Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-07-19
Correspondence of The Evening Star.1

Correspondence of The Evening Start
ST. PETERSBURG, June q, 1871.
Dear Mr.. Editor: Were you ever in St Peters
burg? Editors, know, are supposed to have
been everywhere and to know everything. But,
nevertheless, all of your readers may not be so
much blessed; so 1 venture to drop line TO TIE
STAR from this far out-of-the-way and seldom
visited city, In the (perhaps yain) hope that il
may find interest in somebody's eyes.
In justice to myself, however, rather than to
awaken the envy OF dear, sweltering friends at
home, teel bound to say that since our arrival
here the weather has been 50 cold that We have
been compelled 10 confine our sightseeing to
things Immediately around US, hoping for warm
er days to visit PeterhOff, where one of the
summer palaces Is situated, and the innumera-
Die fountains are playing, provided the impe-
rial family are there;N also, to Tzarskoi-Selo a
fayorite summer resort, and many other places
well worth visit, but pleasant only in warm
weather.
Upon your entrance into the city you are
struck with the immense size of the buildings
and your first question naturally Is, where do the
poor people live? Let me assure you, my
dear sir, they do not live at all, in our sense of
that term. They are but little better off than wild
animals, and herd about Just as they do. Give
them their sour bread and "vatki,n and they are
satisfied. Truly, this place Is made for the rich;
the poor, God helpi
Some OF the churches here are really magnif-
cent,-St. 1saacs, for instance. 1t is almost
beyond description. No gew-gaws, no tinsel; all
Is substantial and grand. Pillars OF maachite,
marble, and lapis-lazuli; mOuldings of gold !,
u
ten or fifteen feet in height are of the most ex-
quisite mosaies, and then the affairs and shrines
are filed with ornaments Of gold and precious
stones. All these combine to make a gorgeous
display, and the first effect on the bebol3er Is
almost bewildering There is also an Episcopal
church, supported by taxation. All the English
shipping Is or was taxed until quite large fund
was raised for its support. And there is still
another pretty little American chapel, supported
entirely by voluntary contributions. We have
attended service there several times, and were of
tod
again.
Another feature of this city Is the beautiful
horses,-really the finest creatures ever saw,
and haInessed so lightly and elegantly that one
would scarcely think they had anything upon
them, except when the mOuntings of silver and
gold glisten in the sun. They travel with ire
mendous speed, arching their beautiful necks, as
II fully aware of all their good points and their
gorgeous trappings.
For the language of this country have no
respect. 1t Is barbarous when spoken, and still
worse when written or printed. After all, nv
friend, there Is no place like Old America, with
It's honest language and its republican institu-
TONS L think If one had an immense fortune
and roysI blood in his veins, and did not care a
rush for humanity in general, and believed in the
Greek religion, (which to an irreyerent stran-
gers eye seems to consist of crossing yourself
every four minutes and a half, humping your
mead on the ground, kissing the toes of the Holy
Virgin, spending a small fortune in tallow cam
dies, and ut last going to heaven on a board with
yellow rag on your coffin, and the horses for
Chief mourners,) then one might exc out an
existence here. But " give me a cot in the val
ley love-" be 10 ever so humble, with lust
enough money to keep me in back hair and neck
ribbons, and Ill resign all right and title to the
royal throne of MuscOvy, or any other country
and go home satisfied that America is a pretty
good place, the Stars and Stripes bonnie flag
and the eagle better bird than the Russian fea
which Is nearly as big as an eagle, and " sticketh
closer than brother"
Through the kindness of our American Min
ister, Hon. A. G.. Curtin, we see all the papers
from the States, the dear old EVENING STAR
among the number. OF course news is somewhat
stale, butwe read everything with great interest
even to the advertisements; and the greatest
event of the day with the small American colony
here Is when the mail is brought and letters dis
tributed, and II happily We are fortunate recipi-
ents, great is the joy all round. But / am tres
passing too much upon your valuable time and
space, and must close, wishing you all full meas
ures OF health and prosperity. Absentee