Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-06-28

Viz ALI MpCA ANA OuAlu ADOtC tuO TALK
of major. Of the officers of lower
rank only certain number are
sent by each regiment. These are
followed by those Of the fleet, the
same distinction being made
between the superior and inferior
ranks as in the army, while lastly
come the officers Of the Imperial
household. To each individual of
this multitude the Emperor gives
two kisses, one on each check
three being the canonicai number
according to Russian etiquette-but
that would take too much time in
the present instance.
In ordinary Russian society, the
custom is to present an egg to
friend the first time that you meet
him or her-most generally her
after IL o'clock on Easter night.
The one who presents the egg ex-
claims, "Christ has risen!" the other
answers, els He risen, indeed?" and
the three kisses follow. OF course
the second one has generally an
egg to present in return. Timid
swains eagerly take advantage Of
this custom to obtain the privilege
Of embracing some fond object
whom they would otherwise be too
bashful to approach. These eggs
arc Of all kinds-some simple hens
eggs gilded, or silvered, or colored;
red, blue, or violet; some sugar
eggs, embellished with all kinds Of
fanciful designs. There are also
diminutive gold, marble, or simple
wooden eggs; others are large
enough to serve as ladies travelling
bags; or they may be placed on
stands to serve as useful ornament;
hens may sit on nest full of bon
bon eggs; and some may be fitted
up inside with set Of children's
toys. There are eggs, in fact, ar
ranged in every imaginable manner
and made out of every imaginable
material. On this day hundreds of
thousands of these change hands in
Petersburg alone, and the sum spent
in their purchase must be prodigi-
Gus.
But we must not forget the feast
ing which, after the fast and abne.
cation Of the past seven weeks, is
not the least important of the
nights occupations. At ten o'clock
my man-servant started off to church
with a basket containing ham, veal,
pressed curds, eggs and salt. At
twelve o'clock the woman-servants
were still up. On inquiry whether
it was not time for them to 60 to
rest after the fatigues of Easter pre-
paration, found they had no inten-
tion Of going to bed till four O'Clock
in the morning, when they expected
Ivan to return from church with the
victuals which he had carried off to
get blessed by the priest. This
blessing is absolutely necessary, and
no othodox Russian will break his
fast except preparatory process has
been gone through at church. For
tunately, Ivan returned at half-past
three, and they all fell to with the
most intense satisfaction. From the
palace to the PEASANTS hut, this
sumptuous and extravagant breaking
of the fast is rule. Even the poor
est find wherewith to spread their
table in a manner to astound our
poorer brethren. Sturdy beggars,
Of whom hundreds of both sexes
prowl about the streets during the
fast, playing their craft with in
credible success at the expense of
the crcdulous and bigoted, who
freely bcstow aims without the
slightest discrimination; even they
feast luxuriously on this night of
nights.
With light hearts and heavy
stomach all go to their rest, and
rise few hours afterward full of
joyous anticipations for the coming
week. Very little work will be
done, and most people will spend in
a few days the savings Of several
months.