The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-02

air with each recurring anniversary OF
the great day OF Christian mourning,
while within in the dimly lighted church
the dean reads the prayers In front OF
the royal gates and the choir at inter
walls solemniy responds "Gospodi Pomi-
lui" In the middle OF the nave Is the
platform where every Car mas been
crowned throughout the centuries. and at
the side OF the great fconostaris, mass
OF precious metal reaching TO the ceiling
and bearing the sacred picture painted
by ST. Luke. that Vladimir, the nrst
Christian Car, brought from korsun
long ago. Then the passages from the
life OF the Blessed Virgin called the
tears" are read. and the body OF christ
IS carried around the cathedral and again
laid In the tomb
The eve of Easter Day finds the streets
pervaded by a wonderful repose. but
when the clock strikes the hour OF MD
night the joyous clash OF many hundreds
OF bells is heard through every section
OF the city; cannon boom from the Tain
itZky tower: lights fash out from spire
and gilded dome and the streets become
long continuous lines OF Illumination
People now rush into the churches TO
have Easter eggs blessed and TO embrace
one another with fraternal love. In the
houses Of the higher classes the mistress,
emerging from the private chapel, kisses
the servants OF the household, and Easter
CONGRATULATIONS follow in the grand salon
OF the mansion Now TO the dining-room
for breakfast. where a feast is spread
and a blessing sung by the priests. The
pyramidical Easter cake is cut; pashka,
the dish Of sour cream. and cold hard
boiled painted eggs are partaken or by
the guests. The custom OF exchanging
eggs is gone through.
Six o'clock in the morning has arrived,
and a grand mass is celebrated In the
cathedral. the Gospel being read In -FOUR
languages Slavonic, Greek ana
Hebrew. one notable thing is that no
flowers are used in the churches at
Easter. The music is altogether vocal
and the best place to hear it sung Is
probably at the Cathedral Of st. Isaac
in 81 Petersburg.
After 10 A. NJ. Easter Sunday becomes
a day Of social enjoyment. our Ameri-
can custom OF making New Years calls
prevails and is kept up well into the
week. Visitors at houses where they are
on intimate terms Zee the servants the
amounts given varying according TO the
social status Of the host and guest. The
streets are gay and brilliant with con-
course of brightly dressed people, who
are constantly embracing and exchanging
eggs. There used to be a generally recog-
MED custom of universal Kissing. Every
one was privileged to kiss everyone else
but this has fallen into disuse or late
years except among intimates.
IL must be confessed that a great deal
of drinking is dOhe within the first rev
days Of Easter week. and an unwritten
law grants immunity 10 persons round
intoxicated during this period. Drunken
a
different thing from the Anglo-SaXon va
rietv: it is much more innocent in its
manifestations and does not result in
quarrels and violent disturbances. Some
times even a CradOvoi policeman takes
a hand in il himself and becomes Jovially
mellow under the genial spell Of the
vodka flask.
In Moscow a very interesting feature
OF Easter week is the peoples promenade
on the Podnovinsky boulevard. which is
lined with cheap theatres and booths for
the sale OF odds and ends. Swings and
erry-go-rounds are temporarily erected;
also concert and dance halls where the
KoZatchok and Trep2k are danced with
enthusiastic vim and stirring national
songs are sung In some ways the street
scene suggests a sort OF Russian Coney
Island, only that there is much less
worldly guile than IS usually found TO be
in New YOrks famous seaside resort.
Part of the street is kept clear for car
riages and the rich merchants or the
city turn out in force accompanied by
their wives and daughters. This festival
lasts three days, after which the shops
announce big clearing sales and another
frantic rush ensues TO secure the bar
gains left over from the Easter stock.
Holiday time is drawing to close. and
the masses turn homewards happy and
impressed with the satisfying conviction
that they have each and all enjoyed
good time. '. GRlBAAEDOtt'