The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-03-30
9hinas abroad.


90 Easter Eve Moscow becomes quiet
very early. By siBe O'Clock tie streets
are empty, and there Il hardly an Is
rOsfcAik TO be had al double The usual
price. The nighi u perfectly dark
and few lights are seen 10 the Wiudows,
as We start out about half past eleven
for the Kremliu. Ia the great square
between the ealhedrais ne fad a mass
Of people silently waiting. Inside the
churches, which are also foil, 4 prayer
or two is said, and thea al is still We
ascend the tower Of IEaa Yeliki TO get
better view Of the scene, groPisg our
way up the winding staircase. A few
minutes more and the clock strikes
twelve. A violent trembling Of the
tower tells Us that tha grezt bell is
struck, though We hear 90 soand Ia
siaDtly every bell Of the four hundred
churches Of Moscow begin to ring joy
fully hundred cannon boom out from
the TainiiEky tower. As If By magic
every spire aud dome Is illuminated, q
circle Of lights Is seea shout every
church. and the lines Of light along eT.
cry stree, make Moscow in blaze. Al
the same moment procession Of clergy
and torch bearers 10 their most brilliant
gold and silver robes. wiih chOirs, 10
eense add banners, make the cireuii Of
every church, waking over branches Of
evergreen that have beea strs~a 10 the
way. aud singisg the Easter hymn:
Achris Is asissu. i srissn from ihs dad
The square Of the Kremlin is now as
light as day, and We see the MetropoI
itsn-a hearty, hale old ma6, Ioag time
a missionary bishop az Siberia add
Alaska--in bis magaikeeat robes, With
his train bearers, bis cross Of crystal,
aBd incense ADD candles, as he goes
about the Cathedral Of the Assumption
At the nearest churches We eaa dis.
tinctly see the professions, but 10 the
distance they seem merely a train OF
glimmeriBg sparks. We descend again
70 the square, aud every Que rushes in
to the church to light MS candle, and
kisses his neighbOr three times, saying
LhristOs roskres-Christ is arisen 10
which the reply is returned 70 iStiAe
voskyes-He Is arisen indeed. 10 the
Cathedral there Is now 20 service bur
mathis, the grand mass being At seven
10 the morning, 80 we hasten through
the illuminated streets 10 s5me other
church where Mass will follow the mat
los Immediately. Some eaIfhen dishes
containing a lighted wick floating 10
melted tslloW are placed on each of the
low posts which are the detestable sub
stitutes for curb stones 10 the Moscow
streets, 40 that the shadows are all cast
upwards, producing a singular but
beautiful effect. The smoke add smell
are dissgreeable The churches are
fall, and all aroJud them are servants
with dishes Of eggs aud other eatables
peculiar to Easter, waiting to have them
blessed. The bells arc EVERYWHERE
ringing violently and joyfully, aud the
farther We get from the kremlin, the
louder are the tones Of the " Assump.
ton" or great bell Il was curious that
when We stood 10 the KTemlin square
and saw the bell struck, we did not
hear separate divided strokes. There
was low, deep, united sound, not a.
all disagreeable, which seemed 10 serve
as background for all the other bells
This bell weighs sixty four tons, aud is
the largest in the world.
The most fashionable churches on
great occasions are the Uuiversity, the
private chaPels, and those belonging to
the Palace and to public institutions.
We 90 to the Widows Home, which 10
just now the rendezvouse of the most
select aristOcracy. The mathis have
already begun aud the saloous-for tn.
chapel is small, and few are there be.
side the widows-are full Of ladies' and
gentlemen 10 full evening dress. all
holding candles, whils the priest and
deacon makes a tour Of all the rooms.
exclaiming CATistos voslreRseH, to which
the congregation reply. Every tia
they come from the sanctuary they have
on new robes Of different color. and
the choir boys sing continually the
Easter Hymn. When the MATHIS are
over tho candles are blown out, and
handed TO the boy who comes to receive
them on a silver salver, aud every one
kisses and congrstalatss his family and
friends. There Is but brief iutermis
sion and the mass commences, though
the crowds 10 the saloons continue laugh
ing and talking as if they were at
rout. We stay here till we have con.
graduated all our aequaintances, aud
then go 10 the private chapel of one Of
the richer mobiles Eugene Schuyler, in
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