Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-25
TRAVEL IN RUSSIA.
Difficulties and oddities OF the Post Roads
in That Country.

j have travelled about five hundred
miles, from here to the Persian border
and back, on the post road, writes n
Ilti:s, Russia, correspondent to the st.
Louis Globe Democrat, and find it, in
many respects, an excellent discipline
in patience. | can not complain of the
speed of travel, for they have fine
horses. and when once on the road we
covered six, eight. and even thirteen
miles in an hour. The provoking part
Is the delay, which seems almost inevi-
table, at the post-houses where we
changed horses.
Upon our arrival at the station our
conductor must first present his ''pa-
doroshne," or road passport, have it
examined and registered. before the or
der for fresh team can be given. In
the meantime the horses, which have
brought us thus far are being very de-
iberately unhitched to make room for
the new ones when they are brought
out. Instead of keeping these horses
here to rest, and be ready for the next
carriage which may be returning over
their route. they are sent back with
to the place from which we took them.
After our carriage has been standing
for an indefinite time ready for horses,
and we have been sitting in it, or walk
ing about trying to believe we enjoy
the scenery, man comes sauntering
out from the stables with a bundle of
ropes and straps, which prove to be
the reins for the team, which will come
some time. These are thrown down,
and we wait still longer. Finally an-
other man comes out leading one, or,
at most, two horses. When he has
them in position he will probably find
that he has forgotten some part of the
harness. Vigorous shouting will in due
time summon another man, who must
come down to the road to see for him
self what is wanted, aud then 90 back
to hunt in the dark stable for the lost
strap. When the two pole horses are
at length tied into place, another pair
must be brought, for they drive four
abreast. 1t is more than likely that a
long discussion will ensue to find out
whether these horses are in their prop
er places, and perhaps one or two must
be removed. If it is hard road, so
that six horses are necessary, the next
step is to bring the whifile-trees for the
leaders and tie them to the end of the
pole. After they are adjusted to the
satisfaction of the whole company, the
last pair of horses are sent for, the
loose lines tied to all the bits, and we
are ready to start. We thought we
were doing very well when our team
was ready in half an hour, but it was
often much more. They do not seem
to see the use of a buckle when straps
can be tied, nor is n strap necessary
when rope can be used. The traces
are all rope; the pole is held firmly in
its place by ropes attached to the axle
and twisted up with short pieces of fire.
wood.
When once started, our trials are not
yet at an end. for trace may come
united or need readjustment and we
must stop to have it attended to. They
seem never to carry an extra rope, but
if one breaks it must be tied up some
way. Then while we are standing still
the horses will probably improve the
opportunity to have fight, for the
post-horses all bite and kick, and some
times they get up very lively skirmish
if they get at one another where they
are free.
Another occasional delay comes when
the carriage must be oiled. This was
done once each day. All the men at
the post-house must be present to see
that it is done rightly, and no thought
of preparing the horses at the same
time seems to occur to them. | do not
understand the Russian language, but
l have begun very seriously to doubt
whether it has any word to express the
idea of hurry. At any rate. there is no
use in trying 10 stir the men up, unless
it be by the presentation of small
piece of money, and this becomes ex-
pensiye where so many are engaged in
every process. | have received this ad-
vice and | think it is good: If your
driver seems inclined to 90 too fast for
your comfort, urge him to drive faster,
but give him no money, and the effect
will certainly be to slacken his speed.
The arrangement of these convey
ances is peculiar and complicated. If
you wish to make journey on this
government road you must first get a
padoroshne, which is the government
document giving you a right to horses
and the use of the post-houses. Then
a carriage must be selected. This also
belongs to the government, and the
conductor is man whom they send
along to have charge of the vehicle
during the whole journey. He is not
ha dy,,- h., -
intendent. The horses do not belong
to the government, nor do they belong
to any one organization, but the man
in charge of each post-house has his
own horses, which he hires out at a
rate fixed by the government. They
send along driver with each team, or
two when six horses are taken. As l
have said, these drivers take the
horses back as soon as they complete
the stage. Ii the different men could
trust each other combination would
get twice the work out of their horses,
and greatly diminish the expense of
travel.
The drivers and other attendants are
men with their monde
script apparel and huge hats. The
most common headgear is the great
brown fur cap. Some Of these that l
have seen can not be less than eighteen
or twenty inches in diameter at the
bottom. They wear these in summer
as well as winter
This might seem a good field for |
American enterprise to try and estab-
lish mere systematic arrangement,
but l can not recommend it as promis-
ing prompt or complete success.
Tho Af