they receive orders to make afternoon visits, which they
do--poor things--I suppose, much to their distaste. As no one knows
them and they do not know any one, it must be very awkward for them.
They come six at a time, leave a package of cards in the antechamber,
present themselves, and each other. They click their heels, kiss the
hand of the hostess, give a hopeless glance about them, move in a body
toward the tea-table, return, and go through the same ceremony, and
leave together, making a great clinking of swords and leaving an odor
of perfumed pomade.

BERLIN, _January, 1903_.

Dear L.,--I have been to my first court ball here, I will describe
this one to you, and never again.

The invitation we received was very large. It told us that we were
invited by order of his Majesty, King and Emperor, to appear at the
Koeniglicheschloss, Thursday, at eight. We were accompanied, as usual,
by the policeman on horseback. It amused me, while we were waiting in
the carriage, to see standing before one of the entrances to the
palace a whole line of soldiers with _serviettes_ hung over their
shoulders. They were there for the purpose of washing the dishes after
the supper.

As I have said before, the _Wendel treppe_ is very high and tiresome
to mount. We found the hall of the _corps de garde_ filled with
youthful pages whose ages are anywhere from fifteen to twenty. They
were dressed in red coats, with large frills of lace, held in place by
their mothers' best diamond brooch, and neat little low shoes with
buckles and neat little white silk legs.

I glided along the polished floor through the different rooms, which
were empty, save for the numerous chamberlains. All had papers and
diagrams in their hands, and they told the gentlemen as they passed
who they were to take in to supper, and the name of the supper-room.
Each room has a name, like "Marine Room," "Black Eagle Room," and so
forth.

The long gallery was filled with officers, whose uniforms were of
every imaginable color and description, and gentlemen who looked as if
they had just stepped out of a picture-frame. They wear their calling
on their sleeves, as it were. The Academician has a different costume
from the judge. I noticed a clergyman in his priestly robes, his
Elizabethan ruff around his neck, his breast covered with decorations.
He was sipping a glass of hot punch and smiling benignly about him. He
had a most kind and sympathetic face. I would like to co