Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-29
A SIBERIAN Gu BLOUSE.
Russian Hospitality and Queer Ways
of Showing 1t.

From the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
Our stay at TObOlsk was short for certain pro-
jected military movements made it imperative
for Grosdikoff to press on at once to Irkutsk, to
reach which place was long. dreary and dan
gerous journey. But before we LETT we were
entertained at dinner at the clubhouse by a
number of the wealthy merchants and the
civil officers Of the city. When we reached
the club-rOOm early in the evening we found
large company assembled, the members of
which In dress and in general carriage would
have done no discredit to the poltest society of
any European capital. We were served with
dinner of the choicest viands, but the strength
OF the banquet evidently lay in its wines and
liquors. Before we got through came to the
conclusion that the Siberian Russians can drink
more champagne without getting drunk than
any class of people ever met. At this dinner
they were drinking from beginning to end with
scarcely an intermissiOn, but after the substan.
tialS had been removed came their grand OppOr-
tunity. Champagne flowed like water, tOasts
being proposed and relgiously and heartily
drunk to everybody from the Car down to the
humblest guest present. After several hours of
this drinking-bOut the dinner was held to be
over, and in the adjoining coffee-rOOm tea and
coffee were served, probably as SOLDERING off
pOtiOns.
Then the champagne was brought in again,
and after partaking OF more wine there occurred
one of the strangest scenes that have ever wit
messed. party of a dozen gentlemen sur
rounded GvOsdikof, and thought were shaking
hands with him. Suddenly l saw them seize
him and without moments warning throw him
upward into the air. Almost touching the CELL
ing down he came. only to be tossed back and
forth again and again amid the shouts and the
laughter Of the company. l was astOunded
so drunk that they were crazy and were not
responsible for thus insulting their guest.
But gentleman at my side relieved my
anxiety on one part, and increased it on an
other, by telling me that this was Siberian
Russian custom of courteous attention and
that would be served in the same way pres
emily. And so was and was tossed back and
forth until was quite out Of breath, and what
with the tossing and the wine, could scarcely
stand straight when our friends were through
with me. This sport is called ''podkeedorate' y, y,
or tossing up and is always entered into by the
better class of Siberians when they desire to
show their respect for their guests in special
manner. We got away at last and drove off,
thankful that we had an all nights ride before
us i'll the cold air which might serve to revive
us. Judge of our surprise. when. just outside
the town we met party of our entertainers
whO taking a short cut in their sledge through
the town had thus intercepted us. Champagne
was again poured out and our mutual good
health pledged in a final round, and then we
drove out into the night and into the dreary
wilds.
We were soon sound asleep from the eff
fects OF the champagne and the cold, biting air,
so that the noise which fell upon our ears after
we had gone mile or two scarcely disturbed
our drOwsy senses. But our driver was ffore
wide awake, and reused us up. We listened
and in the clear night air would distinguish the
jingling of bells. the trOttng of horses, and the
loud shouts of men, 1t was plain that whoever
and whatever they were they were fast over
taking us. We were little alarmed, not know
ing whether we were the objects Of pursuit or
not, or whether we might not be about to fall
into the hands of some desperate fellows. We
sat up in our sledge and grasped our weapons,
as the pursuers could be heard just behind, fast
coming down upon US, and plainly calling upon
us to stop. The next moment, however, our
weapons dropped neryeless from our hands as
the sledges dashed up alongside US, On either
hand, and we heard the CHEEKY voice of one of
our entertainers saluting US, while the shouts
and laughter Of his companions at our evident
fright rang out upon the air. Some half dozen
friends, it seems, thought that their little car
Ousal had come to an end too abruptly. and so
had piled into their sledges and followed us for
another farewell.