CHRISTMAS WITH THE CZAR'S WARRIORS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 12768, 10 February 1916, Page 4

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CZAR'S WARRIORS.

jfWe are having* a rough time now," wrote a Russian soldier a few weeks ago to a. friend; "but Clirutnuu is coming soon, and tie tcliail have a fiiu - time then. I ebould Jite to sec the vodka (lowing; Jbuty, though tliat m impossible, wc jhall at „"la3i °lnv6 a good square meal and some ' ■ W", Whether at peace or war, the soldier of „ tho Caar contrives to spend a merry Yuletide: and no donbt he trill <V> so this year Trithont the stiinnlns of his favourite Htitagr. In normal times the Russian army, hi barracks or in the field, commences its Christmas Day with: the cerc- - mony of drinking the Emperor's health, officers and juen~toasting his Majesty in a copious draught of the fiery national spirit, and all winking, in turn, from the same glass in token of their camaraderie. . This Tuletide there will be no vodka to give the festival an exhilarating start. The day will open with mass performed : with all the gorgeous liturgy of the Greek Chnrcb. Under the bine vanlt of Heaven

priests in gold-embroidered cassocks, stringing censers, will drone through the ~ service slowly and monotonously; and the unlettered peasants will tramp back to their quarters comforted and at peace with the world. "Then is the time far distributing the hundreds of thousands of present* which

patriotic ladies have been preparing for weeks past; and each man will be made happy with gifts of infinite variety, ranging from puddings and tobacco to warm clothing aud books. After a plentiful awl appetising- hot dinner, beginning with cabbage soap and ending with tea, the day's _ amusement commence* with sports of various kinds—snowball fights, in which the fun waxes, furious; sliding and tobogganing down, hillocks at a frightful pace on luizhi, the Muscovite ski. There will be dancing competitions in which Ivan and his fellows will dance until they drop from exhaustion; and the Cossacks will outvie caiJi other in amazing feats of horsemanship. When darkness sets in the soldiers will gather round the camp-fires to sing their favourite carols, such as "The Cherry Tree" and the "Slavs,' or Glory Song; or to join in their strange choruses of love and battle. Clusters here and there will excitedly gamble for kopecks, cigarettes, and matches; while, for others, the regimental scribe will write letters • home or lwe missives to maids left far behind. Thus the day wears happily to its close, when, with a final chorus and a tbander of cheers, the soldiers of the Czar will creep away to their cold, cheerless slceping-jilace*.* thankful for one bright day amid the gloom and horrors of war.