BILLY BOBSTAY AND FRIENDS.
The omnibuses had been dismissed for the day, for the afternoon was to be used in visiting two of the principal churches, which were within walking distance of the hotel, and on the way to the English Quay, where the party were to embark at six o'clock for Cronstadt. The students separated into small squads, the more studious and thoughtful ones clinging to the guides and others who knew something about the city, in order to obtain proper explanations of what they saw. All of them walked through the bazaar, and most of them looked into the little chapel near it, and studied the signals on the watch-tower above the Town Hall. Some amused themselves by trying to read the signs; but they could make nothing of them, though there was occasionally one in French. All the educated Russians speak French fluently, and in the larger stores there is generally one or more who converse in this language. A short walk on the Nevski Prospect brought the tourists to the Kazan Cathedral.
This church was founded in 1802, and consecrated in 1811, and cost about three million dollars. The cross above the dome is two hundred andthirty feet from the ground. In the semicircle formed by the colonnade in front are statues of Kutuzoff and Barclay de Tolly, two generals who distinguished themselves in the Moscow campaign against Napoleon. The interior of the church contains fifty-six columns of Finland granite, each being a single stone, thirty-five feet high, which support the dome and roof. The screen, or partition,—in Russian,ikonostas,—that separates the altar from the body of the church, is of silver, the material for which was captured from friend and foe by the Cossacks in the Moscow campaign, and became an offering to the Madonna of this church. In the centre of the middle doors of the screen is inscribed, in precious stones, the name of God. In a conspicuous place in the partition is placed the miraculous picture of the Virgin, found unharmed in the ashes of the convent in which it was kept, after the burning of Kazan carried to Moscow by Ivan the Terrible, and removed to St. Petersburg in 1821. It is loaded with gold and precious stones to the value of seventy-five thousand dollars, enough to build half a dozen churches in the country in America. This is the church of the imperial family, which the emperor attends on special occasions. After his escape from the assassin at the gate of the Summer Garden, he came twice to give thanks; and when the Princess Dagmar was escorted through the streets, as the betrothed of the present Grand Duke Alexander, the procession paused in the street while the royal party entered the church to return thanks for her safe arrival. Opposite theikonostasis a chair for the Czar, who is the head of the church and the only one towhom the privilege of being seated is allowed. The walls and columns of the interior are hung with flags, banners, keys, and other military trophies. In a glass case is the baton of Davoust, one of Napoleon's generals. A great many keys of towns and fortresses are exhibited, and the church has somewhat the appearance of an arsenal.
From this church the students walked to St. Isaac's, in the square of the same name, a large, open space, flanked by some of the finest public buildings and monuments in the city. On this spot Peter the Great built a wooden church, in 1710, which gave place to another, built by Catharine I. The present edifice was commenced in 1819, and consecrated in 1858. The ground is swampy, and the piles which were driven to support the foundation cost a million dollars—enough to build a dozen substantial churches in any city in America. It is in the form of the Greek cross, with four grand fronts, which are similar to that of the Pantheon at Paris, with columns sixty feet high and seven in diameter, of highly-polished Finland granite, of a reddish hue. The dome is nearly like that of the Capitol at Washington, and is gilded, so that it is a "shining mark" for a great distance. On the four corners are smaller bell-towers, each containing several bells, though such a thing as a chime is unknown in Russia. Externally, this church is one of the grandest and most beautiful in the world.
The walls of the interior are covered with marble, and are adorned with pictures of the saints, decked with gold and precious stones, before which are the circular stands for the offerings of candles. Near the door is an official, who is authorized to sell these candles toworshippers. As in all the Russian churches, theikonostas, or altar-screen, is the most prominent object, which is almost covered with the gilded plates which form the raiment of the holy persons, with spaces cut out to exhibit the faces, hands, and feet of the painting. Before the principal saints elaborate lamps are suspended, which are lighted during service. In the screen are three doors, the double ones, in the middle, being "the royal gates," so called because the emperor passes through them at his coronation. On each side of them is a pillar of lapis lazuli, set on iron columns, the two costing sixty thousand dollars. The doors are of bronze, of very elaborate construction. The space behind the screen, which occupies about one eighth of the interior of the church, is the altar, in which stands a small round temple, with eight columns of malachite, eight feet high, the material for which cost a hundred thousand dollars. This temple is really the altar, the shrine of the church, in which are placed a richly-bound volume, called the "Gospels," a gold cross used in the service, the vessel for the sacred elements, and the silk in which they are placed when consecrated. Behind the altar, on the window, is an immense painting of Christ.
Services are held three times every day in most of the churches; and when the students entered the edifice, the preparations were in progress, and they remained to witness the worship. All who entered crossed themselves, and many purchased candles and made offerings of them to the saints, St. Isaac of Dalmatia being the principal one, and women and children kissed the hands of the Virgin, and other holypersons represented by pictures. The church gives a literal interpretation of the commandment, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image," and no part of the person—only the raiment—of the saints can be sculptured for purposes of worship. The service consisted of intoned readings by the priests and deacons, the former being within the royal doors a portion of the time, and is interspersed with singing, generally in recitative style, by the choir, at the end of the platform in front of the screen. The singers seem to break in upon the priests' prayers at times, often with a short phrase or single word. No female voices are allowed in the choir, and no organ or other musical instrument is permitted.
