Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-07-23
AN ICE-HILL PARTY IN RUSSIA.

AN ICE-HILL PARTY in RUSSIA.
The reader, hope, will have no objections to
quit his comfortable Preside, put on his furs, and
accompany me to sledge, or ice-hill party.
An army Of about ten or fifteen sledges start
from house where the party assemble, the
gentlemen driving themselves, and each family
taking some provisions with them. After about
an hour and three-quarters' drive, the whole car
avian arrives at the house of StaroSto (presi-
dent) of the work people employed by the COM
mercial houses in Russia. The staroSto is usu-
ally wealthy man, and mostly looked up to by
his neighbors, as he has by some most extraor-
binary means acquired some few townish man.
ners, which suit has country appearance as much
as glazed boots and polka tie would suit the
true English country farmer.
After having warmed themselves before a
good hot Russian stove, the party begin opera
tons by getting the sledges ready, and ascend
ing the ice-hills. The hills are made of wood
en- scafold, covered with huge bits of ice, all of
an equal size, placed side-by-side, so as to tit
closely together. Being constantly watered
they gradually become one solid mass, as smooth
as mirror. The hill, which is usually Of a con-
siderable height, and rather sloping, ends in a
narrow plain of ice called the run, which is just
broad enough for three narrow sledges to pass
each other, and long enough to carry you to the
foot of second hill.
The sledges are usually made of iron, long
and narrow, and covered by cushions, often en-
broidered by the fair hand of lady, They are
low and so constructed that they can hold one
or two persons, as the case may be. Both the
RIM and the hill are bordered by fir trees on each
side, and on such evening parties are illuminat-
ed with Chinese lamps placed between the
branches of the trees. Fancy yourself on the
top of the hill looking down this illuminated av-
enue Of frs, which is reflected in the mirror OF
ice, as if to outshne the lights Of the clear sky,
and the gay laughing crowds moving up and
down the hills, and you have before you the IL
nest and most perfect picture of sorrowless en-
ioyment, as striking contrast to the lifeless ma
ture surrounding it. The briskness of the move
ment, and the many accidents happening to the
clumsy members of the party, keep up the ex-
element, while the contest of young men to OBJ
tain this or the other lady for their partners on
their down-hill journey, (not in life), never al
lows the conversation or the laugh to flag for
one moment.
remember once getting into what school
boys would call an awful scrape with one OF the
ice-hil heroes. We both started together from
the second hill on race, and having faster
slcdge, overlook him by the length of my con-
veyance, and arrived at the top of the hill before
him. Seeing that the belle of the evening was
disengaged, approached her with all the FORM
atty with which the newly admitted youth re-
quests the queen of the ballroom for the pleas
ure and honor to dance a polka with her, and
asked her to 60 down. Forgetting previous
appointment with my former antagonist, she ac-
cepted my offer, and the latter just arrived in
time to see us start from the hill. In his rage
he determined to do me some mischief by up
setting my sledge, as soon as he had an oppor-
tunity to do so without any damage to another
party. He soon had an occasion, but unfortu-
nately had sedge with lady before me
passing me, he hit me, and /, hitting the sledge
before me, without being able to avoid it, at the
same time getting hold of his legs, upset all
three. Luckily, no injury was done, as the
whole lot was upset into the snow, to the great
enjoyment of all the spectators.
Gradually the time to retire approaches. The
lamps begin to 60 out, and the hills, Invested of
their beauty, appear like the ruins of a magnif-
icent city of olden times. Here and there you
see single lamp peeping out from the branch
es of the trees, wisfully looking round in search
of its brothers, as lift wanted to assure itself of
the absence of any other enlightening object.
The party 90 in to refresh themselves with tea
and other warm beverages. The gentlemen
wait on the ladies' and new contest begins, as
each tries to surpass the other in politeness and
quickness. If it is supper, you see these
youthful and useful members of society running
about with plates of sandwiches, or steering
along with cup of bouillon in one and glass
Of wine in the other hand, through the intricate
passages formed by the numberless tables occu-
pied by the fair sex. And then having, after a
great deal of DANGER at last arrived at their place
of destination, they find the lady they wanted to
serve already provided with every necessary
comfort; and, perchance, she is so much engage
ed in conversation with their more fortunate re
val, that she cannot even give them grateful
smile for their trouble.
Now the ladies adjourn, and the field Of action
is left to the gentlemen. All restraint seems to
have gone. The clatter of knives, the jingle of
glasses, the hub-bub of voices, all this makes
such chaos of strange and mysterious noises,
that it has quite deafening effect. At last a
cry of order is heard from the top of the table.
One of the directors of the party, after having