Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-06-08
ANCAsTER rNTELIIGENcER, SATURDAY, JUNE g. 1850

Among the village swans were two
brothers, by name Alexandrovitch and
Michaelovitch Somoff, who had both
fallen in love with Maria Agapievna.
This proved an unfortunate affair and
called for the interference of tho mir.
Alexandrovitch was small and slender
and rather delicate, while Michaelovitch
was tall and powerfully built. Love re-
ceived no consideration in tho decision
of the mir, but TO tho brother strongest
and best able 10 support wife was tho
maiden given. Maria, poor girl, had no
say in the matter. but knew her heart
yearned for tho delicate, gentle Alexan-
drovitch.
SO the krasny sarafan, or red pctticoat,
was begun amid the tears and lamenta-
tions Of the poor girl, who piteously
begged that the preparations might be
delayed rs long ms possible. The krasny
sarafan Is considered an important ar
ucle Of dress in the trousscau Of every
peasant bride, rs it is the last gift from
mother TO child and an emblem OF her
approaching wifehood. Tho day ap-
pointed for the wedding dawncd bright
and clear.
Yet, while all without was 10Y and
gladness, in one little homo sorrow
reigned supreme, for Maria Agapievna
was about to be sacrificed TO unalterable
law. About noon the guests began TO
assemble. The first to arrive was Mi
chaelovitch SomoG, the intended groom,
accompanied by the swat, his relatives
and young friends. Tho swatka, al
ready in attendance mt tho brides home,
received them and transferred TO Mi
cbaelovitch the brides dowry, which
consisted Of a couple Of cows and various
articles for household use. The bride,
accompanied by the swatka, her pa.
rents, relatives and friends, next ap-
peared, and a triumphal march TO the
church was begun.
About twenty droskics, driven troika
fashion, followed tho party. The horses
were dccked with bright colorcd ribbons,
and, with their drivers dressed in holiday
attire, presented n picturesque and pleas.
ing appearance. The giSl friends of the
bride formed into a procession Of twos,
and singing the sad songs of the country
as u sort of panacca for her approaching
loss of liberty. followed her TO the sacred
edifice, where tho bridegroom received
her from her parents hands.
Tho marriage ritual of tho Greek
church is very similar 30 that OF tho
Catholic, with tho exception of tho in
terchange OF rings, which takes place
when each ia turn il asked il he or she
will take tho other for life to love and
cherish. On reaching tho husbands
house fun and feastng began in earnest,
and tho quantityof vodka (whisliy) con.
sumed would sound incredible 10 Amer
ican ears. Indeed, it Is considered an
insult to your host and hostess if you do
not give the god Racchus full sway and
aid by becoming bcastly drunk. Tho
revclry is usually carried on for two or
more days, and during its continuance
the people Of tho village become thor
oughly dcmoralized 1t was week or
ten days before the peasants settled down
to tho routine Of daily life.
1t was perhaps six months after the
scene just described that again met tho
Countess SchovaloH in Paris, and on in
quiring the fate of poor Marta learned
that she had not many months survived
the cruel sacrifice, and was now sleeping
peacefully in quiet corner of the village
churchyard. But what of Alexandra
vitchr you naturally ask. Well, hc dis
appeared one week before the wedding,
and reaching Petersburg joined the Nj
hilist party there. Becoming one of its
most active members, ho soon fell under
police suspicion, and became an inmate
Of the fortress of Petropavlovsk. His
fate is shrouded in mystery, but it is sup
posed he pcrished willie within prison
walls, as no further tidings of him ever
reached his native village. Such is the
ineXorablc hand of fate and the inviola-
bio law of tho Russian village commune.