CATHERINE THE GREAT

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8334, 5 June 1905, Page 2

CATHERINE THE GREAT

It is; mentioned in the "Courtships of . Catherine the Great,'' by Mr. P. W. : Sergeant, that th^ oelcbratetl Empress was very good tempered with her^servants, who were devoted to' hoi 1 . "Catherine frequently gave small whist parties, at which she sometimes played herself, and sometimes not. One night, when she was not playing, but walking about from table to table, wat-ching the different bands, she wish-, ed .to summon the. page-in-waiting froiii the ante-chambeY, and rang the bsll. No onq appeared; and after she hadrung tv.-icD again without efEect slio left tho fooin, looking daggers; and did net reappear for n considerable time. Tho company supposed that the unfortunate page -ivafi destined to Siberia, or at least the knout. As a matter of fact,; Catherine, oil entering the antechamber, found ■cjm page, like his betters, busy^ .at' Avlmt.",'. When 'the bell rang, lie happened to have so. interesting a hand that he could not make up his mind to quit it. Now, what did the Empress do? She. the J)ago on her errand, and then sat do w 3] to hold-" tho. cards until he should re-

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