The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-03-31

We were passing through Poland in
great haste. Pressing business urged us
on but, then, that almost fiat country,
marshy and unhealthy, which stretches
out between Minsk and the Gulf of
Bothnia, offers none of those attractions
which induce the traveller to pause. The
villages and towns succeeded each other
along the interminable road, very much
alike and differing only in the quantity y
of houses and huts, in the number or i'm
portance of the churches. AS the view
afforded nothing of the picturesque, the
sight of the post stations alone gave us
pleasure.
But when one is in hurry thous
and disagreeable accidents are sure to
entangle themselves together. Of course,
such accidents always happen,even when
one has plenty of leisure, but then they
escape attention.
This time, however, a sort of fatality
seemed to pursue us, for, at every relay
or two, no horses were at the station, and
we were forced to wait, sometimes an
hour, sometimes half day, which may
be explained by the small importance OF
the road we had taken.
At last, by happy stroke of luck,
we got over "A pretty long stretch OF
country without any hindrance.
"Some dreadful catastrophe must Ger
tainly overtake us, said |, with IA laugh,
to my travelling companion, or fortune
will not be satisfied with her days
work"
had scarcely finished speaking when
the position, half turning round upon his
seat, pointed with the tip of his whip to-
wards the town we were approaching.
1T is on fire." said he phlegmati
cally.
A pink flush was visible rear at hand,
beneath the sky,the light blue of which
that periwinkle blue peculiar to the
countries of the North--was darkened
by the approaching night. The slightly
Jagged silhouette of the town was pic
tured in the focns, from whence escaped
great whirlwinds of smoke, and the tin
ned dome of the Russian church ref Actad
the flames like an imperfectly silvered
| mirror.
"What do you call that place p asked
| |, of the postilion,as he vigorously whip
ped up his h'rses.
"Roudnia," said he ''it's the town o
Roudnia"
| In the eyes of every Russian or Polisl
peasant three houses form a town, pro
videl they are grouped around atpwn
AMI Rouania lOsst ssed two churches,o on
of them Catholic
The rapidly-moving horses reached III
great beam, yariegat,d with white, re'
and black, which was then the customlr
gate of every town. An official in
greasy uniform came to receive the stiI
ulated toll. He cried out something III
ineligible, and the beam PLACID acros
the road rose obliquely towards the sk,
This species of ate,altogether primitive
yet exists upon many of the goverGmeI
highways, though Russia has done ava
with the tolls on the great road
Our position urged on his great animal
and we went through two or three yer
dirty paved streets at a gallon,
A noisy crowd rushed in the same d
rection, towards the scene of the Cont
gra'ion, and we nearly crushed half
doz'n Jews who were running alonI
lifting their Lengthy robes and utterir'
cries of distress
"It's Jews house that's on fire, 81
the position, without ceasing to urge {
the horses.
"IIow do you know 'hat'' asked u
companion.
II smell the stencil, answered the wa
laughing heartily,
. The caleche suddenly turned a corn,
Z ! at II great risk of being upset aud sto
lped in front of the post station.