The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-18

Sad Scenes on Wedding occnsion-A
Cruel Sacrifice.

tho COUNTESS Nti'fdi'if 't' N'''''' ."
be erected a spacious summer mansion,
and thither we repaired for rest and re-
cupcration. after enjoying to the fullest
extent the gay Petersburg season. Ny
friends estate comprised the village Of
Skalazubowka~
The morning after our arrival wcmade
a tour Of the village. We slowly picked
our way through tho mud Of the only
street Of which Saskatchewan boosted
until we reached the home Of the
starshyua, or chief magistrate OF the vii
LACE. Arriving at the door my friend
without ceremony entered The sight
which met our ewes was, 10 me nc least,
peculiar. The table. which occupied the
entire length of the room. was surrounded
by persons Of both sexes and various
degrees of relationship Father mother
brothers. sisters. sons-in-law. daughters
in-law and grandchildren were crowded
into this one apartment
At one end of the table was scat
cd the head Of the family, by name
Ivan Stcpanoyitch StepnoG. a large. pow
ergully built man Of perhaps o. years
On being told who | was he acknowl
edged my presence in the graycst pos
sible manner, at the same time cying
me suspiciously.
was quite prepared for the treatment
| received, knowing full we'll the peas
ants antipathy to the nobility. To US
they Justly attribute their past and pres
ent misery, for i'm connection with their
affairs ours has ever been the hand of the
oppressor As time passed on, however,
and my sisits were repeated, | had the
satisfaction of knowing that my presence
was not altogether unwelcome ia the
littl6 home. found in Ivan Stepno0 a
much more intelligent man than cx-
pected. and one extremely well ycrsod IN
the literature of his country. lt was
during one of my visits 90 the starshyna
that learned Of a peculiar decision ron
derod by the mir, or village commune
Tho question involved was romantic
one. bat 30 feelings of sentiment were
permitted to influence that august body.
Among tie village swains were two
brothers. b. nams AleNandroyitch and
Michaeloyitch Somo2. who had both
fallen Ia l3.e with Maria Agapieyna.
This proved am unfortunate affair and
called for the Interference Of the mir
Aexandrogitch was small and slender
and rather delicate, while lnchaoloyitch
was tall and powerfully built Love re'
ceiged no consideration in tho decision
Of the mir, but TO the brother strongest
and best able to support @ wife was the
maiden gigcn Maria, poor girl. had n0
say ina the matter, but knew her heart
yearned for the delicate, gentle Alexan-
dros itch.
So tho l,rasny saraian, or rcd pe.ticolt,
was begun amid the tears and lmenfa-
tons of the poor girl. who piicously
begged that the preparations might be
DELAYED rs long as possible The kra5ny
sarafan is considered an important ar
ticle of dress i'm the troussoau of ovcry
peasant bride, as it is the last eilt from
mother IS child and an emblem OF hor
wifehood. Tho day app
pointed for the wedding dawnol bright
and clear.
Yet, while all without was joy and
gladncss, in one little home sorrow
rcigncl supreme, for Narfa Agapicsua
was about TO be- sacrificed to unaitora1l3
law. About noon the guests began 10
assemble. Tho first 10 arrive was ,ii-
chaelovitch Somon. the intended groom.
accompanied by the swat, his relatives
and young friends Tho swatka, al
ready in attendance 40 tho brides home,
received them and transferred TO Nj
the brides dowry, which
consisted of 4 couple of cows and various
articles for household use. The bride.
accompanied By the swatka, her pa
rents, relatives and friends. next APP
pcared, and triumpll march TO the
church was begun.
About twenty droskies. driven lr0.ka
fashion. followed the party. The horses
were dcckcd with bright colored ribbons. |
and, with their drivers dressed ia holiday
attire, presented q picturesque and pleas
ing appearance The girl friends of the /
bride formed into procession Of two5,
and singing the sad songs OF the country /
as a sort of panacea for her approaching /
loss Of liberty, followed her 90 the sacred /
where the bridegroom received /
her from her parents hands
The marriage ritual Of tho Greek .
church IS very similar o. that OF tho
Catholic, with the exception Of tho in
Of rings, which takes place
when each in turn is asked If h. or she
will take the other for life % loyo and
cherish. On reaching the husbands
house fun and felst.ng began In earnest,
and the quantityof vodka whisky con-
iumel would sound incredible % Amer
can ears. Indeed, il is co.tsidored an
insult 10 your host and hostess IL you do 4
not give tho god Blcchus full sway ant@
all by becoming beasily drunk The l
-cvclry is usually carried on for two OF
more days, and during It's continuance 7
.he people Of the village become thor
)ughly demoralizel IL Wa o week or
.en days before the poaaaut5settleldOwn
% the routine Of daily life.
1t was perhaps six months after the
sceno just described that again met the
Countess SchoyaloH ia Paris, and on in-
luiring the fate Of poor Maria learned
hat she had noe many months Survived
Inc cruel sacrifice, and was now sleeping
peacefully in a quiet corner OF the village
,hurchyard. But what of Alexandra
fitch, you naturally ask WaiLhe dis.
appeared orc week before the wedding.
lnd reaching Petersburg joined the Ni-
lilist party there. Becoming one of its
most active members. he soon fcll under
police suspicion, and became am inmate /
# the fortress Of petropayloysk. His /
ate is shr0uded IN mystery, bat it ~ sup
posed he persisted while within prison
walls, as no further tidings Of him ever
cached his native village Such IS the I
nexorable land Of fate and the inyiola-
DO law Of tie Russian village commune. /
NARRAIKOw.