The Florida agriculturist. [volume], July 03, 1878, Image 7

About The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911

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Tea Drinking in Moscow.
A glamour of the East hangs over
Moscow. The water carriers still
ply their trade about the streets.
Armenians, Persians, and dwellers of
the far away khanates, may be seen
among the crowd at the markets, and
really looking more at home in their
quaint garbes than do the Western
traders, m hats and trousers. No
where else does the illusion grow
upon one so much as in the numer
ous traktirs which surround the mar
kets. The Oriental hangings, the
divans, the lamps swinging censer
like from the ceilings, all have an
Arabian Nights air, which is height
ened by the appearance of the mute
servants gliding silently about.
I dropped in the other day at the
great Moskovski Traktir, to wait for
a friend who was to accompany me
to the markets to see the peasants, or
Moujiks, _ selling their household
goods. The Moskovski is one of the
largest, it not the largest, traktirs in
the city, and is the place where
the tea merchants of Russia rendez
vous ; for almost every calling or
guild here has its particular traktir
where its members meet to talk over
business, as well as to supply the
wants of the inner man. It is not
exactly a restaurant, nor yet exactly
an exchange, but partakes of some
thing of the nature of the two; eat
ing perhaps, being the principal ob
ject, and business a secondary consid
eration, in the establishment.
The entrance to the Moskovski is
up a broad flight of stairs, leading
from a street intersected with ruts
and dotted over with holes. A liv
eried servant throws open large fold
ing doors, as soon as the formal
knock is given, and you find yourself
in a temperature which is a delight
ful contrast from that you have just
left. Servants are waiting to take
your overcoat and wraps. Looking
about, you see a long apartment with
arched ceiling, and with its polished
floors thoroughly filled with sofas
and tables; the latter of different
sizes to accommodate proportionate
groups. At the far end of the room
stands 3n immense organ, perpetually
grinding forth airs from the favorite
operas. The place with all its access
aries—the vaulted roof, the rich
hangings of silk and brilliant wools,
the swaying lamps, the many sofas,
the music and warmth—all contrib
ute to the glamour of novelty. Yon
have entered upon a civilization other
than your own.
The illusion is increased, too, by
the stealthy movements of the ser
vants, all dressed exactly alike and
notable for their silent and swift obe
dience. Unlike the dapper serving
men of all other restaurants you
know, the servants of the Moskovski
are tall, athletic men, apparelled in
white tunics and full white trousers,
and with their long hair brushed
smoothly back from their foreheads
and parted in the middle. Their
manner is a cross between the ab
surd dignity of the tail-coated, white
neck-tied English, the over zealous
French, and the slam-hang American
waiters. All their movements are
unhurried, sustained, and measured,
and, moreover, they don’t talk. In
deed, no one seems to talk much or
loudly; and the somewhat boisterous
entrance and conversation of my
friend was greeted with an unmistak
able stare of astonishment and
annoyance by the other guests of the
traktir. Neither do the people about
disturb you with that incessant clat
ter and gingle of knives and plates
which obtains in other places. The
Russians, among themselves, are not
a talkative people, and I am told by
those knowing them well that the
peasants sit habitually silent at home.
To the ear the Russian language
sounds by no meaus harsh, being
somewhat like English, with all the
hard sounds taken out.
The cuisine of the Moskovski
ranks among the first in the city, and
the list of viands to be had runs
the gamut from the national pot
pourri of cabbage soup to the most
elaborate of made dishes. The prin
cipal article of consumption in the
traktir, however, is tea. You cannot
pass a day in Russia without learning
the Russian for a cup of tea, pro
nounced, as nearly as I can convey
the sound, “ Stackautchay.” Indeed,
as soon as you take a seat upon one
of the divans, and have a table
drawn up before you, the tall servant
brings tea at once, without an appar
ent doubt in his mind that you would
order it any way, if you only knew
6how. In some of the smaller traktir
the metal tea kettles stand upon the
fire in full view, and you can superin
tend the brewing of the tea in per
son. Here, however, two white tea
pots are brought, one large and one
small, the larger containing hot
water, and the smaller one the tea.
In place of the ordinary teacup a
flass tumbler is placed before you.
Tow, if you follow the native cus
tom, you slowly fill the tumble half
full of hot water, in order to warm it
thoroughly; after which you empty
the water, place the requisite amount
of sugar in the bottom, then pour in
the tea, and weaken with water to
suit the taste. If you like a stick in
it, a slice of lemon accompanies the
tea, and imparts a pleasant flavor.
This done, you are ready to drink
—that is, if mouth and throat are
sufficiently fire-proof to stand the
beverage while it is scalding hot.
The native Russian will drink tea
while it fairly boils in the glass, and
does it without the passing trace of
a tear in his eye If you can follow
the custom, you are likely to get
better tea than it will ever be your
fortune to drink again. There is one
great difficulty, however, in doing it.
