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
Here we are, Dear, having arrived from Berlin at 3.30 this afternoon. We
started at 11--it was very hot even at that hour of the night, and the
coupe-lit stuffy and uncomfortable. M. de Courcel and all his staff were
at the station to see us off, and the two Embassies united made quite a
gathering. I had a little talk with Princess Guillaume Radziwill, who is
starting for the Coronation. It seems she has splendid jewels, and was
rather bothered to know how to carry them. She has got them all on, in
little leather bags around her waist, and she thinks she won't be very
comfortable all night, with pins, brooches, etc., running into her. She
was horrified when I told her where mine were.
The night was long, we were not very comfortable, and the gentlemen
were decidedly squeezed in one little carriage. We stopped somewhere,
I don't remember the name, about 6. The men all got out and had coffee.
I didn't move, but they sent me in a cup. We got to Alexandrownow, the
Russian frontier, about 8. The station had a decidedly festive
appearance--flags, greens, soldiers, music, etc. They were evidently
preparing a salute and a national anthem of some kind. We all thought it
was for us, and were proceeding to emerge to the strains of the
"Marseillaise," when we heard the "Wacht-am-Rhein." It seems there was a
Hessian Prince, nephew of the Emperor, on board, who was also going to
the Coronation, so we rentreed our heads, and remained quietly in our
carriages until they had disposed of him.
Then came our turn. We were received with all ceremony--a tall Russian
officer took charge of me, saying, in very good French, he was sure I
would like to brush off the dust, and have some tea, etc. He took me
upstairs to a very nice room, where a little maid was waiting with hot
water, towels, brushes, tea, and little rolls. I took off my dress to
have it brushed, and while I was standing in my petticoats several
gentlemen came to the door (which wouldn't shut), and made various
perfectly unintelligible remarks to me. The little maid laughed and made
signs, and carried off my dress, which I thought was dangerous--however
I couldn't say anything, so I put myself behind the door, and Adelaide
arranged my hair; and I was just thinking of having a cup of tea when
the maid reappeared with my dress, accompanied by another officer, who
told me in French, from the other side of the door, that his Royal
Highness of Hesse hoped I would do him the honour of breakfasting with
him. I said I would come with pleasure, but begged they wouldn't wait,
as I was not quite ready. As soon as I was dressed I sallied out, found
my officer waiting, who conducted me to a private room, where were the
Prince and his party, including W. and a Russian general, who had been
sent from Varsovie to meet the Hessian Prince.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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