Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-01-26

Iue TtdutI' HpI'e, viii HdNc no once
ton to d,it hls comfortable 6rcside put on
his fdrs, and accompany me to slrdge, or
ic.-bill party. E
An army Of about ten or fifteen slcdges,
start from house where all the party as
semble. the gentlemen driving themselves.
and each family taking some provisions
with them. After about an hour and three
quarters, the whole caravan arrive. at the
hoase of siarosio (pr, sdcnt) of the work
people employed by the foreign CONNER.
ciai houses in Russi1. The sfarosfo is usu-
ally wealthy man, and mostly looked up
TO by his ncghbors, as he has by extraor-
dinary means acquired some few townisl,
manners, which suit their country up
pearance as much as glazed boots, and u
Polkaiie would suit the true English coun-
Try farmer.
After their having warmed themselves
before a good hot Russian stove the party
begin Operations iry getting the slcdgcs
ready, and ascending the icc.hills. The
hlls are Made ei wooden scaffold, coy.
cred with bits Office, all Of an cqnnl size,
placed side by side so as to 1T closely to-
gether. BY being constantly watered they
gradually become one solid r,sass as smooth
as a mirror. The hill which is usually OF
a considerable height, and rather sloping.
ends in long narrow plain of ice called
the run, which is just broad enough for
three narrow slcdges to pass each other,
and long enough TO curry you TO the foot
Of the second lill.
The sledgcs are usually ofiron long Gov
cred with cushions, often embroidered by
the fair hand of lady. They are low
and so constructed that they can hold one
Of two persons as the case may be. Both
the run and the hill are bordcrcd by FIR
trees on each side, and on such evening
',attfes ere Illuminated with Chinese lamps
placed bctwces the Branches Of the trees.
Fancy yourself on the top Of the hill look
ing down this iliunfpated avenue of frs,
which is reflected in shc mirror Of the ice,
as If determined to outslhre the lights on
the clear sky. and the gay laughing crowd
moving up and down the Hills and you
lsse before you the finest and most perfect
picture ef oorrowless enjoyment as a s,rik.
ing contrast 10 the lifcless nature surround.
ing it, The brlskpcss Of the movement.
and the mary incidents hstpeIhng to The
clumsy members of the party, keep up
the excitement, whilst the contests Of the
young men to obtain this or the other LADY
for their partner in the down llill Journey,
mot in life, j never allows 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-hll heroes, We both started
together from the second hill on race.
and |, having faster sleJge, overlook him
by the length Of my conveyance. and ar
rIveset the top Of the hill before him
Seeing the belle ofthe evening was Olsen
gagged, approached her with all the for
mality which the newly admitted youth
requests the Lelic Of ballroom for the
pleasure and homer 10 derce polka with
her. and ask her TO go down. Forgetting
a previous appointment with my former
Antagonist, she accepted my offer, and the
latsor just arrived in time to sec US start
from the hin. In his rage he determined
TO do me some mischief by upsetting my
sledge, as soon as he mad en- opportunity
Of doing SO without any damage 10 anotli-
er party. He had soon an occasion, but
unfortunately ] had sledgc with lady
before me; passing me, he bit me, and l.
hitting against the sledge before me. VIII
out being able 70 aveid u, at the sarne time
getting bold bis legs, upset oil three
Luckily no aniury was done. as the whole
1cr was upset in the snow; to the great en-
joyn,rnt Of an spectators.
Gradually the time to retire spproach-
cs. The lamps begin to go out and the
bin. 6vested Of their beauty appeared like
the raias Of a magnificent CRY cf oldcn
times. Here and there yes see single
lamp rccping out fro411s breaches Of
trees. wistfully IA usd ID search Of
10 bssfheis - n 8 eo1ssd = sSssss itssif