mythological turn of mind, he tried for an
allegorical explanation, but could make nothing
of it. He was quite convinced of one
thing, however; that the girl who had received
a lash under his eyes would carry
the mark to her grave. Shame prevented
him at first from frankly pursuing
his inquiries. He did not like to show
his ignorance. However, he at last mustered
up courage to say, "Which was the
bride?"

The man, who had no conception that marriages
could be celebrated in any other manner,
did not take notice of the absurdity of this
question; but went on to explain the whole
affair. From his eloquent description it appeared
that as soon as the parents have consented
to the union of their daughter with a
young man who has asked for her hand,
a certain day near at hand is fixed. Long
engagements are unknown. There is no legal
contract, the blessing of the priest supplying
the place of everything. On the morning of the
eventful day four of the bride's female friends
come early, and dress her out for the ceremony.
A tightly-fitting jacket, or polka, is first put
on, often, we are sorry to say, without any of
those intermediates, known under the generic
name of linen. Over this is thrown a loose
woollen tunic that entirely conceals the form;
whilst an impenetrable veil is wrapped round
the head. The chief feature of the bridal costume,
however, is a heavy crown of tall black
feathers placed upon the head, resembling
the plumes of a hearse. Thus accoutred, the
bridesmaids take the hand of the bride, and
lead her slowly like a victim to the altar. On
the way the procession, which is often very
numerous, stops from time to time, for her
to distribute alms to the poor. At the door
of the church she shakes off her companions;
and it is a point of etiquette that she should
walk, as Mr. Smith's informant expressed
it, in the attitude of a saint, to the seat prepared
for her near the altar. Here the
bridegroom meets her; a few prayers are
read, their forefingers are hooked and
joined during the pronunciation of the
blessing, they kiss the back of the Papa's
hand, and are told that they are man and
wife.

Once escaped from the church a scene of
confusion ensues. The bridegroom takes his
bride by the hand, and runs back with her
towards his house, pursued by her parents, and
friends, who pretend to try and overtake
them. Not succeeding, and not desiring to
succeed, they turn upon the relations of the
bridegroom, and revenge upon them the loss
they have suffered by blows and stripes.
Sometimes this singular retaliation is inflicted
in the evening, during the supper, by the
father and mother of the new wife; but
oftener it becomes a romp among the young
people, who take this opportunity to revenge
themselves with impunity for any indignity
they may have suffered. Probably the
maiden, whose sufferings Mr. Smith deplored,
had atrociously jilted her pursuer, and deserved
her punishment. Resistance, let us
add, is forbidden; but immunity may be purchased
by a jar of sulphured wine or a flask
of arakee.

Mr. Smith arrived at the village, situated
on the skirts of the forest, just as a couple of
szigoms, armed with fiddles, were beginning
to strike up a merry tune. Instead of proceeding
at once to the country house of
Prince Plïkza, where he was to pass the night,
he determined to alight and look on. At first,
indeed, he had some intention of asking the
young lady whose whipping he had witnessed
to dance a quadrille with him; and it would
have been amusing to see our stiff countryman,
with a shirt-collar sticking halfway up
to his eyes— for we Englishmen adhere to this
national feature in costume wherever we go
as religiously as the Chinese do to their tails
— bobbing up and down by the side of a lithe
maiden, agile as a fawn. A tight jacket
trimmed with fur served to display the symmetry
of her figure. But it was not a quadrille
that was danced; and Mr. Smith,
being an indifferent waltzer and not comprehending
the mazes of the other dances,
felt quite unable to shine in that sort of
exhibition.

He was told that neither among the
szigoms nor the peasants is the marriage tie
very much respected. The morals of the
country are certainly relaxed. Better things
might be expected, he thought, of the Boyards;
but an hour's conversation that evening at
supper enlightened him. We are sorry to
confirm his testimony. Russian communication
has corrupted good manners. The
story of Beppo was not very long ago repeated
here under peculiar circumstances. A husband
went away from his young wife for a year.
On his return he found her married again.
She had procured by some means a legal
separation during his absence. He expostulated,
and brought the matter before the
law courts. Grave judges pondered on the
case, a verdict was given for the wife, and
the plaintiff-husband was non-suited with
costs!

STARLIGHT IN THE GARDEN.

THE Garden (by its ivied walls inclosed)
  Beneath the witching of the night remains
All tranced and breathless; and, in dreams reposed,
  The white-walled house, with blinded window-panes,
Glimmers from far like one vast pearl between
The clustering of its dark and shadowy green.

A night in June; and yet 'tis scarcely night,
  But rather a faint dusk— a languid day,
Sleeping in heaven— the interfluent light
  Of Even and Morning, met upon one way;
And, all about the watchful sky, a bloom
Of silver star-flowers fills the soft blue gloom.