Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-08


plsasure, aud are proud to Acknowledged No ons
IN Russia ia ks about the Governument-the En-
peror is the great centre iowa rds which all ewes
are turned and his will is regarded az the su
preme law. Yet powerful aud apparently omni-
potent as he is, there are two classes in the EN-
pire whom he dare not Offend These are the
clergy and the nobility, who have it in their pow
er at any moment to depose him. The present
Emperor has for some time past, been making
| efforts gradually to abolish serfdom in the EN-
pre- yet he is obliged to moyewth great caution
ana circumsPection, for fear ofexcting the iea-
lousy OF the nobility and the priesthood
traveller in Russia, on entering one of the
cottages, will be surprised to find how intensely
hot is kept by the inhabitants large stone will
sometimes be found in the middle of the room,
around which the family all huddle and sleep.
and on the top of which may frequently be seen
two or three men stretched out at full length:
while the chickens, hogs, &c. are stationed in the
corners OF the room, and the cows kept in the
cellar beneath! One would imagine this mode
of living extremely unwhoesone, but San anti
dote seems to be provided, for the houses are al
ways fall of smoke, which is very healthy, and
the Inhabitants, when they emerge from their
cabins in the Spring, look as if they had been
thoroughly smoked and dried through the wiptsr.
In that part OF Poland which belongs to Russia.
nearly all the inhabitants are Jews. They are
very poor and are mostly engaged in trade. The
women generally are very handsome The Doc
tor was introduced to an old Jew, who had been
converted tn tho chr;stop r,l;o;u.
man, on learning that the Doctor came from the
other side of the world, manifested the utmost
surprise; for he had learned from the ancient
lalmud that the world was fiat aud could not
conceive the possibility of travelling from one
side to the other without going through hole in
the body of the earth Or climbing over the edges
He asked the Doctor in the most Sc rious manner
whether there was not greatsaanaer and Difficult
ty in performing the latter experiment?
In their funeral rites and marriage ceremo-
nles' the Russians adopt practices which to
stranger appear to be extremely Iudicrous-
When person dies, the body is placed in q
coffin, which is put in some conspicuous place,
where the former acquaintance of the deceased
are required to GO and ask his pardon for any of.
fences which they may have committed against
him. In the left hand of the dead person is
placed piece of paper, certifying that he was
member of the true church. and in his right hand
piece of money, for what.purpo the Doctor
had never been able, after extensive enquiry. TO
find out. The Russians regard the graves and
tomb stone of their dead with supersttious rev.
erence, and fear. When marriage takes place.
the priest after procaiming the bans, takes glass
OF wine, and mixing with it some bitter ingredi-
ents, emblematical Of the sweets and bitters of
the marriage state, hands it first to the bride and
bridegroom, each of whom drink small quantity,
and then to the crowd, who do the same thing.
After this the crowd offer their congratulations
to the bride by imprinting vast number of
kisses on her lips. 1t is not an unusual
thing, for Il lady on the night of her wed-
ding to receive 1000 kisses from the multitude.
Il Doctor related many other interesting
and humorous incidents in the account of these
singular people; but for want of time and space,
we are obliged to omit them. He will lecture
on the same subject againon Tuesday and Friday
evenings, and wes advise all who desire to enjoy a
delightful entertainment, to go and hear him.