The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-25

hand. which she holds up until the train
goes by
This picture is one of the most lasting
ones of Russian travel. Whether the iron
horse ploughs his way through the black
plain. whether he shrieks as he gallnps
through the mighty forests or whistles going
through the rich agricultural lands of the
West. this bareheaded, barefooted Russian
Venus, in bright calico dress, Is there TO
meet him. She keeps guard over the road
and she is the EN- bem of the Gar. Another
emblem of the Gar is the policemen at the
station. Each station has its civil officers In
uniform, and, in addition to these, there is
gendarme or policeman, who is APP
pointed from st. Petersburg, and who
marches up and down the platform all day
long, with spurs ON his hightopped boots
and with a great sword at his side. He
wears red cap, with feather in 1t. and he
acts as though he owned the road. / took
photograph of one OF these men and came
near being arrested for il.
The man objected violently, but he did
not know that the picture was taken until
the train was about to leave, and laughed
at him as | stood on the rear car with my
kodak In my hand while the train was
carrying us away. 1t takes about FIVE min
utes to start q train in Russia. There is
bell at every station, and this is rung three
times before the train leaves. You can tell
by the taps Just how much more time you
have. First there is one tap. then after an
interval OF couple OF minutes, two taps
are sounded on The bell and two minutes
after this three taps are rung, when, after
shrill whistle from the station master, the
train gets ready to start.
There are many queer features In Russian
railway management. The Russian cars
are like no other cars in Europe. They are
half European and half American. They
are of three classes and the rates are no
higher than they are in the United States.
The distance from st. Petersburg to Mos
cow is 400 miles and the road is as straight
as a string. There are five trains every day
and it takes about ten hours 10 go from one
point TO the other on an express train.
There is difference in fare on the express
over the ordinary train and the first-class
express rates are 3 u cents mile, W lille the
second class. which Is almost as equally
good, are only 2A cents, and the third class
less than cents a mile.
have Travelled quite good deal In Sec
ond-class cars and find them very COM
Portable. The most OF the well-to-do Rus
slams patr0DiZe the secOnd-class cars and as
one is expected to carry his own bedding by
the use of a little feeling you can save
money and make yourself comfortable l
found 1t very inconvenient even in the first
class sleeper during the first part of my
present tour. | had neither soap nor towels
with me and | had TO rely upon the guards
for these as we'll as for my pillows and bed
ding. In none of the sleapers do they ex-
pcCt u iuIulsH yOu III uC1 ulOEo thdn pIace
TO lie down upon. You are expected to
carry your own Sheets and in frst-c class
hotel, which found at Saratoff, | had to
make a very pronounced kick before could
get any bedding.
There was mattress on the iron springs,
but there were neither sheets nor pillow
cases and the nights were cold. After a
time got rather comfortable outfit for
the night, but the next day | found that this
was all charged up In nv bill and ! have
had to pay for bedding at half dozen hotels
since then. The passenger boats on the
Volga, which, by the way. are comfortable
In other respects, do not furnish bedding,