Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-10-14
THE ANTI-SLAvERY BUGLE.

her apartment, and, having reached her bedside,
overwhelmed her with protestations of interest,
which, for upwards of an hour, deprived her Of
the repose 50 much required,
The above trait of childishness was related to
me by the individual to whom the incident hap
pcncd. We need not be surprised, after this, to
hear that people fall into the river, and drown
there, without any one running to their succor, or
even daring to speak of their dcath2
Whimsical sentiments of every species abound
in Russia among the higher classes, because hearts
and minds arc the prey of exhaustion and safety.
A lady Of high rank in st. Petorsburgh has been
married several times she passes the summer in a
magnificent country house. some leagues from the
city, and her garden is filled with the t9mbs of all
her husbands, whom she begins to love passion
ately so soon as they are dead. She raises 70. them
mausolea and chapels, weeps over their ashes, and
covers their tombs with sentimental epitaphs in
short, she renders to the dead an honor offensive
to the living, The pleasure grounds of this lady
have thus become n real Pcre LA Chaise, with very
little gloom about them for whoeye has not, like
the noble widow, a love Of tombs and deceased
husbands.
Nothing need surprise us in the way of false
sensitiyes among a people who study elegance
with the same precise minuteness that others learn
the art of war or OF government. The following
is an example Of the grave interest the Russians
take in the most puerilc matters whenever they
effect them personally.
"a defendant of ancient boyars, who was rich
and elderly, lived in the country, not lar from
Moscow. \ detachment Of husSars was, with its
officers, quartercd in his house, 1t was the season
of Easter, which the Russians celebrate with pc
culiar solemnity. All the members OF A family
unite with their friends and neighbors, to attend
the mass, which, on this festival, is offered pre-
cisely at midnight.
The proprietor of whom | speak, being the
most considerable person Of the neighborhood
expected a large assembly of guests on Easter-eve
more especially as he had that year restored ant
greatly beautiied his parish church.
Two or three days before the feast, he wa:
awakened by Il procession of horses and carriage:
pass : over n pier that led to his residence. Tit
castle is, according to to usual custom, situated
close upon the edge of a small sheet of water thu
church rises on the opposite side, just Mt the enc
Of the pier, which serves as a road from the castle
to the village.
"Astonishcd to hear so unusual n noise in th(
middle of the night, the master of the house rose
ana, to his great surprise, saw from the widow
by the light Of numerous torches, a beautiful ca
lcehe. drawn by four fine horses, and attended by
outriders.
lie quickly recognized this new cquipage, a'
well as the man to whom it belonged; he was ont
of the hussar officers lodged in his house, an indi
yidual who had been recently enriched by an in
h~critance, and had just purchased a carriage anC
horses, which had been brought to the castle. Til,
old lord, upon seeing him parading in his opei
''tttt"N' ga dlpi-'i ~ hIEhi' IA NV liht2 VI - ~
serted and silent country, Imagined that he had be
come mad: he followed with his eyes the clegan
procession, and saw it advance in good order to
wards the church, and stop before the door wher'
the owner grayely decended from the carriage
aided by his people, who crowded round to SUP
port the young officer, although he, appearin.
quite rs nimblc as they, might have easily dis
pcuscd with their assistance.
Scarcely had he touched the ground, when
slowly and majestically, he re-entered his coach
took another turn on the pier, and came bacl
again to the church, where he and his people re
commenced the previous ceremony. This game
was renewed until daybrcak. At the last repc
tition the officer gave orders to return to the castle
without noise, y few minutes after, all were in
their beds.
IN the morning, the first question that the
wondering owner Of the house put to his guest
the captain of hussars, was as to the meaning o
his nocturnal ride and the evolutions Of his PEG
pie around his person. %! nOthing!n replied tn
officer, without the least embarrassment my
servants arc noyices you will have much com
pany at Easter; people are coming here from
every quarter; | therefore merely thought it bes
to make a rehearsal Of my eatree into church"