Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-02-01
SCELL A N Y .
Winter in Russia.

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Winter in Russia.
II il pleasant to turn from the damp, foggy
rheumatic DAYS, the miserable, rainy nights, the
external mud, the feetng sunshine all too warm
for the time of the year, to the genuine, perma-
nent. intense winter portrayed in the "Sketches,
and Studies in Russia" of 81. Sutherland Ed
wards, one of the most chatty, graphic and
agreeable writer's of the day.
In Russia, the gray beard king of the year
gives timely warning of his approach in the
Shape of two heavy snow storms, the first OF
which SHOWS lasts but few days, the second a.
bout a week. Then comes the third snow,
which remains five months. 1t is not like our
snow-soft, feathery,. faky, but so thoroughly
crystalized as to resemble EPSON salts. OF
course il lasts, Just as Northern ice ous lasts
Southern ce Nor is the approach of cold
more sudden than that of the five months snow.
The Russians have ample time for preparation.
Winter sets in early in September, but not until
Christmas does the Niholshy Qeros or Frost of
St. Nicholas begin. Long before that time, the
houses have been provided with double and ev-
en- triple sashes, with cotton placed in the space
between the sashes to serve as still further
protection against the keen, insiduous wind,
which Gregorovitch, in his Winters Tale, says
"howls like dog and like dog will bite the
"feet and calves of those who have not provided
"themselves with furgoloshes and doubly thick
"pantaloons" simultaneously with the doub-
ling of the sashes, the stove is lighted, never to
90 out till winter is over The Russian stove is
not made of iron or any other metal, nor is it
visible. 1t is sort OF oven made by following
the walls in the centre of the house, so that one
stove may serve to warm many rooms. In
furnace in the basement fire is built of wood
and permitted to burn until the wood is thor
oughly charred and every yestige OF flame has
disappeared then the top of the chimney is shut
down and as it were hermetically sealed, and
certain port holes opening into the oven or stove
into the room are Enclosed, permitting the hot
dry air to enter, whereby the apartment is kept
warm for twelve or fourteen hours and even
longer. If by mistake the port holes are open
ed before the charring process is completed, then
Death enters the room in the form OF carbonlc
acid gas or ongar rs the Russians call it. Two
years ago the son of the Persian ambassador lost
his life in Moscow from this cause. Strangers
are constantly in danger, but the natives In
stantly recognize the ongar, and, rushing into
the open air, counteract its effects by applying
snow to the temple and forehead.
Snow is the Russians best friend. 1t converts
his vast country into sea OF smooth Ice, bridges
the rivers at all points, and lenders transporta-
ton so easy that the game of Finland and Sloe-
ria, the fish from every sea and river IN the elm.
pire are furnished to the markets OF Moscow and
st. Petersburg in state OF perfect freshness and
preservation. One of the most curious sights IN
Moscow about Christmas, is the "Frozen Mark
et." Here, under forest of Christmas trees, is
exhibited all sorts of fish flesh and fowl, frozen
%
little lars OF cream, hundreds of cabbages and
thousands of potatoes, each and every jar, cab
bapes and potatoes, carefully wrapped up in
mating to prevent them from freezing. Inc
animal provisions thus frozen, will keep sweet
and fresh during the whole winter and if placed
in the ice cellar, with which almost every Rus
sian house is provided, may be kept far into the
summer months.
As might have been conjectured, we learn
from Mr.. Edwards that the intensity OF cold IN
Russia has been greatly exaggerated. Travellers
speak of thirty and thirty five degrees (Reau-
mur) below the freezing point, as if it were
nothing unusual; but the thermometer does not
mark thirty degrees more than once in about
twelyes years; the average maximum for sew
enteen years being twenty-one and two'hfth
degrees-a temperature not unfrequenty ex-
perienced in Maine, Minnesota and even in
Northern New York. But generally there is
difference of seventy-two degrees between the
temperature inside and outside the house in
Russia, to encounter which, the greatest precau.
tions in the way of thick clothing, especially a.
bout the head, ears and hands, are taken by the
natives. Foreigners, strange to say, and Eng
lishmen particularly, go much less thickly clad
than the natives. This lasts but the first win
ter, during the second, the foreigner adopts pre-
cisely the costume of the Russians, and conforms
in all respects to his habits.
The test of cold for the gentlem en- walking or
riding out in the open air. is the moustache, and
for the ladies, the veil. At ten degrees below
zero of Reaumur, the moustache becomes still,
at fifteen degrees below, 'you cannot walk, for
yards without having ice enough on your upper
lip for an ordinary sherry cobbler." at this
temperature, lady's handkerchief, made of the
finest cambria, will in a few seconds freeze into
something like the coarsest canvas. The color
of the features is another test. So long as they
are red, you are safe; when they turn white, II
is sure proof that you are fost- bitten. 1t Is
necessary to feel your exposed features from
time to time. If you should suddenly discover
that your nose has become hard as stone, you
NAV feel no Immediate Inconvenience, but unless
you begin rubbing it with snow, you will prob
ably lose it altogether. During the coldest Rus.
sian winters, pigeons have been seen to fall dead
while in the act OF flying. At such times there
is rarely any wind stirring. a slight gale would
render ont door life impossible. All is still. A
column of white steam rises from the nostrils OF
horses and men, and during the early hours OF
the morning the smoke from the chimneys ling
ers long above the house tops. This clears a.
way, the sun shines out with intense brilliancy
the hardy and versatile natives, unable to fol-
low their summer oallings, now adapt them
selves to other pursuits and chiefly to the driv-
ing of sleighs, thousands Of which are continual
ly dashing about at the velocity of twelve or
fifteen miles an hour The fashionable world is
out in gayest equipages and attire, the highly
oxygenated atmosphere enlivens alike the rich
and poor, the means of subsistence are plentiful
and cheap, the weather promotes the heartiest