The Green Forest tribune., 1912-10-04

1 men wear loose brooches of velvet thrust into the boots, and caftans lined and trimmed with fur You must understand that this enclosure is not covered in but is open to the winter sky and the light of the moon.
 city's Gay Night Life.
 The Russians love night life. Very often after leaving the theater they go to the little islands on the farther side of the Neva. It only means a trip of ten minutes in a sleigh to cross the Neva. On these islands are charming houses of wood, which serve as residences to rich families who pass the summer there and are sometimes opened for brief periods in winter
 There are also delightful restau- rants on these islands. It is favor ite amusement of the Russians to run over to these islands in winter on a i sleigh or a "troika." Especially on a fine moonlight night does this amuse- ment attract great number of pleas ure seekers On such a night you will hear many a joyous company making merry and supping on these islands. The tziganes or Bohemian musicians sing and play, while the others dance and drink. All night long until the next day is in sight does the merry making continue.
 The troika car is a large sleigh with four places drawn by three horses. The middle horse is a trot- 1 ter, while the two others gallop. This produces very exciting combination, which is known in Italian as fan tasia." Of the four occupants of the troika two sit on the front seat with backs to the horses, while the two others face them. All are warmly protected by fur coats which cover up their legs completely.
 Horse races are among the many amusements that are held on the l frozen Neva. But at last comes the spring, with its melting of snow and ice and the breaking up of the river g solid surface. For several days the . ice becomes gray, and people are then forbidden to cross The ice be gins to tremble. and dull sound Is heard more or less continuously Then the cannon roars from the fort ress on the other side of the Neva in face of the winter palace, announcing to the people the annual breaking ur of the ice.
 If the wind happens to blow from the Baltic all the broken blocks ot ice begin to jostle and scrape togeth CT in an extraordinary manner. The quays are covered with people watch ing this remarkable spectacle When the Neva is at last free from the ice and the water resumes it's clear and limpid character the governor of the fortress Is the first person to cross i the river in boat When he reaches the middle of the Neva he fills a | golden goblet with the water and car ries it to the emperor who awaits l him surrounded by his officers on the steps of the palace
 The czar drinks the goblet of water and returns it to the governor filled with gold coins. For this reason it is said that the goblet becomes larger every year which is inconvenient for the czar, who does not like to have to drink so much cold water salute of 100 guns from the fortress then announces that navigation is open. A fleet of pleasure boats covers the river almost immediately, and this means that summer is close upon us
 The Broadway of St Petersburg is the Nevsky Prospekt. which begins in the old commercial quarter of the city and reaches to the great open place before the Cathedral of Isaac.