The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-06-12
ADJUSTMENTS In RUSSIA.
:icE.HILLINc" IS A FASCINATING
~-1. SPORT OF THE PEOPLE,. --

lie Skating is Not So Good, Owing to the
= Poor Tce-Russians Are Very Fond of
q Music-Games in the Open Air-Throw-
= ing Thick Wooden Clubs at Uprichts.
:. The aristocracy amuse themselves
very much in the same way as our own.
They shoot, they loaf and play cards in
their clubs, they butcher pigeons out
of traps, they have their race meetings,
they dance much and well; some have
yachts Of their own. Many Of them
keep English grooms, and their Eng
lish-when they speak it-for this rea-
son smacks somewhat of the stable,
though they are not usually aware that
this is the case If Russian aristo-
GRAFT has succeeded in making himself
look like an Englishman, and behaves
like one, he is happy,
Of winter sports-in which, how
ever, but small minority Of the Rus
sian youth care to take part-there are
skating, ce-yachting, snow -shoeing
and ice-hilling The skating ought,
naturally, to be very good in Russia
As matter Of fact the ice is generally
dead and lacking in that elasticity and
spring which are characteristic of our
English ice. It is too thick for elastic
ity, though the surface is beautifully
kept and scientifically treated with
view to skating wherever space is,
Hooded or an acre or two Of the Neva's
broad bosom is reclaimed to make
skating ground. Some Of the Russian
amateurs skate marvelously, as also do
many Of the English and other foreign
residents. Ice yachting is confined
almost entirely to these latter, the ma
tives not having as yet awakened to
the merits Of this fine pastime.
Ice-hilling, however, at fair time
that is, during the carnival week pre-
ceding the 'long fast" or Lent-is
much practiced by the people. This is
kind Of cross between the switchback
and tobogganing, and is an exceedingly
popular amusement among the English
residents Of St. Petersburg, who sup
port an Ice Hill Club Of their own and
repair to it weekly during the winter in
order to amuse themselves by diving
headlong down the ice slopes, and to
be amused by the attempts Of novices
to fellow their example. may assure
my renders thai ice-hilling is at once
the most awe-inspiring to beginners,
and the most charming Of all sports to
the expert that the mind Of man can
imagine.
Snow-shoeing, again, is a fine and
healthful recreation; it is the "ski"-
running Of Norway, and is beloved and
much practiced by all Englishmen who
are fortunate enough to be introduced
to its destinations. It is too difficult
and requires too much exertion, how
ever, for young Russia, and that in
dolent individual, in consequence,
rarely dons the snowshoe.
The Russians are theatre-loving
people, and the acting must be very
| good to please their critical taste.
Many Of the theatres ale imperial, ;"
that is, the State ''pays the piper" if
the receipts Of the theatre so protected
do not balance the expenditure. In
paying for good artists, whether oper-
attic or dramatic, the Russians are
most lavish.
Nearly every Russian is natural
musician, and cannot only sing in tune,
but can take part "by ear. !" The man
with the balaleika OF garmonka is al
ways sure Of an admiring audience,
whether in town or village; and there
is not tiny hamlet in the Empire but
resolves itself on holidays into pair Of
choral societies-one for male and one
for female voices-which either parade
up and down the village street, sing
ing, without, of course, either conduc-
tor or accompaniment, or sit in rows
upon the benches outside the huts, oc-
cupied in similar manner.
Occasionally, but very rarely, you
may see party of Russian children,
or young men and women, playing in
the open air at one of two games. The
first is variant Of prisoners base;;'
the other is a species Of ninepins, OF
skittles, played with group of up
rights, at which short, thick clubs
are thrown. The Russian youth
those who are energetic enough tc
. practice the game-sometimes attain
considerable proficiency with these
grim little weapons, and make wonder
full shots at distance Of some thirty
yards OF so. But while the Russian
!, or any other youth is studying the az
Of projecting the missiles, which arr
: quite heavy enough to break head O.
shin if the proprietor happened to b.
knocking around within shor
walk, itis we'll TO take up ones abode il
. an adjoining parish and to get behind
, a good, substantial building, say
church, for the game-playing Russian
, is cratic to fault in the early stages
of his initiation into the mysteries o
! any kind of pastime requiring skill
Chambers's Journal.
In,