New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-02-11
MOSCOW.
At Tea-Drlnklns Estab1ishment-Russia
CustOma.

1twould be very incomplete sketch
of Moscow that did not treat of the
''traktirs,' or tea-houses. They abound
in every street, lane and alley, rivaling
in their numbers the public houses of
western lands. The drinking of ..tchai''
is, indeed, prominent feature of Rus
sian life. Everyone has heard of the
precious packages Of tea, the best that
the Flowery Land can produce, brought
across the steppes of Tartary and
through the passes of the Oural Noun
tains to the great fair of hni-Noygo-
rod. Enter traktir at what hour of
the day you please it always seems
crowded. A corpulent little saint with
smiling countenance, who is supposed
especially to preside over tea-drinking,
is perched in one corner The Russians,
as they enter, uncover their heads and
bow to the patron of 1.-THE cup that
cheers, but not inebriates. - Profusely
perspiring, and, indeed, completely
saturated with tea, the habitues talk
over and settle matters of business or
pleasure, strike bargains, or balance ac-
counts. Merchants, brokers and bank
ers confer and transact business; pleas
ure-seekers arrange their plans; es-
tranged friends make up their quarrels
over the steaming tumblers. Who can
doubt that ea-drinking in Moscow is
great National institution?
One of the chief houses of call for
merchants in Moscow is the Moskouski
Iraktir. This is no ordinary establish
ment. Tall, robust servants, in white
trousers and TUNES, move to and fro,
and assiduously wait upon the guests.
The cooking at this establishment is
celebrated, but it is for tea-drinking
that it is chiefly frequented. Ii YOU
have no one to talk to, you can smoke
a pipe or cigarette, or listen to the
organ. At almost all the restaurants.
however humble, music is supplied.
The organ at the Moskouski Traktir
was made at Wurtemburg, expressly for
this establishment, and cost e., 200. 1t
plays when it is wound up, and is linn
tied to just twenty tunes, so that those
who frequent this traktir year after
year must find a little sameness in the
performance. But, after all, it is in the
tea-gardens and similar suburban resorts
that the most pleasing phases of Russian
tea-drinking are witnessed. Beneath
the trees, in every direction, happy fam
lilies surround the FURNISHED urn; and in
retired hooks the teapots are witnesses
to lovers VOWS. Petrofski Gardens are
a very fayorite resort. In 1912 Napo-
leon lodged here for time in the cha
teau built by the Empress Elizabeth.
The road from Moscow is thronged
with carriages and droskies and we'll
dressed pedestrians.
Guards and police keep order at the
gates that admit to the varied attrac-
tons within-the promenades, and
lawns, and copses; the rustic cottages.
stalactite caves, and glens, and grottoes;
the lake, the fountain, and the marble
statues. In the evening, avenues of
many-colored lights and festooned
arches conduct to pagodas used as
theaters for various entertainments
comic dramas, in which the fun is some
what broad and grotesque, exhibitions
of tumbling, etc. Grand displays of
fireworks terminate the proceedings.
The ordinary town-peasant usually
affects a red shirt and high boots The
moulik, fresh from the country, is most
ly clad in suit of undyed homespun
cloth, and in lieu of Stockings he winds
cloths around his legs. His feet are
shod with sandals Of plated linden
bark. The lower classes in Moscow are,
for the most part, smiling and good
natured, but slow, slouching, and
shabby in their appearance. They are
also very frequently drunk; for, though
fond of 'tchar,'' they by no means
confne themselves to it. In addition to
Sundays, there are no less than fifty
clearly annual holidays kept in
Moscow, and the holiday-makers are
usually incapable all next day.
A Russian nurse is conspicuous OBJ
ject in the public street. If her infant
charge is a boy, she is attired in blue;
| if a girl, in red. Should she be in the
service of some rich family, her dress is
lavishly trimmed with gold, above which
hangs an apron of fine dotted muslin.
There is plenty of bread made in Mos
COW which is not black; indeed good
sweet bread is a specially Of the city,
and is often sent as a present to friends
in St. Petersburg. The water is brought
twelve miles in water courses from The
Mytistchi Springs to the public foun-
tains, but it is very seldom laid on to
private houses. Accordingly, to supply
domestic needs tribe of water-carricrs
are out at early dawn. The water
carriers are only one among many
classes of itinerant vendors and workers.
A funeral in Moscow, when conduct
ed, as is usually the case, in the ortho-
dox National manner, is a picturesque
and interesting spectacle. The process
sion is headed by long-bcarded priests
in their black robes, carrying shrines
and burning tapers in their hands.
Next comes the hearse with four horses
On the steps of the hearse are more
priests holding images of the Saviour
over the coffin. Yet more follow, speak
ing words of consolation to the friends
and relatives of the departed. AS the
procession moves on the people in the
streets cease from their occupation, I'm.
cover their heads, bow, and pray fol
the repose of the deceased. The count
less pigeons of Moscow are feature OF
the city which ought not to remain un-
noticed. They enjoy life. freely, and in.
crease and multiply to an enormous
extent, for no one thinks of killing
them. In the popular mind they arr
incarnate emblems of the Holy Spirit
Moscoa0 Cor. Chicago Tribune.
Two Frenchmen, the brothers
! hou II