Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-05
llahhnian & Journal.
wEpNEspAY. MAJ 5, 1s75.
Journeyings In Europe---s.


land journey, aud should have the rest aud
comforts Of sea voyage IN SUMMER. The
present city Of Odessa stands on the site
Of former Tartar village aud fortress
called lIadiibei. This place was captured
by the Russians in 1850, and shortly after,
the Empress Catherine II. had the name
changed TO Odessa. The geographical posi-
tion Of the place caused It 10 rise in imror
tance until il has become the chief port Of
Southern Russia, with q population Of about
two hundred thousand inhabitants, and ah
immense trade The city is built on plain
about one hundred and fifty feet above the sea
level, and was formerly the hottest and d,ts-
test Of Russian cities in summer, and the
muddiest in spring and autumn.
Though our stay was but ono day aud a
half we were able TO attend very pleasant
supper-party given al the house Of Madame
Witte, widow lady, whose husband served
ON the Caucasus for upwards Of twenty
years, aud died there while filling the office
of Minister of Public Domains. Among the
guests assembled was General Fadeyeif, a
brother Of the hostess, who also served on
the Caucasus. and is an intimate friend Of
Prince Bariatiu.ky. now Field Marshal of
the Russian Empire, aud formerly Nioeroy
Of the Caucasus. II was under Prince
| Bariatinsky's command that the celebrated
Sbamyi vas captured General Fadevcff i
a ready and sbie writer on military and
I
capable Of enliveninr the dullest party. After
SIMMER we sat and copversed for abont an
hour. Amongst other topics discussed was
the present aud past Of odessa. One gentle
man. who il seemed 10 me was rather given
TO drawing the long bow. or IN other words
TO telling big stories. said that before Odessa
was paved the mud was 30 deem that horsas
were often seen with onlv their heads and
necks above the ,ey.l Of me .ireet their
bodies being entirely submerged in the 3.er
of mud. The narrator then turne9 10 me
and said 81 sunnose that Won conld show
notbipo like tl,at in tbe way of had r,ads In
America" answered that ALTHOUGH, in the
older rarts Of the country We certainly oould
not give such An exhibition aa he had inst
described .tin o,,r country was oos ~
great resources and we tried hard not Ia i,e
heaten. even in storv.t,lling, that ,y,ull
NOT question the literal truth of hi. story
but would rive one showing the condition
Of American rcads. | then related story
which re,d some wears aco In an Ameri-
can paner NJ an Arkansas traveler who in
nassiug tbrouoh a small town. fouud a
farmer on the sidewalk with long pole.
sounding the street. which was a perfect sea
Of thick. dark colored fluid. t'pou inouiry.
il arpeared he had lost hi, horses aud
wagon they had gone down in the middle
of the street and he was searching for them
with the pole. After a few moments
anxious suspense they were discovered. and.
1 thanks to the all Of benevolent towns peo-
pie, the horses aud wagon acre fshed np
from the bottom Of the street, and restored
to their rightful owner, who went ON his way
reioiaipg. A little later. a discussion was en-
tered int., with regard 10 the respective mer-
/ is Of Russian and American trotting horses.
Neither side would give In. Htisst thecase
was r.fsrrsd ~ ma They ,,or,.1 ma - 30
soI,.' a.. ,l;a;,,t,,.. Iii. ,Ls.',.".;l.
~ '"e i'e'''''''
Said mat would not undertake. To deter
! mine which Were superior, the American or
the Russian horses. but I promised 10 pive
o.ses n sroo5 ro..,,,..i; II, t,,or;o,,, -.
| could not youoh for tleir trut.. lpt they
were based on the statements of the owners
Of the horses. One was thaton going over n
IL ,,,,,.,. IT.. H.. a..
'''"''' ' ''''''"
was unable 10 keep up Win am so lhat on
| the third round the horse caught up with
his own shadow. and arrived at the winning
| - .o,,o,,.. IN, :, III. :; a. ls
~" "' - ''' 'o'so
made three in'lcs WOlis his shadow made
but two. The other was the case OF q man
who. ON A bright summer day was exercis.
Ina, Ia. h,rso IT,, r., IL g., -.
i"s ms ''''S' "''"' ''''s' ''''e' i'o'' ''''e'
suduehIy the SKY became overcast, dense
mass Of black clouds covered the heavens;
he had scarcely time TO direct his way home
,,ord ,.lon ,,c .,or,,, -, ,or,h ,.;,h ,.1a.
4