Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-04-15
Cur gapk GabIt.

Bros, Franklin Square. So year; 5 copies, SO.
ANOTHER new African hunter has come to
light in the person OF one William Charles
Baldwin, a Scotchman, who seems to have
emulated and in some instances exeeIled his
compatriOt, Gordon Cumming. Mr.. Guern-
sey has prepared from Baldwi1's diary a very
interesting account Of African adventure, copi-
ously illustrated with large number Of live
ly engravings, one Of which" Night Shoot
ing"-is highly suggestive either of Baron
Munchausen or of Hogarh's Perspective
caricsture. J. Ross Browne has a lively
sketch of Moscow, giving gossip about its
people rather than its architecture Here are
some street scenes:
THE ExHEs OF SIBERIA.
On the morning after my arrival in Moscow
I witnessed from the window nf my hotel a
very impressive melancholy spectacle-the
departure of gang of prisoners for Siberia.
The number amounted to some two or three
hundred. Every year similar trains are de-
spatched, yet the parting scene always at
tracts a sympathizing crowd. These poor
creatures were chained in pairs, and guarded
BY q strong detachment Of soldiers. Their
appearance, as they stood in the street await
ing the order to march, was very sad. Most
Of them were miserably clad, and some scarce
ly clad at all A degraded, forlorn set there
were filthy and ragged; their downcast fea-
lures expressive Of an utter absence Of hope,
Few Of them seemed to have any friends or
relatives in the crowd Of by-standers; but in
two or three instances noticed some very
touching scenes Of separation-where wives
came to bid good-by to their husbands, and
children to their fathers. Nearly every body
gave they something to help them on their
way-a few kopecks, loaf Of bread, or some
cast-of articles of clothing. I saw a little
child timidly approach the gang, and dropping
small coin into the hand OF one poor wretch,
ran back again into the crowd, weeping bit
terly. These prisoners are condemned to ex-
lie for three, four or FIVE years-often for life.
IT requires from twelve to eighteen months
Of weary travel, all the way on foot, through
barren wastes and inhospitable deserts, to en-
able them to reach their desolate place Of ex-
ile Many Of them fall sick on the way from
fatigue and privation; many die. Few ever
live to return. In some instances the whole
term Of exile is served out on the journey TO
and from Siberia. On their arrival they are
compelled to labor in the government mines
or on the public works. Occasionally the
most skilful and industrious are rewarded by
appointments to positions Of honor and trust,
and become in the course of time leading men.
RUSSIAN FUNERAL.
The burial of the dead is a picturesque and
interesting ceremony in Moscow. a body
Of priests, dressed in black robes and wearing
long boards, take the lead in the funeral cor
tege, bearing in their hands shrines and burn
ing tapers. The hearse follows, drawn by
four horses. Black plumes wave from the
horses, and flowing black drapery covers their
bodies and legs. Even their heads are drap-
ed in black, nothing being perceptible but
their eyes. The coffin lies exposed on the
top of the hearse and is also similarly draped.
This combination of somber plumage and
drapery has singularly mournfuI appearance.
Priests stand on steps attached to the hearse,
holding images of the Saviour over the coffin
others follow in the rear, comforting the
friends and relatives of the deceased. A wild,
monotcnous chant is sung from time to time
by the chief mourners as the procession
moves toward the burial ground The peo-
pie cease their occupations in the streets
through which the funeral passes, uncover
their heads, and bowling down before the i'm
ages borne by the priests, utter prayers for
the repose of the dead. The rich and the
poor of both sexes stand upon the sidewalks
and offer up their humble petitions. The
deep-tongued bells Of the Kremlin ring out
solemn peals, and the wild and mournful
chant of the priests miugles with the grand
knell Of death that sweeps through the air.
All is profoundly impressive: The process
sion of priests, with their burning tapers; the
drapery of black on the horses; the coffin
with its dead the weeping mourners; the
sepulchral chant; the sudden cessation Of the
business of lie, and the rapt attention of the
business of life, and the rapt attention OF the
the deep, grand death-knell Of the
bells; the glitter of domes and cupolas on
every side; the green-roofed sea Of houses;
the winding streets, and the costumes of the
a spectacle wonderfully wild, |
strange and mournful. In everything that !
comes within the sweep of the eye there is a
mixen aspect of Tartaric barbsrism and Eu-
ropean civilization. Yet even the stranger
from a iar-distant cline, speaking another
accustomed to other forms, must
feel, ia gazing upon such scene, that death
levels all distinctions Of race-that our COM
mon mortality brings US nearer together.
Everywhere we are pilgrims on the same
ourney. Wherever we sojourn among men
"The dead around US lie,
And the death-bell tolls"
A MOSCOW MARKET.
The winter markets Of Moscow aud ST.
present some of tie most cadav-
,rous specimens Of the startling humor in
which the Russians delight. Hers you find fro
zen oxen, calves, sheep, rabbits, geese, ducks,
md all manner Of animals and birds, once ami
nate with life, now stiff and stark in death.
The oxen stand staring at you with their fix