Notwithstanding the great
ease and luxury, the fact that so much of the male portion is composed
of officers, who wear no other clothes than their uniforms, gives
something of a business-like air, and produces a sense of discipline
at the entertainments. Individually, the Russians have much sympathy
with English ways and habits, and the political antagonism between
the two nations does not appear to affect their social intercourse.
They are exceedingly courteous, hospitable, and friendly, throwing
themselves with much zest into the occupation or amusement of the
moment. In these days of rapid communication social life is much
the same in every great capital. St. Petersburg is a very gay society,
and the great troubles underlying the fabric do not come to the
surface in the daily life. There are of course representatives
of all the different lines of thought and policy, and because they
cannot govern themselves, it must not be supposed that they have
not predilections in favour of this or that line of action.
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