The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-18
WINTER SPORTS IN RUSSIA.
BesvltchlMg Beauty In Eura and An0,
Banks on '4Butter Week."

BesvltchlMg BeAuty In Fura and Snow
Banks on SHUTTER Week."
A writer reports from St. Petersburg,
in Russia, during what is called MAS
slenitza' or Butter Week, the week i'm
mediatcly preceding Lent. He writes that
it is devoted to popular rejoicing. A kind
OF fair is held on the Admiralty Place in
St. Petersburgh, and one of its main
features is couple of huge katoks facing
each other. They are at least - feet
high, and very steep, and as a continuous
stream Of slcds furiously dashes down the
CLASSY side, the spectators wonder why
serious accidents are of such rare occur
renee. Here ladies are seldom seen, or
femals of any class; the sport is too rough,
and only now and then one of the fair Sex
will intrust herself TO professional coast
er, many of whom bang around to initiate
unsuspecting strangers into the bewilder-
ing mysteries Of the sport. A favorite
mode Of coasting with the Russians is ly-
ing stretched out on the stomach, but it
takes considerable nerve to face the mad
turmoil in that way.
My own experience in this national
amusement was gained at private party
at a house in the suburbs Of st. Peters
burg, with a spacious garden attached to
it. The evening had been passed in So
cial games and occasional dances. but all
the fun was evidently regarded as merely
preliminary or introductory to something
better in store. Occasionally l caught a
phrase, which pointed to something
which everybody looked forward to, but
I was entirely ignorant of its nature. and
presumed it to be tabieaux or theatricals
Finally, at about The hour OF ten, gcner-
al call for furs AID wrappings arose, and
in few minutes the whole company had
passed into the garden. The moon had
just risen, and its pale beams revealed
the unshapely forms Of snow covered
trees and shrubs, the tops only of The lat
ter protruding over the thick bed of snow
with its glittcring crust. In the center
OF the garden I soon discovered the at
traction which had caused US to forsake
the warm and lighted rooms-two katok,
Of moderate height loomed up before US,
and number of sleds were strewn about
ready for use. A general pairing off took
place Immediately, and in few montmes
the sport was in full blast.
The two platforms faced each other,
and the trackes ran side by side, so that
the parties would dash past each other
amid laughter and shouting. l looked
around for a vacant sled in order to try
my hand at the game, but just as was eli
ming the steps to oae ofthe platforms, was
informed that no gentleman could he
permitted to ride alone on such an occas-
ion, and was quickly provided with
passenger-a young lady from the coun-
try, endowed with considerable cmboa-
point. Without possessing the least con-
tidence in my skill rs a steesman, l was
somewhat comforted by the thought that
the wellrounded form Of my passenger,
made still rounder by ample fox-skin
robe, would not be liable to suffer any
Serious damage in case of mishaps. With
the utmost nonchalance adjusted my
sled at the very edge of the dazzling,
shining and glittering incline.
1t IS necessary that the steersman
should seat himself first. etiquette being
entirely waved on the katok, but when
the fair Anna Ivanovna dopped down in
front of me with the grace and ease of
snowflake, though triae heavier, and, to
use the slang phrase, "cuddled up" to
lily Lutult O1t&ASL Will SANACc 1ufl III
charming confidence, my innate modesty
and diffidencc caused me to recede lit
tie, and, as was already seated on the
extreme edge, there was fall, a scream
and laugh, and the whole delightful per-
Torrance had to be gone through with
again. At last We were both seated, and
the sled adjusted, as immagined, with
the utmost mathematical precision, so as
to run a straight course to the end of the
track. Full of confidence, gave the
start, and: with all impetus that almost
took my breath away, we dashed ahead
to land in the snowbank on one side, only
half way down the incline.
The force with which the sled struck
the snow caused it to overturn, and my
fare and rolled down the snow bank to
the level. My'profuse apologies seemed
to be altogether superauous; the partner
of my disaster was none the worSe for it,
and only remarked that it was very
! naughty Of me 10 play that trick the first
time. The innocent little bundle of furs
though I had upset us on purpose. With
some misgivings on my part the expert
mcnt was repeated, with nearly the same
result, and by that time it dawned upon
the other participants in the fun that they
had "greeehorn" among them, and plans
for mischief were concocted accordingly.
One of the gentleman approached me and
observed thst seemed to he bewilderedb;
1 I'M ARs1l sAAn L.