Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

AFFABILITY OF THE EMPRESS.247

" j\Iadame, I am far from attributing to myself a power that could effect this; but if my impressions were communicable, France would imagine Eussia to be Fairy-land."

" You must not judge by appearances, you must look deeply into things, for you possess every thing that can enable you to do this. Adieu ! I only wished to say good evening — the heat fatigues me. Do not forget to inspect my new apartments ; they have been remodelled according to a plan of the emperor's. I will give orders for you to be shown every thing." On withdrawing, she left me the object of general curiosity, and of the apparent good-will of the courtiers.

This court life is so new that it amuses me. It is like a journey in the olden times : I could imagine myself at Versailles a century ago. Politeness and magnificence are here natural. It will be seen by this how different Petersburg is from our Paris of the present day. At Paris there is luxury, riches and even elegance; but there is neither grandeur nor courtesy. Ever since the first revolution, we have dwelt in a conquered country, where the spoilers and the spoiled consort together as well as they art-able. In order to be polite, it is necessary to have something to «;ive. Politeness is the art of doina` to others the honours of the advantages we possess, whether of our minds, our riches, our rank, our standing, or any other source of enjoyment. To be polite, is to know how to offer and to accept with grace; but when a person has nothing certain of his own, he cannot give any thing. In France at the present time nothing is exchanged through mutual 3i 4