. In joyful Russia. thiscelebrated spot were in the hands of workmen busy erect-ing Venetian masts and triumphal columns. I noticedthat they did all their work on the spot, not bringing theirpoles hewn and painted and ready to pop into holes alreadydug. They hewed and planed them on the spot, anderected them one by one with a deliberate earnestness quiteout of tune with the nervous haste which would have char-acterized such preparations in one of our own cities. InEussia time seems to be of no moment; indeed, the nearerto the rising sun one travels, the more time every oneappears to have at hi
. In joyful Russia. thiscelebrated spot were in the hands of workmen busy erect-ing Venetian masts and triumphal columns. I noticedthat they did all their work on the spot, not bringing theirpoles hewn and painted and ready to pop into holes alreadydug. They hewed and planed them on the spot, anderected them one by one with a deliberate earnestness quiteout of tune with the nervous haste which would have char-acterized such preparations in one of our own cities. InEussia time seems to be of no moment; indeed, the nearerto the rising sun one travels, the more time every oneappears to have at his disposal. There were enormousnumbers of these workmen, but not one was in a crowning of the Tsar might have been twelve monthsoff rather than a few days, so deliberate was the move-ment of those engaged in decorating. The nature of thebuildings in Moscow lends itself readily to the erection oftemporary decorations. The houses in the more preten-tious quarters are most of them covered with stucco; in the. ROUND ABOUT THE COW PATHS. 83 poorer quarters they are of wood. Strips of narrow lathwere nailed to the walls^, forming the designs these strips were fastened the brackets of wire intowhich the small different-coloured globes were set. Inthese globes candles were placed during the morning ofthe day of the coronation and the two days succeeding,for use at night. During the ceremonies millions of thesecandles must have been used. The Venetian masts whichlined the streets at regular intervals were painted in blackand gold, and decorated, at a height convenient to theeyes, with the arms of Moscow, St. George and the Dragon,the Eussian Imperial arms, the double-headed eagle, andthe significant letters N and A.^ It was on this drive that I for the first time attendeda regular service of the Eussian Church at the Cathedralof Our Saviour. I believe that I was hemmed in by theimmense crowd for not less than four weary hours listen-ing to a service of which not on
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1897
