ooms, flower-stands form the principal ornaments. At
the same time enormous sums are paid for bouquets from the hot-houses
which abound in both the capitals. Doubtless the long winters have
some share in the production of this passion for flowers and green
plants, just as love of country is increased by exile, and love
of liberty by imprisonment.

There are generally at least two heavy snow-storms by way of warning
before winter fairly commences its reign. The first fall of snow
thaws perhaps a few days afterwards, the second in about a week,
the third in five months. If a lady drops her bracelet or brooch
in the street during the period of this third fall, she need not
trouble herself to put out handbills offering a reward for its
discovery, at all events not before the spring; for it will be
preserved in its hiding-place, as well as ice can preserve it,
until about the middle of April, when, if the amount of the reward
be greater than the value of the article lost, it will in all
probability be restored to her. The Russians put on their furs at
the first signs of winter, and the sledges make their appearance
in the streets as soon as the snow is an inch or two thick. Of
course at such a time a sledge is far from possessing any advantage
over a carriage on wheels; but the Russians welcome their appearance
with so much enthusiasm, that the first sledge-drivers are sure
of excellent receipts for several days. The _droshkies_ disappear
one by one with the black mud of autumn; and by the time the gilt
cupolas of the churches, and the red and green roofs of the houses,
have been made whiter than their own walls, the city swarms with
sledges. It is not, however, until near Christmas, when the "frost
of St. Nicholas" sets in, that they are seen in all their glory.
The earlier frosts of October and November mayor may not be attended
to without any very dangerous results ensuing; but when the frigid
St. Nicholas makes his appearance,--staying the most rapid currents,
forming bridges over the broadest rivers, and converting seas into
deserts of ice,--then a blast from his breath, if not properly
guarded against, may prove fatal.

It has been said that it is not until the _Nikolskoi Maros_, or
Frost of St. Nicholas, that the sledges fly through the streets in
all their glory. By that time the rich "boyars"[1] (as foreigners
persist in styling the Russian proprietors of the present day),
have arrived from their estates, and the