A GREAT AND UNEXPECTED CHANGE--OUR HERO IN MOSCOW.
When Gerald had been about six months at his new employment, to his
great surprise he was one morning told by an inspector of the works,
that an order had just come from the Emperor signifying that he was to
be sent immediately to Moscow.
This intelligence created a little alarm in the breast of the youth,
for he could only suppose that he was suspected of having committed
some offence. Conscious, however, of having discharged his appointed
duties with faithfulness, he asked the officer whether he were sure
that he was the person mentioned in the royal letter.
‘The person signified is called by the name of Gerald Kopt. His person
is described, and the description answers exactly to you.’
‘I am called by the name of Gerald Kopt,’ the youth replied, ‘and if
the Czar commands me to go of course I must obey. Indeed I have no
objection to going. But should my mother come here and miss me, who
will let her know whither I am gone?’
‘I will engage that your mother shall be told all that we know
concerning you,’ replied the officer.
‘Many thanks for that kindness,’ cried Gerald, looking gratefully in
the man’s face, ‘I am now ready to attend the Czar’s orders.’
Could Gerald have divested himself of the idea that he might be going
as a culprit to be tried for an unknown offence, he would have been
delighted with the journey, for he had long had a strong desire to see
more of the world.
The distance from St. Petersburg to Moscow, which is upwards of four
hundred miles, was a formidable journey in a country where the roads
were bad, and there were very few inns. At a subsequent period the
Emperor Peter had good roads made between the large towns, and inns and
posting-houses were built upon them. Canals were also dug to connect
the great rivers, and there were many improvements of a similar kind;
but these things were the work of considerable time. Some of them were
only just commenced at the period of which we are speaking.
On their way to Moscow the party passed through the town of Novogorod,
the seat of the earliest government, and afterwards so noted as a
republic. Gerald was greatly pleased that he had an opportunity of
visiting this place, for Michael and his father-in-law had told him
something of its ancient history. How about the middle of the ninth
century, Rusic, a Norman pirate chief, when cruising about the Baltic
with his followers had sailed down rivers and through lakes till
they came to this city, which was then a mere cluster of wooden huts
inhabited by barbarians, and how the Norman had made himself master of
the place, assumed the title of Grand Duke, and laid the foundation of
the present powerful and extensive empire of Russia.[1] Many legendary
tales were told of the adventures of these wild Normans, and most of
these adventures were associated with the city.
[1] Igov, the son of Rusic, afterwards made Kirow the capital of
the country; but Novogorod was for a considerable time a place of
importance, and the chief city of a republican state.
On reaching Moscow our hero was so interested in the place as to forget
the painful circumstances under which he was visiting it. The city
was at that period enclosed with three walls; one built of brick,
surrounded that portion called the Kremlin, where the Czar’s palace and
the residences of the chief of the nobility stood; another built of
stone, took in a larger extent of the city; and a third formed of wood,
enclosed the suburbs. On the banks of the river Moskwa, which runs
through the city, were a number of wooden huts, the public baths. These
baths were constantly frequented by the inhabitants, as bathing was at
that time a religious ceremony amongst the Russian people. The poorest
classes never failed to attend the baths at least once in the week.
It was Palm Sunday when Gerald and his companions arrived, the place
was consequently in a state of universal excitement. The bells too
were ringing merrily. Moscow was famous for the size and number of
its bells. To present a large bell to a church was considered by
some a very pious act, therefore almost every new sovereign had a
bell cast larger than that which had been given to the city by his
predecessor.[2] Palm Sunday was a day on which a very grand festival
was always held. The religion generally professed in Russia is
according to the Greek Church, which is very similar to the Roman
Catholic religion. At that time the church was governed by persons
called Patriarchs, who were something like the Popes. The Patriarch
lived in Moscow, in a palace adjoining that of the Emperor where he
kept a court, and lived in as much state as the Czar himself.
[2] The Empress Anne, the daughter of Ivan, who reigned soon after
Peter’s death, presented a bell to the city of Moscow which weighs
432,000 pounds, and is the largest bell in the world.
On the festival of Palm Sunday the emperor always walked to church,
gorgeously arrayed in a dress made of cloth of gold, two princes
holding up his train. He was followed by a grand foot procession
consisting of the whole court splendidly attired. Behind the nobles
were a number of the chief citizens and lawyers, each having a branch
of willow, to represent palm, in his hand, and beyond these were the
guards of the palace. In this procession the Patriarch always rode
beside the Emperor, who held the bridle of his horse, and he was the
only person mounted, excepting the guards.
Our hero and his companions met the procession as it was just leaving
the palace, and they stood for a while to watch it pass. Gerald’s
associates were delighted at having arrived in time to witness it,
and Gerald was himself pleased with the sight, for he had never seen
anything of the kind before. But looking on it as a religious festival
he could not help feeling pained. These men he knew were about to fall
before images and offer up prayers to saints and angels, and they
would afterwards spend the sacred hours of the Sabbath in feasting and
drinking; for no religious festivals were at that time held in Russia
without feasting and drinking to excess. Happily for our young hero he
had been taught a purer faith. The Bible, Michael’s best inheritance
from his father, had not been made such poor use of, as to allow Gerald
to imbibe the superstitions, and practice the foolish ceremonies of the
Russians.