Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900Waddington, Mary King
History
Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900
Waddington, Mary King
Europe -- Social life and customs
We went again to the Frauen Kirche, as W. had not seen it, and the
second time I liked the Apostles better, a little better. I think it was
too hot, and I was too tired when I was there before. We drove out to an
old bridge, which was curious, and in some old street where I had never
penetrated. The trams worry me, they are so frightfully civilized and
up-to-date, however they were crowded, so evidently the Danes are not of
my way of thinking.
Our dinner at Kergorlay's was very pleasant and handsome. Adelaide was
again frightfully put out at my garment, and she is right, it is really
a street dress, and this time there are several women. I don't know why
I didn't keep out _one_ evening dress. It was rather stupid to send
everything back. However, I made my excuses to the ladies, and said I
was "en touriste." They were all very elegantes, though they were all
already settled in the country, and went off about 10 o'clock by the
last train. Kergorlay's children came in before dinner. The eldest girl
is 10, and the baby two and a half. It was so pathetic to see them in
their white dresses and black sashes and to think whom the mourning was
for. The dinner was very gay. We had Count and Countess Toll (he is
Russian Minister here, and a brother of Countess Pahlen), Marochetti
(Italian Minister) and his wife (a Frenchwoman, nee Grandval), Vivian
(she didn't come, was in the country and rather exhausted with the great
heat), General and Madame Appert, and two secretaries. Count Toll was
very keen to hear all about Moscow, and what we thought of the great
show (he speaks English quite well). I told him we were enchanted, and
that one of the great features was Comte Pahlen with his velvet coat and
white staff of office with a big sapphire at the top. He certainly took
no end of trouble, and looked his part very well. They all seem to like
Copenhagen pretty well, except for the climate, which seems most trying.
Countess Toll was in white with handsome pearls. I felt rather like a
pensionnaire in my simple little dress--foolish, too; I ought to have
known better.
We got home quite early, so I can still have a little Tolstoy before I
go to bed. Adelaide instantly inquired what the other ladies had on and
was much put out. "C'etait Madame l'Ambassadrice qui etait le plus
mal"--"oh! cela oui, et de beaucoup." I suppose it reflects upon the
femme de chambre when the mistress is not up to the mark.
Sunday, July 1st.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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