The Democratic advocate., 1879-10-25

10 polish the little oak table till II shines.
Then strangers ask for newspapers, which
is not the way with Russians, who prefer
to study politics at home, where they can
give vent to the feelings in comparative
safety. When, however, an evening edi-
tion ola paper appears the vendor who
brings IL to the tea-house hands IL to the
head waiter, who is always cultured per-
son, and reads out the last telegrams aloud
for the benefit of the company, This is
part Of his regular duties; he stops the
organ, takes his stand beside the counter,
and amidst dead hush delivers the news
in sing-song voice perfectly Unconditional.
II the times be stirring and reports be
brought Of some new Nihilist crime, all
the customers lift up their hands and muir
mur words Of freprobation for couple Of
minutes, as if they were reciting verses
from some Comination Service; then re-
lapse into silence, and smoke again, The
tidings Of an attempted assassination Of the
Car would, however, bring them all to
their legs together, aud they would file in
good order past the statute Of the Virgin,
signing themselves and pretending TO
weep; for perchance there might be police
spy present, and it would not do for Rus
sian 10 be seen with dry eyes whilst his
betters were being molested. The prudent
reserve which Russians exhibit in the tea
houses does not prevent them from engag-
ing very readily in conversation with any
foreigner who chooses to introduce himself;
only the foreigner will hear from them
nothing but praise unstinted about every
body aud everything he may talk Of. The
Russian is q most hospitable talker, for he
deals only in fattery, and will forego his
supper for the purpose of repeating by the
hour to Briton how he loves England,
or to FreDchman how he idolizes France
Russians who turn into q tea-house to-
wards six generally spend the evening
and sup towards eight, to the accompani-
ment Of the organ as usual. The doors
open twenty times in an evening to admit
itinerant sellers of food, for no edibles ex.
cept biscuits are sold by the landlord.
An old woman, booted, muffied and wrap
ped in sheepskiB, comes in with basket
of hard-boiled eggs, salted sardiues (Which
taste like the skin Of red heuing) and
little rolls. Then comes girl vita set~as
or apple cakes; then mao with alabs OF
raw ham or German sausage; then another
with portable stove which he installs in
the middle Of the tea-house that he may
cook iritters for all who order them. The
walters provide salt, wooden platters and
knives to the customers for charge of a
copeck; and, as the refreshments sold by
the hawkers are very cheap, man may
get long supper at no great cost.
The tea sold in the tea-houses is very
good, and Russians swallow surprising
quantities Of it; three or four pints, with .
proportionate quantity of vodki, will not
seem an excessive evenings allowance fol
a sober man. Coffee is never asked for
In the lower kinds of houses (where hand
barrel organs discourse music) the tea il
said to be a re-brew from the leaves thai
have been used by larger establishments
and here it is customary to serve the tea
ready favored with vodki. II makes a
potent beverage, which will send glow
all over the body Of an irostchick (cab
mani IA Nbiu anu nuAhC hIlNt
his sleigh or droschki in wild zigzags will
many yells. In the tea.bouses Of the
lower orders the shrine Of the Virgin
stands just within the door, aud Gus
toner would no more think Of taking tes
without paying his devotions than he woulC
go out into the snow without having hi
boots on. When he has well drunk b,
will make another stand at the shrine on
coming out; and one is happy to say thai
If a customer cannot remain quite stead j
on his legs during his brief prisons som,
Good Samaritans will always bear him /;
helping hand, lest the unsteady brother
going out unshriven with so much whisky
fed tea on board him, should come to grie
through his impiety. 1t is common
phrase in Russia to say of man who hal
rolled dead drunk into the snow aud 20
frozen there, "He forgot to pray after hi
tea. Pal Nall Gazette.