The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-06-13
A SUNDAY AT MOSCOW.
BY MIR STEPHENS.

A Sunday at Moscow-To one who had
for long time been stranger to the
sound Of the church-going bell, few things
could be more interesting than a Sunday
at Moscow. Any one who has rambled
along the Maritime Alps, and has heard
from some lofty eminence the convent
bell ringing for mathis, vespers, and mid
night prayers, will long remember the
not unpgeasing sounds. 70 me there is
always something touching in the sound
of the church bell in itself pleasing by
its effect upon the sense, but far more 50
in its associations. And these feelings
were exceedingly fresh when awoke on
Sunday in the holy city Of Moscow. In
Greece and Turkey, there are no bells !;
in Russia, they are almost innumerable !;
but this was the first time | had happened
to pass the Sabbath in the city. | lay and
listened, almost fearing to move lest |
should lose their sounds--thoughts of
home came over me of the day of rest;
Of the gathering for church, and the
greeting Of friends at the church door.
But he who has never heard the ringing
of bells at Moscow, does not know its mu-
sic. Imagine city containing more
than six hundred churches, and innumer-
able converts; all with bells, and these
all sounding together, from the sharp,
quick, hammer.note, to the loudest deep
est peals that ever broke and fingered on
the ear, struck at long intervals, and
swelling on the air as if unwilling to die
away. arose and threw open my win
dow, dressed myself, and after breakfast,
| joining the throng called to their respec-
tive churches by their we'll known bells, |
went to what is called the English cha
pei; where, for the first time in many
months, joined in regular church SER
vice, and listened to an orthodox sermon.
| was surprised to sec SO large congre-
CATION, though remarked among them
many English goyernesses. with children,
the English language being at that mo-
ment the rage among the Russians, and
multitudes Of cast off chambermaids be-
ing employed to teach the rising Russian
nobility the beauties of the English tongue.
All over the continent, Sunday is the
great day for observing national man.
ners and customs. dined at an early
hour with my friend the Marquis, and I'M
der his escort, mounting drosky, rode
to a great promenade Of the people, called
Da'lee des Peoples. It lies outside the
barrier, and beyond the state. prisons.
where the exiles for Siberia are confined,
on the land of Count Schremetow, the
richest nobleman in Russia, having one
hundred and thirty thousand slaves on his
estate-the chateau is about eight verahs
from the city, and a noble road through
his own land leads from the barrier to his
door.
This promenade is the great rendezvous
of the people that is, Of the merchants
and shop-keepers of Moscow. The prom.
enade is simply large piece of ground,
ornamented with noble trees, and provi-
ded with every thing necessary for the
enjoyment Of all the national amusements,
among which the Russian mountain is
the fayorite; and refreshments were dis
| tributed in great abundance. Soldiers
were stationed at different points to pre-
serve order, and the people seemed all
cheerful and happy; but the life and soul
of the place were the Bohemian or Clip
sey girls. Wherever they moved, a crowd
gathered round them. They were the
first had seen of this extraordinary PEG.
pie; coming, no one knows whence, and
living, no one knows how !; wanderers
from their birth, and with history in.
volyed in doubt. 1t was impossible to
mistake the dark complexion and piercing
coal-black eyes Of the Gipsey women.
The men were no where to be seen, nor
were there any old women with them ;
and these young girls, well dressed, tho
in general, with nothing peculiar in their
costume, moved about in parties Of five
or six, singing, playing and dancing to adj
miring crowds. Oneof them, with red
silk cloak, trimmed with gold, and d gold
band round her hair, struck me as the
very beau ideal of a Gipsey Queen. Re
lcognizing me as a stranger. she stopped
| just in front Of ME, struck her castinats
and danced, at the same time directing
the movements Of her companions, who
formed circle around me. There was
a beauty in her face, combined with in
telligence and spirit that riveted my at
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