, 1874-11-15
I'LL the people are ready for that revolution Nil
the subject be ever discussed.

ILL the people are ready for that revolution Nil
the subject be ever discussed
A FRENCHA1AN IN RUSSIA.
4 WINTER IN RUSSIA From the French Of THEo-
rH1Lx GAur1rn. By Il H. R1r1Ey, Translator Of
Madame Cxaren's " "Fleur1uRe" u u1o,, pp. 348-
New York: Henry Holt + Co.
Brilliant is too mild term Such epithets as
VIC apply to 4 sunset-eky when the clouds are
blazing with crimson and gold, and the dazzled
eyes culver and blink in the heat and glare Of
their violent flames, are the fitting words to de-
scribe Ii. Gautiers glowing diction- It is fervid,
opnlent, impetuous. and-dizzying- One needa
to e1erciBe a continual restraint to keep his own
brain from = whirl as he is swept along the swift
current Of II. Gautier's impassioned and vehe-
mont language. His epeech is perpetual guc-
cession Of novel and imposing figures, and his
paragraphs are an unending series Of resplen-
dent pictures. His book Ii q crowded gallery Of
paiutinga,-French paintinEs,-which appeal to
the eye and the imagination With gay and con-
trasting colors, and beautiful forms, aud de1-
ferrous manipulation, but never touch the soul
with stroke OF deep and genuine feeling;
where ali is on the surface,-a mere spectacle
H. GAutier spent seven winter months in Rus
aia- Why he went, or whcn he went. he does
not Inform us. Whatever Was the serious motive
OF his viais, he amused himself with looking upon
tho land and the people ss upon play In the
theasre,-pursuing no inquiries, making no re-
Hections, but giving himself up to the enjoyment
Of rich and curious scenic exhibition. What
passed before his eyes be rep1oduoes with won
derful power Of picturesque description. omit
ting not the smallest accaesory that would give
completeness and intensity to the deliDeanon.
The view is superficial, and limited to the mo-
ment. It gives no retrospects, aud no prophetic
ghmpses Of the future; yet it is, in its way re-
plete with interest and instruction Whatever
aspect Of the strange, half-Oriental life Of Rus
| sls is presented to us, we gaze upon 1t With
eager, fascinated curiosity. But yesterday, the
nation was balf-sunk in barbarism, and almost
as remote from US Is China. To-dny, it is one
Of the foremost powers in Europe, and 10 all the
arts aud refnemenis Of civilization ls rapdyrlE-
ing to IN equal rank With the oldest States Of the
Continent. Its prodigious strides in the raco
onward, attract all eyes toward 1t. and make
every incident in its unexampled career study
of absorbing attention.
II. Gautier depc.s, with the fidelity OF Dutch
artist, the exterior CT ST. Petersburg; but the
peculiar features of the city itself, Of its sltua-
tion its character, and its architecture, hare
been as often portrayed by previous travellers
his sketches Of the people, however, Of their
traits and manner OF living, we shall borrow
soma details Which will increase our understand
ing OF them
French is spoken By the upper classes of Rus
rim with the utmost tuepcy, aud with pure pa-
rsian accert- It Is the language OF society. and
nroannf Tha Ttar.turc of France is a1.o thor
p]1s;.. <,-,;I;.- ~ -arsoae ~ Nv cultura .nd
a,. uue! E-a,.nn .rthcr ;a hattor known in ~ pa
.a1,,r. thaT j., p.ra MA ooaan NJ the oroan.
a,,. 20 80 ,a.t soc;si rs trevn nn,ck}v
teaa - a;t~ ~ ~ sa;na ~ th.t m +ha Eaya.
4lo,1 tn@ e!s3 W -uo - ha.rd -; - a,1o,o ~
~ itter many oionent datsi1 entirelv nev To
re; t9e A1sss4 a;n aT1rs ot h;a nTr ranita1 rha
1,..,... ,u, .ea-non a. h;oh1v accommodated and
i'sga ~ 81. vonfc factv for Learning lanpuaees
m,ar -a.5 Rvro, Gontbe and He,na in the
otle1'Aa, VI ~ 49, =. ~ ,at ao.--oo - o,oa.n.a
1oe.l ea!esse, ~ 20 y. .a9 - @ash;o = Tha n.n
tho very superl&uEe OF 1asn1on. Inc maa-
ners OF both ladies' aud gentlemen are, exceed
ingly polished, with \ charming air OF caressing
fal15tyY: ,Sa nxnr;n. q, Enrone,n civilization .1e
a. - =: 49,; sa1r;.nr wb;,h a. ~. nrat
s@ht hst-ar ~ no nn1ileness to tha fashionable
mansions IN London Or fa1's. "a Gi9ee u'spee7
tion, however, many Little details exhibit local
eooiioe ,o,,,,. 5 ~. .n...
t1se ina ,ashes il oovered With lsysr Of dne saudi
destined to absorb moisture aud prevent tho fro4t
from silvering the panea. Twisted horns Of paper:
EoAka+lA16 soA"7 q. 9 so~ - @sf 49,
is concealed BY bed Of moss. ine5e AZ no ou1eido
senttesa Or sasa M hina csepy si
N s1opnd ths eeos with kind Of cement one nsr
row moveablc pans soryes admit fresh sir but Its
use Is disagze4able and dangerous, great Il
the contrast in vinter) between ne Nth
out snd int T.hn. a.. snt ~ NJ cod p, ta
s;all 'us'Ae1 oe0as'' '10 'n1~' - ~ 20
k"ss. ., .ox,,.+;,.,,r-s.a1odb borsea +h1
N1tnlu sne:o % r,ain,ainad At 6S tn "a deG 40
temP9ra1s:ule - ,r;t,. oon,ro,t ~aer thsir mnsiins
tuAt !a@Aeo ~eA "A~AA ~0A
ane leavo .hs Isa aorris1, @ n this snmmer-ike .t-
flo"els a.s5 10y 49, ,,nraea ~ the vai-to-do are
ospnGt han, @ TT + Is Tith tha Contemplation Of
nlteu VII e snent IT. ~ Tnss;.ns ronsoin thcT
tne1f seIuufe aoa anas - oreen IN ahe SNOW 1and-
eyes 1or tne M Apsoncg ;n.cste ol nhtaneae ~ ,ho
heapetMaof 1eap Poiar winter. int '~ ~ - ''''
Flowers receive you y tne aooa ha @ 3" 5ou up
tne ~, tha 1.nd;nos on ayery aoor In tha
enhr.sure Of the windows, bananas spread out their
broad sken 1eaves tanpot-palos, 1nasnouas, carnel
lies growing like mngls their blossoms With the
gided volutea 9t The orentas hover IKE on @