Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-28
CUSTOMS In RUSSIA.
Mr.. Charles Fayes Speaks Of the Land
of the Gar and the Cossack.
THEIR PESKY CUSTOM OFFICERS.
Some Street Regulations Not Common to
Other Countries.
GREAT POPULARITY OF THE CZARINA

M. Charles Fayes, the eminent French
traveller, an interview with whom appeared
in THE DISPATCH OF a few days ago, told ,
reporter last night some of his Russian ex
periences He is acquainted with the Czar'l
private physician, and is thus in good po
sition to speak of the great Romanof despo
with accuracy. The Gar is, says NJ
Fayes-on the authority of the physician
alluded to-a man of wit and intelli
gence, but possessed of unconquerable OBJ
stinacy. To this may be ascribed hit
steady refusal to favor the granting of q
liberal constitution to his vast domlnions.
The Czarina is, like her sister, the Princess
of Wales, immensely popular with the de.
mocracy, and she takes advantage of this
fact to accompany her husband on every ex-
pedition. however trivial. The Nihilists do
| not want to hurt her, and thus the Gar has
escaped death on many occasions. Death,
he thinks, must come to him by Nihilist
hands within short space of time unless he
cheats the lurking assassin by natural
death.
Mr.. Faves has travelled extensively in
Russia, and mis- wife is Russian lady, Of
| good family. He SAYS the most disagreea-
BILE thing in connection with the country is
the getting there. He travelled by the Will
son line to Riga, some years ago. When in
port, the Custom House officers boarded the
vessel, and proceeded to examine the bag
gage of the passengers
VERY ExACTING FELLOWS.
These officers are old army men and very
exact in performing their duties. They
take every article of clothing or otherwise
out of the trunks, shake it, examine it to see
that there is nothing inscribed upon it, and
then request to be told its exact value, use,
or significance. For ornamental or super
fuous articles they charge heavy duty, on
which they pocket a percentage. The ez-
animation of single trunk in this manner
often occupies an hour or more.
No sooner are the custom officers gone
than the passport officers arrive. These
gentlemen request to be shown everyones
passport One lady, on board the ship with
Mr.. Fayes, had omitted to get passport in
London. She was promptly locked up in
her cabin and closely guarded until the
British Consul arrived. He had no power
to grant passport, but telegraphed to the
foreign Office in London for one. It was
three days before the passport came
Another day was consumed in useless for
malities, and it was not till the fifth day
that the lady got ashore. Yet this lady's
brother was prominent and peaceful resi-
dent at Riga. Your passport is good for any
portion of Russia, but when you go into any
large town, like Moscow or st. Petersburg,
you must render it up temporarily, receiv-
ing in exchange local pass. When about
to leave the town you are given back your
original papers and set out atresh.
The military police walk on the streets
not on the sidewalks, but in midcauseway.
If they notice any strange or suspicious
persons, they at once demand their papers.
To be without the passport is to be Nihi-
list, and the unfortunate is soon lodged in
Jail. The street laws are very curious.
Each street has a night watchman, and
these watchmen are provided with keys
which will open any door in the street. A
gentleman returning late at night is re-
quired to go to his street watchman, who, if
satisfied of his identity, opens his door for
him.
POLITE PEOPLE.
The Russian people, Mr.. Fayes declares,
are polite to excess. They bow you upstairs,
they bow you downstairs and close the door
behind you with genufe1ion. The SER
want who lets you in at daytime kisses your
hand and curtseys deeply. They have
curious after-dinner custom which at first
puzzles the traveller greatly. When dinner
is over, and he feels like resting, all the
guests 90 up to the hostess, one by one, and
solemnly shake hands with her. The
startled guest at first thinks this means
'goodby," but it is only Russian custom.
After dinner the ladies retire to a drawing
room, and the gentlemen to a smoking
apartment, where they remain for ''the
sacred half hour"
The Russians all wear the Astrakhan
furs, not the imitation stuff American pluto
Gratis are gulled into buying, but real
astrakhan. During the summer, each per-
son gives his furs to keeper. who is bound
to preserve them from moths and decay,
until winter comes round once more.
Wherever you 60 in Russia, you are e1-
pected to scatter copecks. A copeck is a
very small coin indeed, being about half
the value of a cent. The rouble is equal to
about so cents.
Russia is extremely cheap if one engages
living in o private house. But as in
other countries hotels and boarding houses
are exorbitant in their charges. A sub-lieu-
tenant in the Russian army gets about $3.50,
and on this he can support wife and family
and move in the best society. The droskies, or
two wheeled carriages, can be hired for
cents to any place within the city limits.
but Russian. and as, in cold weather, it is
disagreeable to talk, novel way of telling
the direction IN which one wishes to 60 is
adopted.
IT ANSWERS THE PURPOSE.
The passenger, with his cane, taps the
driver on his right arm. if he wants to go to
the right, on the left arm, if he wishes to turn
to the left. If he has not a cane, it is
customary to pull the left or right coat tail
of the driver. The Russians are great eat.
ers and terrible drinkers. 1t. is customary
with ship captains visiting Russian ports to
carry small cargo of whisky.
the vessel upon which Mr.. Fsyes was going
to St. Petersburg. The Captain at once sent
for bottle of Irish whisky, and poured
nearly half OF it into a big goblet,
handing the draught to one of
the men. Two gulps suficed to
swallow the gobletful. The Captain then
filled a second drink for the other boatman,
but the latter turned sadly away, saying:
Little father, / cannot drink il"
How is that?" asked the Captain, aston
ished at this unusual refusal.
"Why," replied the Russian, "if drink
your whisky I'll surely kill Nicholas here"
indicating the one who had just drank
'and wouldn't like to kill him, for be is
an old friend"
The reason was satisfactory, and he was
not pressed to drink.
Mr.. Fayes' Russian adventures would fill
a book, but they are utterly dwaried by his
travels in Asia, Africa, and other portions
of Europe.