The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03

Church are inferred. Forlcarly July is the be-
ginning OF the pilgrim season when the bodies
OF the Russian saints are on show daily in tho
catacombs Of tho Citadel Monastery. and up
ward Of three hundred thousand believers
flled. nil with devotion. and a good many with
vodki-make the journey to the Dnieper me-
tropois to secure immunity from purgatory
and its pains by kissing tho sacred bones Of
Nixon and Voron first OF the long line OF Kiev
abbots.
Rounding the corner Of the Chrestchatik. I
turn up tho Alexandrovskaya with the throng.
for l. too. am bound for the resting place OF the
saints the standing attraction OF tho city after
the Golden Gates"-a dirty mass Of crum bling
brick work-and the tomb Of Mazeppa and his
enemy Kotchu-Bey. A country wagon is a bout
to start for the Lavra with load Of peasants.
and as company IL desirable l secure. for the
moderate sum OF half rouble. tho privilege Of
standing room in the vehicle. for seats there
are none.
We 20 slowly up the rising road OF the Alex
androvskaya. the peasants chatting and COM
municative One has come afoot all the way
from ArchanGel: he is suffering from partial
blindness. and looks to the saints Of the Lavra
for cure. Another from mid-Russia has
Palsled arm. WHOM he is certain vii be bens:-
fitted by touching the Holy Nikon's coffin. A
iarmer's wife from iaroslav has lourneyed to
Kiev to impore st. Andrew for children. az she
pray for the recovery OF n sick husband whom
the physicians have given up. The rest have
5ne hms
-, We reach the top OF ths hil and catch sight
Sober, the church that oVertops the lower
range q hui ldinGs belonging to the fraternity
OF the Holy layra. The wagon, stops at mar
row posteTn gate admitting to tho citadel We
AliRht and enter in Indian hle cross COURT
arI ana rrseh D an b open space
above rAtapNmhS
left is a long range OF low buildings. plain and
or Of ne h Hny 9t the
| dwarfed and brought into utter insiGnifcance
by, the glitter and glow of the many domed
sharply, and the boundary wall grows higher
who IN go Shf oE.G OF
| yet lower. and In some hve minutes reach what
srrsr scale. With 'a' esmpsaonTay e" %f n
! 10 some region below. The doorway is about
seven feet vide and the steps forming the de-
! scent seem ton, or perhaps twelve, feet across,
Light is admitted from the sides. which are
/ only partially boarded in, though the, pa sage
pletely, rooted over, We pass in one by one
HP Es HCE,n to negotiate the stairway
down 6 one that, no stranger can ever forget.
or reeal without loathinE. squatting on the
cred q number OF halt and maimsd, crippled
Ard and dsioTmcd; misshapsn. paralytie and
snSs WSsT ThS q:' Mtba hS
propped up against the wall. stare abroad with
appeal for charity. They are the licensed beg
CARS OF the lavra. and so numerous as to
centre for single person to pass, Each one
| who can hold such n thing Ia provided with a
long rod. TO which is attached a small net to
collect aims and as we go down the rod and
net are thrust forward under our noses with
| such an appeal, such a discordance OF cries
| wines. and screams as impel one to hurry ou
a. last as the steepneas OF the descent permtA
| The stairs terminate In a small 0etaKonAl
chapel. where one Of the BratsiI 10 seated 81