The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-05-05
WESTMINSTER, MD. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1877

barbarism side by side. Not few of
those you meet in those elegant streets
look as If they had just emerged from the
wilds; their garb and bearing being strik-
ing contrast with the cultivated throngs
in the last Paris fashions. The laboring
men very generally wear a colored shirt
most frequently pink or red, and, strange
to say, they wear it not inside but outside
the pantaloons. A sleeveless black vest is
worn over it, fitting close up to the throat,
and this, with the red shirt sleeves projec-
ting from the armholes, and the red shirt
hanging down below, together with high
top boots coming up to the knees, gives
quite picturesque effect Some of the
working men wear tow apron up to the
neck like child's bib. Aud though the
thermometer is almost in the nineties, not
a few are clad as if for midwinter; long,
heavy overcoats or cloaks reaching almost
to the feet, and not unfrequently cloak
of sheep-skin with the wool on-the wool
turned inside One would think this
enough to stiAe salamander but these
gentry no doubt feel quite comfortable, in
asmuch as they believe the heat cannot
penetrate through such covering. The
clothing of some is very old, dirty, covered
with patches, aud almost ragged. Many
wear kind of thick, heavy, woolen slip
pers instead Of shoes. One man had on
long wadded overcoat, without sleeves, but
giving his red shirt sleeves a unique CON
spicuity. Alongside these winter.cad peo-
pie are citizens Of the higher classes carry
ing umbrellas to protect them from the sun.
have been told that the working classes
are much addicted to drink. But if so,
the beverage must be more inviting and
more potent than what was shown US as
the common drink of the multitude. This
is what is called "quash, and is made by
termenting black bread. 1t is horrid stuff,
and tastes as if the principal ingredients
were SCOT and vinegar
But one thing invariably attracting the
attention Of the visitor to St. Petersburg
is the strange-looking bow above the shoul.
ders of every draught horse This is of
wood, some six inches wide, and is attach
ed to the end of the shafts, and rises to
the height of nearly a yard above the
horse. 1t is usually painted-most fire.
quently green, the Russian national color
and is often ornamented with painted
flowers or gliding. 1t is a clumsy looking
affair, and one cannot but feel that it is a
discomfort and incumbrance to the poor
horse; but it is usage handed down from
bygone generations, aud no one is bold
enough to propose the innovation of dis
pensing with it. After diligent inquiry
as to what could be the possible object Of
such an awkward, uncouth, and cumber-
some contrivance, we were told that it is
designed to protect the horse from the
pressure of the shafts, it being so arranged
as to hold these off from his shoulders
Another oddity is the attachment of traces
to the outside of the shafts well forward,
aud at the other extremity to the hub of
the wheel. As to the common wagons
drawn by horse thus rugged, they seem
little else than a pile of lumber, The
wagon body is u long pen of poles with
cross poles built in at either end On the
middle Of this sits a square rude hopper
looking box, which is the chief carrying
compartment. Such an amount Of rubbish
for 50 small an amount of useful transpor-
tation have not seen elsewhere in the
world. With this to haul, aud with the
clumsy, heavy bow upon his neck, the
poor horse may well claim sympathy. No.
where would the efforts of Mr. Bergh in
behalf of oppressed and misused animals
be more in place than in Russia. The
present Emperor has introduced valuable
reforms; it is to be hoped he will effect
one in this department. Having emanci-
pated serfS, let him emancipate horses
don't know when St. Petersburgers
60 to bed in summer, but l should think
some of them did not do so at all. With
our open windows and the rattle of the
droskys, sleep was impossible at times, so
| would get up and sit at the window per-
haps at three o'clock in the morning, and
at that untimely hour there were grave,
well.behayed, middle aged people prone.
nading leisurely arm-in-arm around the
square. True, the bright sivery twilight
almost forbids the idea of night, but one
would think the poor souls must sleep some
times.
Reader, should you happen in this great
capital in the summer, your eyes may be
gladdened by seeing in shop windows those
familiar and pleasant articles reminding
you of home, cantelopes and grapes, and
you will no doubt congratulate yourself,
and go in to purchase for yourself and
party. | did so. But on inquiring the
price of cantelope such as could get in
Baltimore for five cents, l learned that the
price is eighty-two cents in gold; and the
grapes at corresponding rates. | did not
buy many. The solution given was that
such fruit were brought from the Crimea
on the Black Sea--five hundred miles
away. | am coming to the conclusion
that no other country has SO many and
such cheap fruit as our own.