The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-05

heated brickwork. Is allowed to escape into
she room through small doors above The
stove may be absolutely closed and will retain
Els heat for many hours.
The foreign community is small One of the
oldest inhabitants Is an American-hr. C. III.
Smith, who, with hts family, are the only
American residents. The trade is mostly in
the hands OF Germans and Russians, but not
very much foreign business is carried on there,
for the Government has never shown DISPOSE
sion TO encourage it; perhaps because the port
a more Of a fortress and naval station than
commercial center.
II ia unfortunate that the town hes no good
hotels At the Hotel d'Europe We found small,
gloomy, and not overclean apartments, and
there we were Joined by two gentlemen from
British Columbia. who were interested in the
progress of the Siberian railway. We occupied
adjoining rooms had our meals served to-
rether. and enjoyedievcrything In common for
10 days more.
But thereby hangs q strange tale, for none of
"a could speak Russian. Our faithful waiter
was an invaluable friend in need, for he had
smattering of German and Q few words of
French, which our Canadian friends endeav-
ored to extend somewhat, with doubtful effect.
Indeed, on one occasion our friends actually
went supperless TO bed, having exhausted every
effort to make their wants understood, while
we were enjoying Inequalities elsewhere.
cur sympathy the next morning, but / fear
with too keen appreciation of the comical
fide Of the situation
When the day for settling accounts arrived
there was most dire confusion. There was a
bill yard long or less for "extras," written in
Russian, which we could not make out at all.
The waiter was helpless The proprietor's wife
eame up to interpret it in German, but she
soon gave IL up and called . German clerk.
his statements were clear enough, but SO in
credible that further evidence waa required.
I calculated what my bill ought TO BE- accord
ing to the original agreement made by Mrs.
Smith for my wife and myself Then asked
what extras had to pay for. "None," was
the reply, except for wines"
Then these two gentlemen have to pay for
oil those eItrssf"
"Yes"
"But why must they pay half a. much moro
thsn we do for the same thingfn
4That is not my fault" said the proprietor's
wife; they made no bargain, and we charge
them SO much day for the rooms. and what
ever they order for breakfast, dinner, or supper
ID extra"
1t was such O plain, mstter-of-fact state
Dent that our friends could only console them
selves by the reflection that they had learned
one Of the customs Of the country.
Apart from the inconvenience Of hotel life,
TladiTostok ie q most delightful Autumn re-
Y u
Concerning the climate of locality one usually
fncs on visiting place that the residents are
enjoying IN exceptional season. So it was
when we arrived ct Vladivostok; but ia q few
Gays the clouds and mists disappeared, and
warm, sunny days succeeded cool and restful
nights.
from Nlsdiyostok. One may visit IL by cross
Ing the mountains or by taking small steamer
Tor part of the way, and then Q tarantass over
She road. Our plan was to 60 one way and re-
turn the other.
Early one misty morning we went on board
the dirty Russian steamer. Less than two
hours OF steaming brought us t. lighthouse st
tbs mouth OF email river, where We came TO
anchor. a little river steamer came ongeide
eDo took as on board. Here we saw Q number
OF coDvicts In charge Of armed soldiers. They
were hsrd-looking specimens, but it 10 only the
lower classes Of convicts that are to be seen in
this REGION
II was 3 rainy day, and we passed the time
nisersbly IN the small. stufy cabin, playing
cards with s couple of courteous Russians who
were fellow-psssengers. We had bad Russian
dinner, but we called for the samovsr for our tea
rs naturally a. though we had always lived
there.
We stopped at landing place 10 "wood up, -
and because il was rainy day there was no
help on shore awaiting us, and the boatmen
had TO carry ali the wood themselves, SO we re-
manned there couple of hours
In consequences IL was nearly dark when we
arrived at Rasdolne 20 versts from our destina-
zion, where we were to take the taratsass 1t
was altogether q bold venture to start of into
the interior Of siberia without sn interpreter,
but until the last moment we expected lady
OF Fladivostok TO aocompapyua . We were for
tunate, however, In having the kind assistance
81 our steamer aoquaintancea Through their
enoIts we were slowed away On . thick bed of
quilts aud blankets within q tarautass ready
For the long ride in the gathering darkness.
This vehicle hiss four wheels and In this re-
spect resembles some others, but apart from this