I  noted  with  no  little  pride  that  my  countrywomen
present  fully  sustained  their  reputation  for  grace  of  man-
ner and  elegance  of  appearance.  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer,  Mrs.
Eoebling,  the  wife  of  the  famous  bridge  engineer,  Mrs.
Breckinridge,  Mrs.  Alexander,  daughter  of  the  late  Charles
Crocker  of  California,  Mrs.  Peirce,  the  wife  of  our  Secretary
of  Legation,  the  Misses  Koon  of  Minneapolis,  Miss  Town-
send  of  New  York,  and  my  own  dear  mother,  were  all
worthy  representatives  of  America's  womanhood.
Among  the  many  distinguished  women  from  other
countries  who  particularly  attracted  my  notice  were
the  Duchess  of  Connaught,  Duchess  of  Montebello,  Mrs.
Lionel  Sackville  West,  Viscountess  Coke,  Mile.  Deprey,
and  Princess  Eadolin  and  her  beautiful  daughters.  The
Americans  present  were  escorted  by  Mr.  Pierre  Botkin,
the  former  Secretary  of  the  Eussian  Legation  at  Wash-
ington, and  now  a  Gentleman  of  the  Chamber  at  the  Im-
perial Court.  His  many  attentions  and  untiring  efforts
added  greatly  to  the  evening's  enjoyment.
The  other  noteworthy  balls  during  the  coronation
festivities  included  one  given  by  the  Grand  Duke  Serge,
Civil  Governor  of  Moscow,  on  June  1st,  one  by  the  No-
blesse Club  on  June  2d,  and  the  grand  ball  of  the  Palace
of  the  Kremlin  on  June  4th.  At  all  of  these  the  Emperor
and  Empress  and  all  the  high  court  dignitaries  were  pres-
ent. The  ball  given  by  the  Grand  Duke  Serge,  while  an
affair  of  great  elegance,  did  not  sufficiently  differ  from
similar  entertainments  in  foreign  court  circles  to  call  for
a  detailed  description.  It  took  place  in  the  official  resi-
dence of  the  Governor  of  Moscow,  the  Grand  Duke  and
Duchess  receiving  their  guests  with  gracious  dignity  of
manner.
