Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-11-24

TIE WINTER SPORTS OF THE RUSSIANS.


The late Theophile Gautier, in his
Winter in Russia" wrote as follows: ::
A mujik-from Vladimir, it was said
who had come into the city bringing
wood or frozen provisions, stood looking
on from the height of his rustic troika.
He was clad in the usual greasy touloupe
with an old matted fur cap, aud felt
boots white with hard service; beard
unbempt and lustreless bristled upon the
chin. He had a team of three little
horses, disheveiled, ,wild-looking, shaggy
as bears. frightfully filthy, with icicles
hanging down underneath them, carry
ing their heads low, and biting at the
snow heaped up in masses on the river.
A douga like Gothic window, painted
with glaring colors in stripes and zig
Zags, was the part of the equipage on
which most care had been bestowed
doubtless the work of mujik's own
hatchet. This wild and primitive equip
age offered the strongest possible con-
trast to the luxurious sledSes, the tri-
umphant troikas, and all the other
elegant vehicles which stood drawn up
along the edges of the track. More
than one laughing glance ridiculed the
humble troika. And, to tell the truth.
in this brilliant scene it had much the
same effect as spot of wheel-grease on
an ermine mantle.
But the little horses, whose hair was
all matted with frozen sweat, looked
out scornfully through their stiffened,
shaggy forelocks at the high-bred ami
mails that seemed TO shrink away from
contact with them-for animals, like
the rest of US, feel a contempt for pow
erty. A CLEAN of fire shone in their
sombre eyes, and they struck the ice
with their small shoes attached to their
slender, sinewy legs, bearded like an
eagles quills. The mujik, standing
upon the seat, contemplated The course.
without appearing in the least surprised
by the prowess of the horses. Now and
then, even, faint smile CLEANED below
the frozen CRYSTALS OF his mustache, his
grey eyes sparkled mischievOusly, and
he seemed to say, 1--WE, too, could do as
much" Taking a sudden resolve, he
entered the list to try bis luck. The
three little unlicked bears shook their
heads proudly as if they understood
that they were to maintain the honor
of the poor house of the steppes, and,
without being urged, they went off al
such pace that every body else on the
track began to take the alarm; and they
went like the wind, with their little
slender limbs, and they carried off the
victory from all the others-thorough-
breds of English race, barbs, and OrlOc
horses-by minute and some seconds
The mujik had not presumed toe
much upon his rustic steeds. The prize
was adjudged to him magnificent piece
of chased silver by Valiant, the mos
fashionable goldsmith in St. Petersburg
This triumph eXcitedanoisy enthusiasm
among the crowd usually so silent and
so calm. AS the conqueror came of he
was surrounded by amateurs proposing
TO buy his three horses: they went 81
far as to offer him 5000 rubles apiece
an enormous sum for beasts and mar
both. To his credit be il said, the mujil
persistently refused. He wrapped hi
piece of silver in a fragment of ole
cloth, climbed upon his troika, anC
went back as he came, not willing a
any price to part from the good littl,
creatures who had made him for tht
moment the lion of 81. Petersburg.