The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-23
4 Russian Village Tea Party.


Sunset over the village Of Ismailow;
the tall green tower oi the single church.
with lis lead.covsrod cupola, standing
boldly ont against the crimson sky;
several scores nf quaint little log huts
clustered around It. like chickens under
the wing of the mothcr-hen the last
ray of the sinking sun casting u mo
mcntary CLEAN upon the shining curves
of one 81 the countless tributaries of the
Nolga, Rs it winds around the base ut
the slope ON which the village stands.
all around, outstrctchol for many "a
mile, the soft. dreamy, sunny uplands
of Central Russia: aud. far in the back
ground, the shadowv maascS of the
ancient pnc forest looming rulleuly
along the darkeniug horizon.
But picturesque an In the scene itself.
il is fully matched 10y the group Of hg
uros that cluster around me, as | Sit
perched ON one of those huge iron
clampcd chests, painted bright vcrmil-
ion, which are to the Russian peasant
what grand piano or carved side
board rs 10 his civilized brethren.
Strange looking fellows indeed they are,
these low browcd, sallow, bearded, yok
low haired men; with the dogged on.
durAuCv Of their race written In every
line Of tucir patient, stolid. uuyielding
faces. Some are in red calico shirts,
worn over their other clothes; some,
despite the heat Of the room, keep 10
the traditional sheepsklu frock. A few
wear kuce-high boots, smoared with tar,
but the majority are barefo0ted, and
hare. headed likewise.
These are the famous " "Mujiks " Of
Russia. of whom So much is said and $50
little known; aud the faithful descrip-
tion Of whose daily life would seem as
monstrous aud Incredible as the first
accounts OF the African gorilla. lguur-
ant as an Australian savage; supersti-
tious as au ancient A thrnian; Injured 10
hardships from which a meiiteVal an.
chorite would have shruuk, at once Il
glutton and an ascete: peaceful even a.
sluggishness, vet capable uf the most
horrible vengeance; able 10 sustain life
on a pit;uuce of food that would starve
an Indian, and 10 pass whole nights out
of doors IN the depth Of winter, with no
protection save a tattered sh0opskiu;
intensely susceptible Of kindness. Vet
unguyemble save 10y the extreme of
severity. the Mulik is indeed the stmng-
est of all the waits stranded by the cbb
OF the Middle Ages upon tho shore of
the nineteenth century.
But, strange as arr the guests, there
is no lack Of good cheer The tumblers
(fur no true Russian ever thinks Of
drinking tea from cup have been
drained again and again the sliced
lemons which here DO duty for milk, are
already beginning 10 run short and
the huge black rye loaf, once as big As
hassock, is more than half demolished.
Beside the saHl0rGr (tea urn which,
having Just been replenished, is now
kissing and steamlng like miniature
volcano, lies huge platter Of those
small, round buckWheat cakes, famous
throughout Russia under the name Of
"bhuui." which are The traditional
dainty OF the season. They are usually
eaten with fresh caviare, or butter, or
" swetanA," (sour creamy or all three
together, AS taste may direct but ont
here ON the steppe. where such relishes
are not easily come by, We are fam 20
content ourselves with mutton fat.
While the teeth are 50 busy, the
tongues are anything but idle for to
these isolated villagers. in whose eyes a
journey 10 Moscow or SAratod Is like
Polar voyage or an African expedition,
the arrival of a travelled visitor is no
small treat and thew at once over
whelmci ME with questions.
"And YOU have really been 20 Jcru-
salem, father? IL must have been
tremendous long journey for you 90
Z" Not 50, brother it's only twelve
DAYS from here.
Visible sensation among my audience.
" Twelve days =" echoes brawny fel-
low opposite me, in tone Of un-
bounded amaEemeut. Why. thought
il was right away at the ends Of the
earth. beyond lhrice nine lands 1.-THE
Russian phrase for eItcreme distancel.
No, not quite So far AS that. You
ride 10 JaiiA, and 60 by steamer 10 Con
stanbnople, and then across the Black
Sea 30 Odessa; and from there, If You
like, You can GO round the Crimea, as
I've beer doing"
"And did you see the place where
Pavcl Petrov.tch lost his arm ? asks
my Uis-a-ris eagerly, glanclng at a one
armed old man in the corner, whose keen
bright eve almost coutradicts the test-
mouy OF his suow-white beard and hair,
against which his SCARED, swarthy face
looks doubly grim.
"Were YOU IN that business then,
brother p ask |, turning to the vet
eran.
"Yes, father. was down there in
"a; and il was one Of your countrymen
who did this Job for me - tapping his
empty sleevel. "But what then? when
men fight. they We got 10 fight, OF course,
and | don't bear him any gTudge.
We're all brothers again now. thank
God: and after all. II it was an English
man that made the wound, IL was AN
Englishmau who tied il mp for me; aye
and tore up his own shirt 10 do II
AYE, aye" chimes in another; " he
that remembers by-gones, let. him have
his eve prft out "a native proverbl.
But tell me father" resumes my
opposite neighbor. "are the countries
OF the South really as beautiful as peo-
pie make them ont ?"
"You may say that Stepan Yakovitch
(Stephen, son Of James). " In some OF
the countries where I've been ! saw trees
growing. one leaf of which would roof
this hut Of yours y
think OF that, now -
Z" And grapes growing by the way
side, inst as tohernceki (blneberriesl do
here"
"See there. brothers; what things
there are in this world, to be sure?'
"And no winter all the year round.
This unlucky announcement destroys
at once the effect Of all that has preceded
II. A sudden chill falls upon my hear
ers, who exchange looks of silent horror.
"No winter 7" e1claims the soldier at
length, "Well, that is Heaven'siudgment
on the unbelievers; they don't deserve TO
have one ~
"Ach. Pavel Petrovitchl" 7" whispers
his neighbor, "don't you see that the
BARN Cmaster) is making fun of us? As
if any one could get on without q
winter :"