Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900Waddington, Mary King
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Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900
Waddington, Mary King
Europe -- Social life and customs
Well, Dear, we arrived at 12 o'clock this morning, and I was quite sorry
to leave the boat and my nice big cabin, and the good-natured
stewardess. Last night was enchanting. We sat on deck until 12.30. W.
treated us all to Swedish punch and cakes. It was decidedly cooler--for
the first time I had on the warm, long, blue cloth coat I started in
from Paris, and there was rather more motion. How it would amuse you--I
wish you were here. The deck looks quite picturesque--lots of little
round tables with groups of three or four people, all drinking
something, and most of them playing cards. Between 11 and 12 there is a
sort of night, or darkness, so they brought up some lamps, which looked
weird, and gave a faint, flickering light. We run sometimes so close to
the islands, between several, in a narrow channel, that one would think
it was impossible to pass, but evidently it is deep sea everywhere, and
we go steadily on without slackening. I am delighted we decided to come
by sea. It is again a most novel experience, and such a contrast to our
Moscow stay--all gold and glitter, and colour and courtiers.
We were just getting out of the little channels and islands and making
for the open sea when I went downstairs. The captain came and sat with
us a little while, and told us where we were. Some of the lights on the
small islands looked as if they were rising straight out of the sea. The
water was grey, and the rock grey--one only saw the light.
We didn't meet many ships--a few sailing boats as we left Abo--but no
steamers or big ships. We were up fairly early, as they told us the
entrance to Stockholm was so beautiful. Coming by water it rises
straight out of the sea like Venice. There were quantities of islands,
but much greener than those of the Finnish coast, and the cliffs higher.
Villas everywhere, close down to the water's edge, and running up the
hills. Little pleasure boats and yachts skimming all over the harbour.
As it was fete St. Jean all the peasants and country people were out in
flat-bottomed boats, crowded with women and children down to the water's
edge--the boats quite covered with green boughs and leaves, the women in
costume--a white skirt, coloured bodice embroidered in gold or
silver--silver charms and big pins in their hair. It really was
fairy-like for quite two hours before we arrived.
We got in at twelve exactly, and breakfasted on board. The river is so
deep that big ships run straight up into the town. The American frigate,
Lancaster, which arrived last night, is anchored directly in front of
the hotel, under our windows.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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