, 1864-08-08
NO. 81.
Marrying in Russia.

md11y1uk N 6SuSSAas
Though Whit-Eunday may be considered
as the great matrimonial fair, it is not to be
supposed that marriages are not celebrated
at all times and seasons, except during, the
fasts Sometimes the mode Of procedure
has been very summary, as happened to
one Of our own countrymen- He was q
merchant of great respectability, and was
attached to Russian lady. Noimpediment
offered itself, except the one which prevents
the union Of people Of different religions;
and as foreigner and protestant, he met
with much difficulty in obtaining permissiOhs
As he had friend at Court who could gain
the imperial ear, he was commissioned to
apply to the fountain head. Il was necesz
sary to wait q seasonable oppOrtunity-a
gOod-humored moment which grants every:
thing-tostrike. TheoppOrtunity occurred,
and it was in the afternoon.
"YOur majesty" said the petitioner,
"will permit me to inform you that one Of
our eountrymen is in great distress"
"How?" replied his majesty; "an Eng.
lishman in distress? What is it !! let me
know. If can remedy it, depend upon it )
what help does he require?"
"No, your majesty, it is not thatj but
he wishes to marry Russian, and the elergy
will not celebrate his marriage"
"HOw so? Let him be married imme-
diately (seechGss). Twill give an order in
stantly." And in FIVE minutes the imperial
signature permitted the nuptials to be esis
ebrated. n
Now it must be recollected that in Russia
a permission Of the sovereign is bona tide
order; and there is this advantage in des:
potic governments, that when thing is to
be done, it is done betimes. The imperial
signature authorizes at Pm. the marriage
of Mr.. A. and Miss B. At 9 PM, this
order gets to the hands Of the proper au-
thorities. Itarrives at the first Office, where
it is registered; at Sit gets to another at
10 it may have passed the synod; at IL It
Is in the hands Of the police; and et mid
night the police officers are trotting the
streets to put il in execution and summon
the parties themselves. 80
Mr. was fastasleep. Hehadgiven
up the case as hopeless; he must mako the
best of it he was hugging his pillOw--it
was all he could do A laundering rap at
the door, and, before he receivers from his
fright, an armed police is at his bedside, with
roll Of paper in their hands. " His liver
is turned to water" @ -
As he was about to utter snndry exclam-
ations Of terror, he was stopped by the OH
Ger, who told him he had warrant which
must be executed Immediately (seeehassl.
Mir thought Of putting on his clothes;
and as he was sacrificing to the graces, the
officer commenced reading.
Fancy man reused from his slumbers in
the middle of the night, trembling more
from fear than cold, sitting upon the edge
of the bed drawing on a stocking, "spin-
ming slowly out the time, and about TO hear;
as he supposed, his exile warrant. ar
"By the graee Of God: Autocrat Of tho
Russians, &C., be it Known
What was his surprise, then, to find that
this sentence was permit to be married !
What now ?" said Mr.. --, Sat this
time O. nightl"
aImmediately," 3" ('esslasO said theOffcefi
"0h, If it is ordered, then know the
rest" said Mr.. @---, and then hurried on
his clothes, and accompanied the officer to
the dwelling of his betrOthed.
What were her feelings on the occasion,
how the matter was broken to her, whether
asleep or awake, who explained the necessity
of immediate compliancc--all thesematters
have not been revealed Mr.. ------- and
Miss - accompanied the police officers
to the church, and the marriage ceremony
1 ,.., ,,o-cnr,,,o,l IN tho ,nsI1ta 1f Nha niohe.