The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-17
THE DRoscHKY.



The real Russian or MOSCOW droschky is simply cloth
covered bench upon clumsy springs on four wheels
with little perch in front which the driver bcstrdes
Yon the passenger may seat yourself aside sideways
ON the bench. II may, perhaps, serve TO give more
definite and pictorial idea Of the droschky II describe IL
combination of elongated sdesadde tsuch as are
provided for the rising generation, aud endured by long
suffering donkeys in the vicinity of the Spaniards Tavern
at Hampstead and Irish outside The abomnabe
oting dirt and discomfort Of the whole crazy vehicle
forcibly recall, too, that Hbenan institution There is
leathern paacrotte either side 70 prevent the mud
from the wheels flying up into your face and the bases Of
these paaootes serve as steps to mount and slight
protection in the way OF footing against your tumbling
out OF the ram-shackle concern into the mud but the
imbeciity malevoence of the droschky builder has
added tin pewter covering for this meagre flooring
and, as your bones being ratified the Russian
stones, your feet keep up ncessant and involuntary
skating shuttle on this accused pewter pavement.
There is nothing to hold by, the driver, and
sort of sadde-pummel turned the wrong way at the
hinder end Of the bench the droschky rocks from side
TO side threatening to tip altogether at every
ment Youmutter, You pray you perspire your hooked
fingers seek little inequalities of the bench to grasp at
Claude Frollos tried 10 claw at the stone oopings
when he fell from the tower of Notre Dame you
joted you are bumped you sacrificed, you dslo
Gated and all this while your feet keeping up the
daboical goosestep ON the pewter beneath Anathema
Maranatha! If there be strong north wind blowing
(Boreas has his way, in the height OF summer
in Peterbugh and your hat be tempted to desert your
head and go out the loose There is such human
Or perhaps, hendsh perveTsy in hats when they blow
of -such mean malignant cruel and capricous per-
sistence in rolling away and battling youthat can
scarcely refrain from shaking my fist at my yagrant head
covering while running after it, and swearing at il
when capture it, and punching its head well before
resette it on my own But what you to do il your
hat flies off in droschkya You darent jump out !;
sudden death lies that way The driver will you at
Novgoed before he will descend to it al
though he has not the slightest shame in asking you
get down to pick up his whip All You can do is to shut
.ho,,ll taft
buy hat which, by the way will cost you, for
very ordinary one ten silver roubles-a guinea and
half AS to stopping the droschky; getting down, and
chasing the fugitiyethat might be done in England,
but not here IL almost as difficult to pull up a
droschky railway train The wheels would seem to
be creased to such terrific extent that they jolt
of their accord and two hundred yards notice
Is the least you cam in any conscience give your Isch
vostchik, If you want him to ''sto Meantime, with
that execrable north wind where would your hat be
In the Heva, or way to the Lake of Ladega.
When the Scythiais twas it the Scythians, Blythe
way p were first made acquainted with horses read
that their young men, DESTROYS of taking lessons in equi
tation were to prevent accidents bound TO their metle-
steeds with cords. think it would be expedient
when foreigner takes his first airing in droschky to
tie him to the bench at least to nail his coat tail
thereto. The born Russians, curously to prefer
these peous vehicles to the comfortable droscbkes
They seldom avail themselves of the facility of bestidng
the BENCH Colossus like, but sit aunty side
ways, tapping that deadly pewter with their boot tips
through the tan at the hyppodrome bare backed
seeds Ladies' even frequently patronize these breakers
wheels 1t is sight to their skirts spreading
their white bosoms to the gale like ships canvas
prettcr sight to watch their dainty foot ptapatting
that pewter Of peril have before denounced When
lady and gentleman mount OF these droschkies and
are presume toleraby brothcry and sistery terms,
it to be accepted piece Of costly etiquette for
the lady to sit in the gentleman's lap
While waiting at house door for fare engaged there
in at any other time that he is not absolutely
PEELED to be driving, the Ischoostchik has habit of
abandoning the splashboard and reclining at full length
his back the droschy BENCH there to smoke peace
fully oblvious of slavery, unmindful of the sick To
the full length of his trunk would be perhaps
rect expression for the bench is only long enough for
his body down to the knees and his bgbooted legs dan
gle comfortably down among the wheels. He will sleep
here, in the sum- in the rain in weather hot and cold
and it not for casual passengers and the
suing police officer he would sleep Lbelieve till dooms
day There Inconvenience to the future occupant
of the roschky in this that inasmuch it pleasant
in hotel to have your bed warmed there differences
of opinion to the comfort of having your seat warmed
vcarously especially when the animated warming pan
is Russian and an Ischoostchik and--we the truth
must out ragged dirty, greasy and swarmng with
min. lIE E@ #@HE5aE SsbE@ aTEtEa