During the service the worshippers in front frequently cross themselves, the more devoted kneeling and bowing till their foreheads touch the pavement. Only a few, however, bend thus lowly, and it is noticeable that these are of the lower order. Well-dressed ladies and gentlemen are not seen to do anything more than cross themselves, though all appear to be devout and solemnly engaged in the exercises. Outside of the doors there are always a number of beggars, who stand with hand extended, as the people come out of the church. Besides the chance alms-giving of the worshippers, wrung from them by importunity, one is occasionally seen evidently roused by the service to a keener sense of duty, who makes a systematic business of it, bestowing upon each of the beggars a smaller or larger sum, according to his means. After the service some of the students were permitted to enter the altar, which is the Holy ofHolies, as in King Solomon's Temple. Paul Kendall and his wife were about to follow them, when the uniformed official interposed, and shook his head earnestly. Paul did not understand him, and one of the guides was called.
"No female is allowed to enter the sanctuary," the man explained.
"Woman's rights haven't been attended to here," replied Paul, as he retired with Grace.
But there was nothing particular to be seen in the altar space, except the consecrated articles used in the service. Lincoln was on the point of passing between the altar itself and the royal doors, when the church official stopped him, saying that none but the priest and the emperor were allowed to pass in that direction.
"I wish I could understand more of it," said Lincoln, as he walked with his friend, the doctor, towards the quay.
"The language of the Russian church is the ancient Sclavonic," replied the surgeon, "as Latin is of the Roman Catholic; and probably not many of the people understand it. But they are very devout."
"I have seen that about the streets. Did any one ever hear such bass voices as some of these singers have? Why, they sounded like the rumbling of an earthquake."
"That is one of the great peculiarities of the churches in Russia; and these deep, heavy bass voices are considered very desirable. You will find that the wealthier the church, and the more popular the service, the deeper and heavier are the tones of the bass singers. Doubtless those in St. Isaac's are among the most celebrated; but in the KazanCathedral, and the Church of St. Alexander Nevski, you will hear those of about the same volume and power. Of course it requires much cultivation to develop such a voice; but these singers are so much in demand that they are amply compensated for their labor."
"I suppose this religion is very much like the Roman Catholic," added Lincoln.
"Yes, it is quite similar; but there are important differences. The Russian church rejects purgatory, predestination, indulgences, and dispensations. In baptism, the body must be completely submerged, and anointed with consecrated oil. The people have not the same respect for the clergy which you will find in Catholic countries, for though they venerate the office, they often despise the priests, who are a peculiar class; and the office is, in a measure, hereditary among them, though not closed to others. The nobility do not take the priestly office. A clergyman's sons generally follow him in the choice of a profession, and his daughters are oftener than otherwise married to priests. Sometimes the candidate for a position as priest gets his office by marrying the daughter of a deceased incumbent. The consistory, which has the giving of these places, knows the affairs of the whole diocese. If a priest dies, leaving a marriageable daughter, the council often provides for her and the church at the same time, by giving the vacant place to one who will take the maiden. The priests are not very well educated, though in this respect they are improving. An ecclesiastic cannot marry a widow, and when his wife dies he cannot perform the service, but maybe a monk, and be eligible to the highest offices in the church. The scriptural injunction that a bishop must be the husband of one wife, does not mean, to the Russian,at leastone, as with the Mormon, but only one, not even one at a time, as other Christians interpret it. Any one who marries a second time cannot partake of the communion for one year; and a third time, for four years."
"The priests take good care of their wives, I suppose, since their office depends upon them."
"Yes, such is the fact," added the doctor, as they went on board of the steamer.
The students were on the quay promptly at the hour appointed, and the steamer departed for Cronstadt. Although the sights in St. Petersburg had been unusually interesting, the boys could not entirely forget the subject of the delegates who were to go down the Volga, and some electioneering was done. De Forrest had been at work upon what he called the compromise ticket. He had even made some advances to Scott, but had not found a favorable opportunity to discuss the subject with him. On board of the steamer he made the occasion.
"I want to talk with you, Scott," said he.
"Right; say on," replied the joker.
"I suppose you feel some interest in the question of going that journey."
"You are a wizard! Who told you I did?"
"No one; I suppose every fellow wants to go. I do, for one."
"And I, for another; and there will be a great many fellows disappointed."
"The ship's company are to vote for two, you know," added the firstpurser, feeling his way to the question.
"That's so; if you want to say anything about it, speak right out; you needn't beat about the bush any more."
"I think the other one ought to have been elected, instead of being appointed by the captain."
"Perhaps Captain Cantwell will select you," suggested Scott.
"Of course he will not; and if he did, I could not accept the privilege from him," said De Forrest, stiffly.
"On your dignity—eh?" laughed Scott.
