A RUSSIAN COURT BALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8452, 21 October 1905, Page 3

A RUSSIAN COURT BALL.

The Soene One of Surpassing: Splendour. A very interesting article on the Russian Court, written by Mr Herbert J. Hagerman, formerly of th« American Embassy at St Petersburg, appears in the "Century Magazine " for June. Very few foreigners get introductions to the Russian Cxiurt. Hence there is a certain amount of novelty in Mr Hagerlnan'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 February 1, our style). The suite of enormous rooms on the second floor af the palace, part of them overlooking the Neva, and adjoining their Majesties' private apartments, are used. The palace is so large that probably not one-fifth 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 halls and ante-rooms to the Saße Nicholas I. During this long and interesting progress one is constantly astonished at the beauty and variety of the liveries and uniforms. At every corner is stationed a palace servant clad in some gorgeous costume 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 time flash their sabres in thrilling unison as a salute to some illustrious personage. | "In the Salle Nicolas 1., under the blaze of thousands of electric lighta, tho guests are assembled around the huge crystal candelabra which rise from the floor and border the room. Every man among them, with one or two exceptions, wears a more or less brilliant uniform — military, naval, civil or diplomatic—glittering with gold lace, grand cordons and decorations. The diplomats are assembled near the entrance of the Salle des Concerts, through which room the Emperor and Empress must pass to reach the ball-room. ' Toward ,this door is directed the gaze of all in eager anticipation of the entrance of the Imperial party. " Suddenly the doors are thrown open from behind, and the orchestra, hitherto silent, burst forth in the regal polonaise of Glinka. His Majesty Nicholas 11. and the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, proud and beautiful, appear. They pause for a moment while the whole assemblage, actuated by a single impulse, bow low in respectful homage. After the polonaise of the Imperial party (nothing more, in fact, than a stately walk once or twice around the room), the Emperor and Empress speak for a few 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 iesult cannot be entirely pleasing either to themselves or to the Empress. She occasionally calls upon some young officer to dance the deux-temps with her, 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 muoh of its oharm if not accompanied with the military click of the spur. "In Russia our regular three-step waltz is known as the ' Boston,' and is little danced. What we call the twostep is virtually unknown, their deuxtemps being quite another dance. " Besides these are danced variouß difficult steps never heard of in this country. After supper there is a short cotillon, with few favours except flowers which, however, are without much exaggeration worth their weight in gold at that time of the year. It requires a person of unusual energy and presence of mind to lead the complicated movement of the cotillon at this ball and the yonng officer 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 Court balls. The ballroom itself and two adjoining rooms open on a long corridor, the whole length of which, probably six hundred fset is occupied by a buffet covered with 'ssaluski' (corresponding to horsd'omvre), cakes i and wine This buffet is one of several. After the first dance the champagne corks begm to pop with astonishing rapidity, but such a thing as anyone showing the effects of too much of that beverage at dances is virtually unknown. ' # - # "Th* suppe f itseir is most astonishine It is by no means a light repast, and is served- with four «r five wines,

ti every guest, all seated at table. With five or six. courses and four thousand people, tho amount of porcelain 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 Armoires is laid the Empress's table, a round one on a raised dais, for the Grand Dukes, Ambassadors and persons of tho first rank — about thirty in all. The service for this table is of gold. Two semicircular 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 all the tables are covered with flowers and laid with remarkable richness and beauty. There is a servant to about every four guests, 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."