1 7 6 THRO UGH R USSIA ON A MUST A NG. 



near the cemetery church, down to 50 rubles for remote 

 situations near the outer wall. 



Over many of the graves are built beautiful little 

 houses, chiefly of glass and ornamental marble or iron, 

 like small summer-houses. These houses are cosily fur- 

 nished with rugs, tables, chairs, etc., and the windows 

 are embellished with fancy curtains or made of stained 

 glass. Photographs of the dead hang on the rear wall, 

 which is not of glass, and sometimes busts stand on a 

 shelf. Easter eggs, religious books, and other memen- 

 toes of the departed are on the table. Pots of flowers 

 stand around, and ikons and holy pictures hang up or 

 stand on a shelf as in the houses of the living. 



In one of these houses sat a woman reading a book, 

 and with a samovar of tea on the table. " A disconso- 

 late widow," explained Sister Salavioff, " who comes 

 twice a week to spend the day in reading or knitting, 

 and drinking tea in the company of her departed hus- 

 band." 



In another house were a family party, also with a 

 samovar, and luncheon brought in a basket. Some of 

 the family were smoking cigarettes. They, too, were 

 enjoying the company of such members of the family 

 as had " gone before." 



These houses over the graves are peculiarly inter- 

 esting, as being a distinct survival of heathenism, 

 which the Russians have clung to and shaped to their 

 conceptions of the Christian religion. The pagan 

 Slavs used to build wooden huts on the graves of their 

 ancestors for the accommodation of the spirit when it 

 chose to return to earth and visit the body, and also 

 for the use of the relatives when they came to mourn 



