Year: 1879

fixed his eyes upon a person that he
respected his sarcasm when he fur
lively glanced at person or thing which
he despised, his wit sometimes darted
unexpectedly in conversation he loved
a good joke and could often make one,
too. With his friends, Joseph Puchanoff
was sometimes very loquacious, and his
conversation was interesting when its
subject touched real, practical life :;
while it was devoid of interest and very
superficial when touching upon abstract
and theoretical subjects.


Whenever he came to St. Petersburg,
[ had to spend few evenings with him
On that winter evening which [ have
mentioned, [ found him sitting comfort
ably in his room, steaming tea kettle
stood on the table before him, his glass
was filled with tea and another glass
and saucer stood by prepared for some
one who might come in to participate in
the fragrant beverage. Of course,
box of tobacco with paper to roll cigar
rettes was also found near by on the
table.


Halo, Henry" Joseph said at my
entering his room, why so late | have
been expecting you since o'clock"


" l could not come any sooner" said,
sitting down at the table and beginning
to turn out cigarette, g | had to take
lady to the theatre"


A lady eh ?" and here the sarcastic
twinkle Of his eye showed itself. They
are bores, those ladies are they not ?"


well, [ don't think so; nor do | con-
slider you to be such great mysogin-
ist."


| am out Of question, you know |
am married man. But you young fell
lows and students to booth-to you the
ladies must be very burdensome in
deed"


This is again one of your peculiar
notions, Joe. [ am never more pleased
than when in the company of pleasant
ladies and | believe that none of my
colleagues is


1t is so. But why did you not stay
with your lady in the theatre ?''


4 have seen the piece before: and,
besides this, [ had promised you to come
here"


You are an exception of the student
fraternity" Joseph said. you leave
the company of a lady for the sake of a
promise given to friend "


You are very sarcastical this eve
ing" [ remarked. There is something
the matter with you. If you had not
been married, and if | had not known
that Mrs. Puchanoff is eight hundred
miles distant from here, | would say
that you have suffered some disappoint-
ment. Have you purchased dress or
some costly jewelry for your wife 2, ;"


At my last remark Puchanoff's eyes
beamed with pleasure. You are great
one" he said " able to turn the tables
on fellow before he notices it have
been sitting here, musing these last two
hours, and, you know, all sorts of fool
ish notions will enter fellows head
when in such condition"


Foolish notions, eh ? Sarcasm at the
expense of the first conner? If such is
fate, | must forgive you, Fill my glass
again, if you please"


A few moments of silence ensued,


"a Russian tea-kettle is called SdmOUdr,
'self-cooker' 1t is composed of a basin for
water, in the middle of which runs through a
flue for charcoal to make the water boil. The
machine is so arranged that it can be put upon
the table while the water is boiling. The tea
can in which only strong essence is drawn is
put on the top to keep it warm by the heat
escaping from the tlue The Samoan is made
Of brass in various graceful forms. In Russia
tea is drank from glasses so that the color can
be looked through and tempered for strength
or mildness according to taste To drink three
or four glasses of tea at a time is very COM
mon; ] have known persons who drank as
much as twelve or fifteen glasses at time
Tea is to the Russian what beer is to the Ger
man.