Year: 1878

Banks ON ''Butter Week.


A writer reports from St. Petersburg,
in Russia, during what is called MAS
slenitza" or Butter Week, the week i'm
mediately preceding Lent. He writes that
it is devoted to popular rejoicing. A kind
of fair is held on the Admiralty Place in
St. Petersburgh, and one Of its main
features is a couple Of huge katoks facing
each other. They are at least IS feet
high, and very steep, and as a continuous
stream Of sleds furiously dashes down the
CLASSY side, the spectators wonder why
serious accidents are of such rare occur
renee. Here ladies are seldom seen, or
femals of any class; the SPORTS too rough,
and only now and ther one of the fair sex
will intrust herself to professional coast
er, many of whom hang around to initiate
unsuspecting strangers into the bewilder-
ing mysteries of the sport. A favorite
mode of coasting with the Russians is ly-
ing stretched cut on the stomach, but it
takes considerable nerve to face the mad
turmoil in that way.


My own experience in this national
amusement was gained at a private party
at house in the suburbs Of ST. Peters
burg, with spacious garden attached to
it. The evening had been passed in So
cial games and occasional dances, but all
the fun was evidently regarded as merely
preliminary or Introductory to something
better in store. Occasionally l caught
phrase, which pointed to something
which everybody looked forward to, but
| was entirely ignorant Of its nature, and
presumed it to be tableaux or theatricals.
Finally, at about The hour oil ten, gener-
al call for furs and wrappings arose, and
in few minutes the whole company had
passed into the garden. The moon had
just risen, and its pale beams revealed
the unshapely forms Of snow covered
trees and shrubs, the tops only Of The lat
ter protruding over the thick bed of snow
with its glittering crust. In the center
OF the garden soon discovered the at
traction which had caused us to forsake
tie warm and lighted rooms-two katok
of moderate height loomed up before us,
and number Of sleds were strewn about
ready for use. A general pairing off took
place Immediately, and in few montmes
the sport was in full blast.


The two platforms faced each other
and the trackes ran side by side, so thai
the parties would dash past each Other
amid laughter and shouting. looked
around for vacant sled in order to try
my hand at the game, but just as was eli
ming the steps to one of the platforms, wa
informed that no gentleman could bt
permitted to ride alone on such an occas
ion, and was quickly provided with d
passenger-a young lady from the coun
point. Without possessing the least con
tidence in my skill as steesman, wa
somewhat comforted by the thought tina
the wellrounded form of my passenger
made still rounder by ample fox-skil
robe, would not be liable to suffer an,
serous damage in case of mishaps. Witt
the utmost nonchalance adjusted m,
sled at the very edge of the dazzling
shining and glittering incline.


1t IS necessary that the steersmal
should seat himself first. etiquette bein!
entirely waived on the katok, but whcl
the fair Anna Ivanovna dopped down il
front of me with the grace and ease of


snowflake, though trifle heavier, and, t





my manly breast with a glance full o
charming confidence, my innate modest


and diffidence caused me to recede lit
tie, and, as was already seated on til
extreme edge, there was fall, scream
and laugh, and the whole delightful per
formanee had to be gone through wit


again. At last we were both seated, an,
the sled adjusted, as I immaeined, wit


the utmost mathematical precision, SO a
to run straight course to the end of tn


track. Full of confidence, / gave tn


start, and, with an impetus that almos


took my breath away, we dashed ahead
to land in tue snowbank on one side, onl
half way down the incline.


The force with which the sled struc


the snow caused it to overturn, and m
fare and I rolled down the snow bank t
the level. My profuse apologies SCENE


to be altogether superhuous; the partne
Of my disaster was none the worse for i


and only remarked that it was ve1
naughty of me to play that trick the fir


time. The innocent little bundle Of ful
thought I had upset us on purpose. Wit


some misgivings on my part the exper


mcnt was repeated, with nearly the san
!, result, and by that time it dawned upe
the other participants in the fun that the
: had 'sgreeehcrn' among them, and plal
! for mischief were concocted accordingl
: One of the gentleman approached me an
,, observed that seemed to be bewilderedt
the crowd dashing down before me an
beside me and that they would give n
I chance of descending alone, ahead
= them all.


i The company accordingly assemble
on one of the platforms, and took n
place once more on the brink with m
8 fearless passenger before me. The su
pressed laughter and the mischief spar
u ling in everybody's eye might have war
ed me that some plot was atoot, but u
It suspectingly and carefully launched n
q sled. Exactly what followed I cam
8 tell, and would not care to enlarge upt


if could. In less than 3 second we b,
!. reached the level, and there my 81,
d struck a broomhandle, or something
IT the sort, and with a jump seemed to +
!, from under us, while we glided a pie
s down the track on our own responsibili
I my companion clinging to me tor de