The glass has no handle, and to pick
it up in the ordinary manner is like
handling a live coal. The only way
to obviate the difficulty is either to
hold the thick bottom of the tumbler
in the hollow of your hand, or bend
low enough to drink from it as it
stands upon the table. Neither of
these methods is considered particu
larly graceful at home, I am aware,
but one or the other you will proba
bly adopt if you drink tea in the
native fashion. To wait for it to
cool requires too much time, as the
glass retains the heat much longer
than a porcelain or crockery cup
would.
Avery necessary accessory of tea
drinking in a traktir is tobacco and
religion. All the guests of the Mos
kovski were smoking between their
sips of tea, and nearly everybody
made the sign of the cross fjol'ore
raising the first glass to liis lips.
Cigarettes were used for the most
part, though one can buy cigars of
good enough quality if -willing to
pay an extravagant price. Always
expensive, the war has put the price
of cigars beyond the reach of the
average patrons ef the traktir, a pass
able one costing about half a rouble,
war currency, or about 38 cents. To
keep up the illusion of the East, how
ever, you indulge in the more luxuri
ous mode of smoking to be found in
pipes with large earthen bowls of a
red color, and having a long cherry
stem. As inevitably as he brings
you tea the servant brings one of
these pipes. He fills It in your pres
ence with the fragrant yellow tobacco,
lights it with a coal, draws a few
whiffs to fairly set it going, then
wipes the mouth-piece carefully and
hands it to you. By judicious smok
ing one pipeful will last half an hour,
during which you can sip tea, watch
the tea merchants bargaining, and
study the graceful effects of the semi-
Oriental costumes they wear.
All this time the great barrel
organ at the end of the room will be
plaintively reciting the woes of
Faust, or the lively misdemeanors of
Traviata or La Belle Helene. In
deed, the hum of such other conver
sation as you might chance to hear
will be lost in the great peals of the
instrument. No Russian traktir
would hold its custom for a moment
without mupic of some kind; and
the patrons of the Moskovski would
leave in a body and transfer their
custom to another establishment if it
boasted a better organ. This one
was built at Wurtemberg expressly
for the Moskovski and cost the pro
prietor about $15,000. It plays, lam
told, airs from about twenty operas.
—N. Y. Sun.
JPRED. J. LaPENOTIERE,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
ENTERPRSE,
Volusia County, Florida.
(]HAS. B. BUCKNOR,
ATTORNEY AT LAW
United State# Commissioner
Post-office, Enterprise, Fla.
.Special attention given to the examina
tiou of Titles and conveyancing,
THE FLORIDA AGRICULTURIST.
The Only Direct T.iu
: FROM TIIE
St. Johns River to New
York and Boston!
Summer Schedule,
Taking effect April 1, i B 7B.
THE I*AR6E A9D COM fort a rt/r
Steamer Carrie,
Captain JOl'. SMITH.
Leaves Lake Mouroe every TUESDAY
morning at 5 a. m., and Lake Beresford
at a. m., tor
FERNANDINA, Fla.,
Touching at all intermediate points on the
w *J oh "? r,V ‘‘ r ’ a r nvin -' 't Jacksonville
AVednesflav mornmg , n liln „ to colmect
with the Fast Mail Train leaving at V
o clock a. m. ; leaving Jacksonville to
suit tho tide, making close connection
with the hrst-class Steamships of the
New York d.Fcnuuulino Tine ,
FOR
NEW YORK AND BOSTON.
Also, with the
Steamer “ Reliance,”
FOR SAVANNAH.
Cabin fare. Beresford to New York *•>;
“ Boston...’. iiO
. rJFTlirough Tickets and Bills of Lading
issued at Lowest Rates, and staterooms
secured by Purser of Str. Carrie or on an
plication to
t McQUAID, Agent. Jacksonville.
John A. Mcßae. Gen 1 i’ra lg Agt. deti-1 y
Change ofjfchedule!
THROUGH ISOAT FOR
Jacksonville, Palatka,
And Intermediate Landings.
The New and Elegant Steamer
GEO. M. BIRD,
W. A. SHAW, Master.
Will leave Enterprise. Mellonvilleand San
ford every Wednesday and Saturday at
6 a. M., and Lake Beresford at 8 a. m.
Making close connection with Charleston
and Savannah Steamship Line anil with
Warren Ray’s line of schooners from New
York. Also Connecting with all railroad
trains for the North and West.
Returning will leave Jacksonville every
Monday and Thursday, after the arrival
of trains.
Freight for way landings must he prepaid
Tickets can tie had of Col cord & Felt,
Lake Beresforji. je2B-ly
TO EMIGRANTS!
T ANX> Adjoining Orange Blfff,
Volusia county, Florida.
I have for sale a large quantity of very
desirable agricultural lands, which will be
sold, to actual settlers, on very reasonable
terms* and in lots of 10 acres and upwards.
