New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-03

WOney-Amcrlcun
Of Tourists-The Cold-Drnning tho
PoIes-A Transnfiantic Humbug-The
Emperor and the Serfs-nIiider Winters
The Opsra-Our Minister.
From Our Special CORRESPONDENT.
ST. PETERSBURG Russia, Jan 4. lsCt.
As the Russian calendar is different from the
English to-day instead Of being the ith OF January
1906 is only the sd of December 1865. Consequently
am in the midst of the holidays As write droskey'
loads Of Christmas trees gay dressed for little Russian
children, are passing my window, and in The market
places the scene Is very picturesque and brilliant The
trees ornamented with artificial flowers and paper
lanterns are profuse enough resemble small forest,
and are sold rapidly; but there IL always great deal oil
noise and bargaining, for one ever gives what il
first kcd for the article. Ithc yonder says 40 rouocs
he is offered %; then he down TO 80, and Inc
bidder offers p and gets the article.
The weather 50 far has not been good for Christmas
II is fogey. and sgshy and unhealthy, and has spoiled
the skating. You viii be surprised when tell you
that skating has never been popular here until the last
two years-since We have had an American named
Jackson Hines. Who has performed miracles On the
ice. danced with the Empress. and created quite d
Crors lie was here again short time age but is no"
in Moscow. Stating having become fashionable the
Noya is divided iuto very pretty grounds. ornamented
with fr trees and neat little houses, aud there is
always a crowd OF lsaeHr'. some OF whom skate very
we'll
Tie Cattle Plague Which threatened to become far
spread. has In measure disappeared. The Govern
uent has kept very quiet tho subject ard there are
few who know The real state Of the The plague
has done Great dea Of damage already. and beef is
t. ti.f fttrs sir
tho Crimca Russia has been flooded with paper
money. Uni 10. Gntases are in anything Uut healthy
condition. They want such man as NJ. McCulIoch
a, the head Of iLeir Treasury Department. But 1t Il
no, from lack Of oapi that the Russian finances have
been brought ~ Iowif Is simply because the II part
ncut Hecds proper aonagcrert
There are no. nlTy American. in Russia. There
are a r. ~ here. and stu fewer Nc Moscow. The EA'
cli.h appear TO have the majority Yet, Americans
Ars been here for the results OF their landisoIk ar,
overyg here seen. -; Gel, ~. Joseph Harrison OF
Philadelphia build the railroad between st. Petersburg
and Moscow, Did he Dot; together with Mr.. Winans
of Baltimore build superb bridge oyar the Ncya :
Hare no: street cars been introduced by Americans
and oil for lighting the city. and many other improve
uen.si Ye.. Americans have dong a great deal for
Eassa. and are stn doing much. for find new plors
and sewing .Inactues have appeared here.
Eufsia Is lighted by travellers because thoro are so
many silly sore. told about il. Consequently. tourists
SPEND most II ,telr time in Italy and France They
make great mstake Russia is well worth visit,
and should by ~ means De seen. No whore clso viii
you meet with uch people end witness such scenes rs
in Ru..is Tie statements In regard TO the climate
proven, manytayclers from coming lese. Let me tell
them these statements are rilicu0lsly exaggerated.
People suffer css from The cold her. than they do in
AmerNu-betause the precautions taken against Il are
much greater 4 warm oyorcoai lined with fur. and
fur cap are deemed sufficient protection against the
cold Fur misks are unknown. and pair Of solosh.s
or large Indarijber oyorShOcs keep your feet sui.
cicntv warm II y0u exercise every day, you viii never
feel the cold Tho cir Is braci1e and the Russian cities
so curiou, that they are well worth visit.
The Government IL drafting the Poles. and is among
other things. binding three vessels AZ great e1-
pense The army anu navy VIII beiIercased am told.
Tho Russians male good. obcdieat soldiers. They
are natumly bright intelligent people and only want
a nroper system OF education to develop great many
excellent qualities.
Americans are thought well OF here. although tie
Russians don't always the prolcr Kind. There has
been pa son here callilg himself 1.-THE Great Ameri.
can" named Chandor. lie got contract 10 light
some OF de streets Of ST. Petersburg with petroleum
LAMPS ad BY management made n fortune. He he.
hsved Lidly altogether. bot succeeded in holding his
own hIl now sells lamps and has flaming advertise
menis il the papers.
The Emperor Ides out almost every day and is look
well though little eareworn. The cares
Of his dice press heavily upon him. lie has made him.
self renowned By giving freedom To the Serls-and IN
spite the opposition OF many OF the mobiles who. thus
deprived OF their slaves. were left almost pennilesshe
is uni crsally popular. He il true good.hcared. aud
hon1uble. aud ~ working hard to mako Russia the
grca,si country in the world OF course the serfs like
the fcedmen in America, dil not understand their
bery AZ first and the military had two three times
to bcordered out qucll disturbances and make them
work Bat things arc gradually becoming right, and
already the benefits OF the change are felt
Rsiia was never in a better condition. The Winter
has mild and everything successful Old citizens
tell that tho Winters not severe now as they
wer, some forty years ago. This reminds me OF Agas
sil Who In speaking Of tie Winter in America. says
thaiat time the whole continent was covered with
Ice mile nick! But. the aggregation OF houses each
sending forth It's heat into the air have eIered posi-
tiy influence on the climate. And II Is possible that
as tussa grows this same change may como to pass.
Cetainy. / remember the time IN America when We
usd to have long dreary Winters. with snow on The
gpund from November to the beginning Of April But
tdoes begin to grow cold until December now, and
b. April the snow has vanished. and the moro genial
sason is ready to commence its holiday. So. when the
russians tell me their Winters arc growing milder.
an easily believe them.
notice they arc introducing English Into the schools
erc It s astonishing how rapidly the Russians learn
h, language - that is. learn 1t perfectly so a. I"
peak without an accent They are wonderful nnguists
md altogether remarkable people
We have a very handsome opora'house here. whe'e