The record-union., 1898-09-29
A SACRAMENTO GIRL ABROAD
DESCRIPTION OF A VISIT TO
ST. PETERSBURG.
"A Glimpse of the Czar and Czar1na
Sights and Scenes in the
Russian Capital.

Misses Lottie and Laura Steffens OF
this city, graduates of Stanford Oh-
versity, are now on their third year at
tending the German University at GOT
ingen.
These young women spend every va
cation in visiting some part OF Europe
During their last and recent vacation
they made a trip to ST. Peterspurs'
Russia, in company with Miss EVelyh
Grove and her sister, Mrs. Myra Mar
shall of San Jose. The following Is an
extract from "a letter on that trip, VIII
ten by Miss Lottie Steffens to her par
ents in this city:
Towards sundown we left StocknolHl'
that beautiful modern Venice, str1k-
Ing contrast to the Venice OF the SoutH
in its lively commercial activity anu
clean, rushing water streets. In place
of the old-time picturesque, SloW-moV-
Ing gondolas, here swift darting steam
boats were ever Gu the qu1 VlVe TO
transport one from island to island.
Our steamer pushed out into the Baltic,
past summer villas and stone-Walled
island fortresses, threateningly point
ing their great black guns in every di-
rection.
After a delightfully."- calm voyage of
two nights and a day we entered the
Russian protected harbor of Helsing-
fors A Finnish friend, Professor in
the University of Helsingfors, met US
at the steamer landing. Guided by
him, walked to the hotel across the
market place, crowded with peasants
selling fruits, meats, vegetables, tins
and cloth, and all the other homely
needs of everyday life.
There at dinner we found the same
'smorgosbord'' custom with which
Sweden had first made us acquainted.
At meals, before seating themselves,
guests are expected to go to a side
table laden with all sorts of cold fish,
caviar, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers,
beets, patti de fois gras, cold meats,
and liquors. and serve themselves.
Then, either standing or sitting the
former is usually preferred), they first
eat this mixture intended as a stimu-
liant to the appetite, and then seat
themselves to a full-course dinner. The
evening supper. any time between s
and IL o'clock, often consists of the
"smorgosbord" alone. Imagine ones
dreams after that
Just at sunset we were rowed by a
peasant man and woman to a little
rocky island, the geological garden OF
Helsingfors. The gulf was calm and
a dark green; the sky was a cheer
less gray, and in the distance were
low, black trees between the gray
rocks. The two peasants rowed US on
man and woman alike with steady
coldly stern as the landscape-honest
and grave, full of purpose and energy
their garments warm and neat The
peasants of Finnland bathe religiously
every night of their lives. In this re-
spect they are striking contrast to
corresponding classes of other lands.
Here is evident that woman is
mans equal. not only among the peas
ants, but in the upper classes. We
counted twelve women clerks in the
first bank of Helsingfors, and in the
university they have equal rights with
men, almost the only country in Eu-
rope in which such is the case.
Landing on the island, there we found
stretched out on large black. slanting
rock an enormous white polar bear
His house was walled with iron bars
but he was free TO change from rock
to water. Some girls We're throwing
pieces of bread into his huge jaws
held lazily open for its reception.
The summit of the island was
crowned with white, marble-like ruins
which our friend told US had made
their appearance there during his alb.
sence from FINLAND the previous year
This was the only attempt at decep-
tion we had noticed in the land. These
ruins served as retreats for the wild
beasts of the collection. Two black
bears lived among them, and they, too
put their open jaws through the bar:
and waited with Job-like patience fol
us to throw bread down their throats
One could not miss the mark Wider
jaws could scarcely be found. Two
goats came and interrupted this by
pulling at our wraps TO call attention
to their hungry selves. and so We
walked on and visited all the strang.
creatures in their pleasant retreats.
This day was one of mourning fol
this freedom-loving people Russia haC
sent to propose that the length of ser
vice in the army be extended to a tern
of five years instead of three. an,
that the Firms serve in Russia insteaC
of in FINLAND. as heretofore, meaning
that every Finn must learn the Russian
language The people, not dreaming
of Russia's new plan for submergins
their nation into that of Russia haC
petitioned this same day for a decreas,
of the years of army service from
three to two. OF course the propose
of Russia is virtually a command, anC
the people, powerless to resist, cal
only hopelessly watch their nation sinl
out of existence.
Two days later we left Finnland 70
Russia, and at half-past 10 in tn
evening the lazy train brought us int
the Petersburg station, and we wer
only too glad, after the stupid slow
ness of the twelve hours journey from
Helsingfors, to have the excitement o
stirring about in search of a luggage
man. He was found, and, loaded dow
with our luggage. could be gotten onl
as far as the waiting-room. Then h
explained in Russian what he wante
to do, while we made our demand
upon him in English, French and Ger