WINTER IN RUSSIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10767, 13 May 1913, Page 2

WINTER IN RUSSIA.

Russia is a land in which, taught by bitter experience, people know how to spend the winter. St "Petersburg, a dour and foggy city at Ihe best of times, says a writer in the " Fortnightly Review," is certainly seen at its best when horsed droschkes and sledges drawn by dogs or deer bowl merrily over the frozen Neva.. Moscow is far more beautiful, and the vivid colours and gilded domes of Kremlin, as I last saw them sparkling with frost, are unforgetable. It must be infinitely preferable in winter to its northern rival, for the modern capital of All the Russias can scarcely, even bv its coldest admirers, be called an ideal winter resort. Knowing both in November, I unhesitatingly award the palm to London. Built on the swamoy shore of the Gulf of Finland, St Petersburg lives through six months of indescribably depressing gloom. The fond dream of Peter the Great took strange shape, and he exacted a heavy price from his royal bovars for the dubious privilege of the coveted window that should open on Europe. Those, however, who like the real thing, will find the Russian winter four dnvs nearer home than that of Canada, tor the Xorrl express takes the traveller comfortably iii little more than forty Hours from Ostend to St Petersburg. The eh arm of such a visit to Russia lies, perhaps, in the unusual combination of a cold climate with tiiow restful habits which no more commonly associate with hot countries farther south. Time seems to be no object, particularly at meals, and a Russian banquet is one of the most protracted function? of the kind in all the world. St Petersburg, one of 1 lie most hospitable cities in the world, only wakes up about noon, and the social gaiety lasts far into next. day. A fur coat will be found indispensable, and either goloshes or snow-boots will be welcomed by many who would tolerate neither at lioir.e. Let the tourist, male or female, be cautioned against smoking in the open air. Even the padded isvo&chiks, who sit on their box-seat through blaze or blizzard with the same calm serenity, rarely smoke out nr doors in winter, for the effect is damaging to the throat.