Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-01

smooth surface IN every direction. In fact
the river is common highway with lamps
oil lamps it is trre-and snowy sidewalks.
It was one Of the most enchanting
scenes have over witnessed thls drive
across the Neya on frosty starlit night.
Imagine Venice with the lagoons Ice blocked.
There is the same mysterious silence. The
sleighs as they whlrl aeross tho smooth track
make no more noise than the silent gondoia.
Stretching away for miles on this, the Grlnd
Canal Of the Northern Venice, are the lordly
palaces rimed with pearly dots that mark the
gasllt embankments. The gilded cupola OF
st. Isaac's lifts itself solemnly into the
heavens and on the other side OF the river
Is the tall straight splreof the fortress church
OF st. Peter and PAM, beneath which the Cars
have their last rest Over all is the glory OF
the northern sky.
On the way We pass a clean swept ice path
banked by high walls Of snow These paths
are kept clear for curious reason. The
boatmen, who in summer will row you from
place to place for a few kopecks, have devised
a scheme for continuing their work when the
water Is all hard frozen. They keep an ice
road across tho river, over which they will
! convey you on rough chair on runners for
| Ave kopecks. Ia conts.) OF course these
men use skates. You can find such crossings
at regular intervals along the embankment
"AIaslianitza' is tlfe Russian word for car
nival; literally tmeans the "Time OF Butter"
It must be remembered that during Lent
butter IS tabooed, only vegetable oil being
allowed. Even margarine is placed under the
| ecclesiastical ban. Masllanitza thtn is the
russians opportunity for having good time
as far as eating goes, and also in other ways.
They have "A huge fair on the Champ de Mars,
| whose glories might arouse envy In the hearts
Of managers Of the Midway plaisance. The
| people turn out in thousands to take part in
the fun, while the aristocrats drive gnndy
round. occasionally condescendng to look
in at the shows.
The gentlemen who hold forth on every
side OF each booth are apt to crack personal
jokes at any well-dressed person who goes
by, much to the amusement Of the crowd.
| This is the only time in the year that the
masses can get back at the classes in Russia,
and they don't miss any opportunities The
funny man at the fair is always dressed in
one particular way. He wears an uncouth
wig and flowing beard Of coarse hax, a dark
brown kaftan with yaregated patches, and
blrch-bark moccasins. Over his neck Is
sl,mg a thick brass chain attached to tin
| box with a key. Before he lets OF joke he
always winds the box up as II 1t were watch.
! The funny man, In short, is a Busslanized
cnricature OF our friend Farmer Hayseed in
| New York.
Some Of the theatres are very large frame
structures. l was present at u performance
OF Uncle Toms Cabin" The play was in
the latest Style OF melodnma. and drew
thunderous applause from an audience
whose sympathies were Of course very keen.
| Probably one-halt OF the house had been
born in seridom, Bnt the Russian Uncle
Tom was very comlcal to any one who has
seen and heard real negro
II you ask any one In st. Petersburg what
their preference is in regard to winter sports
and pastimos, the reply will be unanimous
a troyka party, or "picnic," as they call 1t.
This picnic means drive in u troyka sleigh
some miles out OF town to a restaurant for
supper, followed by dancing, and drive
home in the small hours OF the morning.
The formality Of the salon Is out OF place in
a comfortable and roomy sleigh.
Elght people find ample room in sleigh,
| WIN MI AAlt AAlltkutHN VI DthI-hhAn luIH ana
robes. The seats are as low as possible, and
the front OF the sleigh has wide leather wings
to give protection from the wind and the
snow. The drives are in all directions around
st. Petersburg. Sometimes they 20 as far as
Tsarkoe sielo and Payloysk. a distance OF
thirty miles. Most OF the journey is over an
open eNpanse where the winds blow free and
keen. The dances are puzzling to an Ameri-
can. They have not the variety that prevail
at home. but in common with tho rest Of
Europe the Russians whirl themselves of
their feet without thoughts OF reversing.
A few days ago friend invited me to Join
party Of gentlemen at his country place for
the excitement Of be0r-hunt. This form Of
sport is in such great demand In St. Peters
burg, that an invitation is eagerly accepted.
The peasant who discovers "blerogu,n or
the lair where bruin 10 alternating, guards
his secret as though It were a gold mine.
The greatest gentlemen Of the land often take
advantage Of landowners invitation to come
down with their imperial suites to extermin-
ate the shaggy-coated treasure.
The following night. therefore, found
myself IN the station OF the Warsaw railroad
armed with Winchester, "A heavy boar
skin oyercoat and felt boots My friends
team and sleigh were awaiting me at the
depot. Ny friends house is built Ike the
majority Of country houses Of logs covered
with nearly doyetailed boards, painted a
brownish yellow. Day had just begun to
break. The courtyard was scene OF great
animation. About 200 peasants with sticks
and guns awaited impatently the signal to
start. servant was serving out liberal