Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-03-25

slung thick brass chain attached to
a tin box with a key. Before be lets Of
a joke he always winds the box up as
II it were a watch. The funny man, ia
short, Is a Rnssianized caricature Of
our friend Farmer Hayseed In New
York.
Some OF the theatres are very large
frame structures. l was present az a
performance OF Uncle Toms Cabin"
The play was In the latest style Of melo-
drama, and drew thunderOus applause
from an audience whose symDathies
were OF course very keen. Probably
one-half OF the house had been born In
seridom. But the Russian Uncle Tom
was very comica TO any one who has
seen and heard OF real negro.
IL YOU ask any one 10 81. Petersburg
what their preference is 10 regard 20
winter sport ami paStimes, the reply
will be unanimous trOyka party, or
'picnic" as they call il. This picnic
means q drive in a troyka sleigh some
miles out OF town 10 a restaurant for
supper. followed by dancing, and q
drive home in the small hours Of the
morning. The formality OF the salon
is out Of place in a comfortable and
roomy sleigh
Eight people find ample room in q.
sleigh with all the thickness OF bear
skin furs and robes. The seats are as
low as possible, and the front Of the
sleigh has wide leather wings TO give
protection from the wind aud the snow.
The drives are all directed around 81.
Petersburg. Sometimes they go as far
as TSarkOe Sielo aud PavlovSk, a dis
lance OF thirty miles. Most OF the
journey is over an open expanse where
the wind blows freely and keen. The
dances are puzZling 20 an American,
They have not the variety that prevails
at home, but In common with the rest
Of Europe the Russians whirl them
selves of their feet without thought
OF reversing.
a few days aga a friend invited me 10
join a party OF gentlemen az his coun-
try place for the excitement OF a bear
hunt. This form OF sport is IN such
great demand In ST. Petersburg, THAI
an invitation Is eagerly accepted. The
peasant who discovers "bierloga."
or lair where bruin is ALTERNATING,
guards his secret as though IL were
gold mine. The greatest gentleman Of
the land often take advantage OF a
landowners invitation 10 come down
with their imperial suits 10 eXtermin-
ate the shaggy-coated treasure.
The following night, therefore, l
found myself In station OF the Warsaw
railroad armed with a Winchester,
heavy bear-shin oyercOat and felt boots.
My friends team and sleigh we're
awaiting me Ut tho depot. My friends
house is built like the majority OK
country houses, OF logs covered with
nearly dovetailed boards, painted 4
brownish yellow Day had just begun
TO break The courtyard was a scene
OF great animation. About 200 peasants
with sticks and guns awaiting impa'
tiently the signal TO start. a servant
was serving out liberal doses Of vodka.
Indoors the huntsmen were already az
breakfast. by six o'clock we started
for the place where bruin lay. Ivan,
the peasant who had discovered tho
bear allotted positions In semi.cir-
Gle 10 the huntsmen, OF whom there
were nine.
The excitement now began. AZ q
given signal the heaters closed 10 upon
the other side OF the semi-crcle, firing
guns and making all the aoise possible.
We were placed forty yards apart.
the heaters could be heard approaching,
but no signs OF bruln. The suspense
was becoming unpleasant a few 9ares
darting by gave one a start i;-'titirs
there was crack Of rife TO my leifl
Then / knew our bear had emerged
from his hole and was trying 10 break
through the lines. Cr-r.rack! cr-r.rackl
went the rifles. lie was running TO-
ward my station. The report o. my