Also, a tract of 190 acres, three miles from
Enterprise, on lake Bethel. This tract lias
upon it 2,400 budded, and 29 orange trees,
now bearing, and 5 bearing lemon trees,
about i0 acres of fine hammock land, with
a large spnngof excellent water u\h>u it.
bor particulars in full, apply to me. in
person at Orange Bluff, Volusia county.
11?- or address by mail at Volusia post
oflhee, Ha. C. F. LANJSNG.
1 ebruary, 1878. febtt-tf
BIIMRsfIMHMIIIiL
JACKSONVILLE. FLA.
PENNIMAN & CO..
Manufacturers and Dealers in
Mouldings, Brackets ,
Scrool and Turned Work,
Hough, and Dressed Dumber
hawed and Rived Cypress Shingles ,
Doth , Renting, Fruit and.
Vegetable Crates , Ac.
SEASONED LUMBER
Constantly on hand.
EFAII orders promptly tilled.
JjjARTIIEN and STONE WARE
, The Ripley Manufacturing Company
“®Y e their Larthern, Drain Tile, Chimney
thimbles,! lower Pots. Chimuev Tops, etc.
for sale at their factory in La Villa, or at
H ussey At Ellis’ storc.Reed's New /iloek,
Jacksonville. decl3-3m
J£ USSEY & ELLIS,
Wholesale and Retail
GROCERS
AM)
Commission Merchants
No. 10 Bay Street,
Chas M U EUis ( Jacksonville, Flu.
N. B.—pecial attention to consignments
of country produce and prompt remitt anoes
xuduc* dec2B-Cm
GARDEN SEEDS!_ FIELD SEEDS!
for Bale^’ery^low. S PEAS, embracing ail the varieties, iu store and
themiddl'o ofTnnl a T Turnip seed will be received frota
all demands for £A e mid<le of when we will bo able to supply
SSSTL-SJ * -
3 . 6 5 /ot hart, benham & CO.
Seedsmen, Jacksonyile, Fla.
WIGHTMAN & CHRISTOPHER,
WHOLESALE GROCERS
AX f>
Geiieral Commission Merciiaiits,
74 West Bag Street, - - Jacksonville, .Fla.
quo4 U tk,!il?freight Vl a dd^ l W *LKSALK ONLY, at New Yor IS
ether House in the State. Country produce tmw 1 V* tw - 3W P el ' ceut - lower thou
commission amt immfwatk returns uVi.v u 1 a ,;lK< “" 111 exchaune, or sold ou
,A 1 ret " rrw made. Money must accompauy outers. inli2l-3ui
S. B. HUBBARD & CO.,
.JACKSONVILLE, Fla.,
Importers and Wholesale and Detail Dealers in
Hardware, Stoves, Crockery
GLASS AND TIN WADE.
Doors, Sasli, Blinds, Nails, Iron and Steel,
Table and Pocket Cutlery , Edged Tools, die.
ware of all kinds. Kerosene Lamps, Chandeliers. and Oils ol' all kinds
NVh.te Lead, Paints Putty anddlass, wagon aid cart materiuL, '
Harness, Saddles, and all kinds of
Agricultural Implements, Mill and Steamboat Supplies.
up^awHcat/oD. tllC naMard Powder company. Cuts and prices of .Stoves furnished
Q. L. KEEN It,
MILLINERY,
Fancy and Dress (roods,
West Bay St., ep. Laura,
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.,
1 las now iu stock a tine and complete line
of Millinery Goods, consisting of
Pattern Rats and Bonnets,
Flowers, Feathers, Ribbons, and
The Latest Novelties in Millinery.
Di 'c-9-s Goods.
Including a line line of black dress silks
cashmeres, drap tt'ete, Henrietta cloth ami
fancy suitings, with galoons and fringes
to match.
ARLINGTON NURSERIES!
O-
OR AN (IE TREES,
lemon,, lima, Citron, Figs Bananas, limn, Pine Aj.nle, Sanpodilla,
Mango, Paw l’aw, Japan Plum, etc., etc.
Grape Vines, Quinces, Rlackbemes, and small fruits in variety
Almond, Pecan, Spanish and American Chestnuts, tfce.
o
EUCALYPTUS TREES.
o
Roses, Evergreens, and Deciduous .Shrubs, and Flowering Plants, &c.
13?” Send for Descriptive Catalogue.
ALBERT I. BID WELL,
Jacksonville, Florida,
Ladies', Gents' and Children V
Fancy Imsiery, silk ties, scarfs and hand
kerchieLs; Ladies .and childrens merino
;in<l gauze vests, children's socks, mitten*
waists and worsted saetjiies.
Silk Umbrellas and Parasols,
A tine line of kid, undressed kidaudlislo
gloves, corsets, including the celebrated
• tork C orset.” Table Linen—Napkins
towels, tidies, lace curtains.
-1 Ifine Line of White Goods.
•
Real hair switches and pull's. Bergman t
A Co.’s zephyr worsteds, worsted patterns,
zephyr and (Shetland shawls; the \Vencks'
perfumery and toilet soaps. dec3B-oni
63