Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-04

crate means the "dacha" of a Russian
family of corresponding station would
look bare indeed. These little houses
are often made of implanted logs
with almost no attempt at architec-
tural effect or ornamentation. There
is always large porch, and on this
the family delights in having the meals
served during the short summer, thus
| getting as much of the outdoor air as
possible. On the other hand, the resi-
dence of the rich noble or official
whether in town or country, is often
filled with every luxury that the
| thought Of man has devised, including
treasures in art and a fine library of
| books.
| Everybody who can flee from the city
| in the summer does So for if the land
| they prefer their estates to the city.
| which is deserted by the court Still.
| there are large numbers of people who Of
| course cannot go. These are principally
| of the merchant class and of the middle
class, as well as many officers ana
| 'tchinovniks" government officialsl. For
| them some amusement must be offered,
| and this is chiefly found in the summer
| gardens. of which there are several in
the suburbs. One of these is named the
Geological Garden, another the Aquarium,
ana Il lHlTu tnt ATCauld. lie iliSl wv
are really not provided with animals and
fish, as their names seem to Imply, Dut
with outdoor and indoor performances
and large pavilions where people may sit
at tables and sip tea or order a supper.
A band plays at one side, or the music
is furnished by Rumanians or by gypsy
singers in their own picturesque cos
tunes.
These gardens must pay large divi-
dends. for they are crowded every night,
and the people who gather there are
mostly III family groups. Inc grounds;
which are extensive, are carefully iaid
out, lighted with many colored electric
lights, and dotted with little kiosks where
one may buy candies or soft drinks
or shoot at a target AT the third garden.
the Arcadia, there is small opera house,
which is run under a separate manage
ment. Here opera is presented every
night during the summer. This really
is a treat for the people, because the
imperial opera in the winter is the only
opera in St Petersburg, and mere the
prices are not only SO nigh as TO DE al
most prohibitive for the most OF the peo-
pie, but it is also almost Impossible 70
secure seats, though one may stand on
line half a day. OF course the members
of the imperial family. the court and the
aristocracy, have season tickets.
Now in this little summer opera mouse
the same operas are presented, anu some
good singers employed. rms summer a
number of the best imperial opera singers
themselves have been heard at the Ar
cadia and members of the imperial ballet
are also employed Though the prices
are not in reality low. they put this plea,
sure within the reach of thousands of
people who have hitherto been practlcally
deprived of it, and the Russians, as d
race are music mad. While both German
and Italian operas have been played uui
ing the season in Russian, the majority
of the operas have been purely Russldn
ones. composed by Russians.
Most of these Russian operas are SCI
in the past, either in the beginning OF
the last century or centuries ago, in tht
picturesque times of the old boyars
(nobles) and the Cars who lived at Mos
cow. There are scenes OF ancleht pa
ties. one opera takes the audience TO the
Caucasus, in another it follows d cap
tured ''boyar'' to a Tartar camp. Inc
costumes and scenery are good repro
auctions of what was to be found IN THESE
periods of Russia's history. In TACT; 10
attend a few of these more or iess M
toric Russian operas is an education IN
the past of Russian life, and makes one
appreciate more fully the great d!Ilerence
between the inheritance of this great
autocratic state and the great cou i
of Europe. The people who attend these
operas-and the little theatre IS always
croWded-go mad with enthusiasm, ana
call out favorite singer till he or she
must be ready to drop from WEAKNESS
In addition to these more or less eA-
nensiye and entirely harmless places OF
amusement there have been institutes
in St Petersburg the various pleasure
parks and theatres of the new tenpei1
ance society which has oeen orSai, NJ
its vodka monopoly. These places are
not only thronged by the poorer classes
for whom they were intended. put us
by many of the more weii-to- ~ -
Russians are, perhaps, one oil the mos.
Dlea loving people in the Woriu, yct
taken as whole they have, perhaps,
fewer avenues of pleasure ana snlauci
variety of sport than any other NATION.