TIFLIS AND ITS INHABITANTS 69 



is not the Tiflis notion of the thing at all. Ladies are 

 not admitted on sufferance. They are encouraged, 

 welcomed, desired. Bright lights greet them, there are 

 cards and supper for those who would play and are 

 hungr}', and a gay orchestra for the dancers. How 

 exquisitely they all dance, too ! With a spontaneity of 

 harmonious grace rare in England. 



In the summer months the club system is conducted 

 alfresco, in beautiful gardens, where the band plays 

 into the small hours. 



The fashionable Georgian ladies dress very well, 

 and have the reputation of possessing great good 

 looks. For established beauties they really are nice- 

 looking, with what Du Maurier called " the ineffable 

 forward shrug of a Clytie," but — such expressionless 

 belles ! Every casual observer is struck by the ex- 

 traordinary lack of vivid life and spirit. Dumas pere's 

 enthusiastic " La Grecc, c'cst Galatec encore marhre ; 

 la Gcorgie, c'cst Galatec devcnue femme," is the idealist's 

 way of putting the case. 



The most entrancing waltz fails to rouse even passing 

 animation. Their feet " like little mice steal in and 

 out," their lithe bodies swing languorously to the 

 music, but the immobile faces remain doll-like in 

 passivity. 



Mr. Ruskin said that the ideal girl should prefer 

 dancing to walking and have at least six lovers. All 

 the " fayre ladyes " of Georgia qualified for this 

 standard. They danced because dancing to them is as 

 natural as walking, and they had six lovers each because 

 in the Caucasus there are enough men to go round and 



