Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-14

,r short. On this occasion the train was
light, and the baggage was soon inspected.
But the passengers were not permitted to
resume their place in the train. AS soon
as they escaped the custom officers they
were led into the adjoining restaurant
men, women and children-where were all
classes of people in every condition. All
outer doors were locked, and were
guarded by officers. Timid, delicate
women lowered in the corners
and waited for the end of the
two hours, while half-intoxicated Russians
crowded about, smoking pasty cigars or
drinking steaming tea at the tables. Slavs,
Greeks, Persians, Swedes, Russians, Ger
mans, not an English voice was heard !;
interpret even sign. The women were
more ready and bright, and OWNED the
wishes of travellers more readily.
Finally 4 Russian rushed like mad from
the station and began ringing bell. There
was 4 connection inside. The bell-ringer
moved up and down the long platform and
made much unnecessary noise. The doors
were unlocked and the passengers passed
out, an officer being ready to see that each
parcel bore the stamp of the custom-house
An hour and half of unnecessary, dis
agreeable waiting made one appreciate the
atmosphere, chilly even in August Just
before the train started jingle of spurs
and sabers was heard, and two gendarmes
appeared. They entered the carriages
and handed out the passports. Each
passport bore simple and short
signature-that of the Consul or Gov-
ernor-and the seal of the officer
Two or three passengers did not re
ceive their passports, because the doc
uments were not vised, and they
were obliged to remain and explain
AS the train rolled on from the frontier
toward Warsaw and St. Petersburg the
proverb, "The gates of Russia are wide to
those who enter, but narrow to those who
go out" fingered in my mind.
The American traveller is quite as much
impressed with the quaintness of the
country and the remarkable character o.
the people when he arrives at Cracow Oh
Warsaw (the latter the old Capital of Pc
land, now subject to Russia, as he has witt
any other part of the country. The char
acteristics of the Poles, so far as the con
struction Of city goes, are as far a
variance with the English or American a
those Of the Russians. Strange old build
ings covered with crazy characters anC
pictures, broad, roughly-bowldered street
filled with droskies, the prevalent vehicle
make one feel that anything is possible il
this country.
The face of Russia is like Wisconsin
less the lakes and beautiful streams
Northern Michigan, without the larges
pine trees, and New Mexico, with the alb
sence of warmth. The pineries are stunt
ed, the fields covered with wheat - il
harvest during August and the village
are of small wooden buildings covered
with straw. Nowhere is there arch
itecture, taste or cleanliness displayed
The advancement of the country may b
illustrated in the statement that, thong
Russia is one of the greatest in wheat produC
ing, the cereal is sown broadcast, harveste
with the sickle, thrashed with the tai
and three-fourths of the work is done b
the women. The forests are infested b
wolves and other wild animals the field,
when not covered with wheat, are carpete
; with Jean Marie, with a yellow rattle an
, a plume of blue leaves at the top. Musl
rooms and all the fungi of a cold climat
are seen, and ones bewilderment increase
as the slow train goes further and furthe
J into the Empire-S Petersburg Corr
sp0ndent N. Y. Sun.