great or small, is danced the mazurka, that fascinating and peculiarly Russian dance so popular among all classes. It requires considerable skill to dance it gracefully, and it loses much of its charm if not accompanied with the military click of' the spur. In Russia our regular threestep waltz is known as the “Boston,” and is little danced- What we call the two-step is virtually unknown, their deux-temps being quite another danceBesides these are danced various difficult steps never heard of in this country.. After supper there is a short ootuaon, with few favours except flowers, which, however, are without much exaggeration, worth their weight m gold at that time of year. It requires a person of unusual energy and' presence of maid to lead the complicated movement of the cotillion at tins ball, and t-fie young oriioer who does so richly deserves the personal thanks of the ; Empress, which she very cordially renders him. There is no lack of refreshment at* any Russian function, and this is especially true of the Court balls. THE BALL-ROOM ITSELF and two adjoining rooms open on a v long corridor, the whole length of •which, probably six hundred feet, is occupied by a buffet covered with “zakuski” (corresponding to horsd’oeuvre), cakes, and wine. This bullet is one of several. After the first dance tne champagne corks begin to pop with astonishing rapidity, but such a thing as any one showing the effects of too much of that beverage at dances is virtually unknown. “The supper itself is most astonishing. It is by no means a light repast, and is -served, with four or live wines, to every guest, all seated at tabie. With five or six courses and four (thousand people, the amount of porcelaui required is enormous. It is all beautiful, of peculiar Slavic designs, made ® only for the Emperor’s private use at the Imperial factory near the city. In the magnificent Salle des Armores is laid • ' THE EMPRESS’S TABLE, a, round one on a raised dais, for the Grand Dukes, Ambassadors, and persons of the first rank—about thirty in all. The service for this table is of gold. Two semi-circular wings in this room accommodate other diplomats and Russians of high rank. Besides this room, four adjoining ones are filled. The candelabra and service throughout are of massive silver, and ail the tables arc covered with flowers and/laid with remarkable richness and beauty. There is a servant to about every four guestis, and the supper is conducted with such precision and excellence that all the guests are simultaneously served and all have finished when the Empress gives the signal to rise.”