"I was opposed to him in the election, and I have no doubt he dislikes me as much as I do him. I neither ask nor will take any favors from him. But there is a chance for me to go by the election."
"There is a chance for any of us."
"It has been suggested that you and I may be voted for on the same ticket. What do you say to that?"
"If any of the fellows want to vote for me, tell them to fire away; I can stand it as long as they can. If they want to vote for you, I have no doubt they will do it."
"But won't you do something to help the ticket along?"
"No, sir!" replied Scott, decidedly. "I won't nominate myself or any other fellow. Let the crowd do that."
"They will do it, of course; but every fellow has some influence, you know. It will be a fair thing to take one from the cabin, and one from the steerage."
"Yes; but whom from the cabin, and whom from the steerage?"
"You and me. I don't see why we haven't just as good a right to it as any one."
"I made up my mind that I should go for Commodore Lincoln for one," added Scott, to bring the matter to a head, for he did not like to see any student working for himself.
"I think the fellows did enough for him when they made him commodore," growled De Forrest, disgusted at the want of appreciation on the part of the joker.
"Perhaps the commodore will go for me, if I do for him," laughed Scott.
"Then you won't go in for the arrangement which the fellows are talking about?"
"Who were talking about it?" asked Scott, who had his doubts whether any one had spoken to De Forrest on the subject.
"Sheridan, for one. If you won't do anything for this ticket, I will say no more about it."
"Don't say any more, then," replied Scott; and De Forrest left him, angry and disgusted.
"What's up now, Scott?" asked Sheridan, stepping up to the joker at this point.
"The first purser's dander," answered Scott. "I hear that you proposed my name with his for the journey."
"I did mention it, certainly; but he had told me in the beginning that he would not vote for you; he would jump overboard first. I suggested the names, then, by way of jest, and he snapped at the idea as a codfish at a clam."
"I see," laughed Scott. "I couldn't give him any comfort, and declinedto vote for the ticket. I won't vote for any fellow that goes around electioneering for himself."
"My sentiment exactly," replied Sheridan. "But we ought to agree on some fellows to vote for."
"I go for Lincoln, for one."
"I'm with you!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "I am sure that he has not asked anybody to vote for him. Now, we want another real good fellow, from the steerage. Who shall it be?"
"I don't know; we have so many good fellows it is hard to fix upon any one. I will look them over and let you know."
"But do you know whom Cantwell will select?" asked Sheridan.
"I don't. I'm not in the way of seeing much of him since he went into the captain's cabin. He don't go on shore at all now, and I suppose he has been studying rigging, and making knots and splices, all day with Peaks."
"Perhaps he will select himself," suggested Sheridan.
"If he does I will never vote for him again for anything. But he won't do it."
"I don't see that we can agree on anything till we know whom he chooses. He may pick out the very one we decide to vote for."
"I go in for a caucus of all hands."
"So do I; that is the fairest way," replied Sheridan, as the steamer stopped at the side of the ship, and the students, without waiting for planks and steps, leaped to her deck.
After supper all hands were called, and Captain Cantwell was requestedto appoint the student for the journey to the interior. The ship's crew were all silent, curious and anxious to know who the favored one was to be. The captain mounted the rostrum with the principal, and took off his cap.
"I appoint Thomas Scott," said he.
The announcement was greeted with the most emphatic applause on the part of the seamen, in which a few of the officers joined.
"Of course Scott knew he was to be appointed before," sneered De Forrest.
"He did not know it," replied Sheridan; "and if he did, I don't know that it alters anything."
"Scott made him captain, and this is his reward."
"You made Cantwell captain," retorted Sheridan. "Scott worked for him, and I am glad to see that he remembers his friends."
"I supposed the captain would appoint himself."
"You judged him by yourself. I can tell you one thing, De Forrest: these fellows that work for themselves don't accomplish much."
"The ballot for the other two will be taken in half an hour," said the principal, who had been studying the effect of the captain's choice upon the students.
"I congratulate you, Scott," said Sheridan. "You are sure of going, for one."
"Thank you. I am sure, and I hope I shall have good fellows to go with me," replied Scott.
"How about the caucus?"
"I have talked with some of the fellows forward, and they prefer to have every fellow vote as he likes."
"All right. I am satisfied."
Scott went to the captain, and thanked him heartily for the favor he had bestowed upon him.
"I am glad to serve you," replied Cantwell, "We are not even yet. I owe my position to you, and I am grateful for your interest."
"Not at all; you may thank De Forrest more than me for your election, for if those fellows in the cabin had not got up a conspiracy against you, we could not have carried you in."
"I am trying hard to make myself worthy of the place; and I want to add, that what you said to me that Sunday did me a great deal of good. I shall try to make my shipmates like me," added the captain, as he went aft.
"He's a good fellow, after all," said Scott to himself.
Certainly he had improved wonderfully since his election, for he was gentlemanly and kind to all, and used no offensive condescension to his inferiors, as all were to him now except the commodore. He had found his weak points with the help of Scott, and was doing his best to correct them.
In half an hour the balloting was commenced, and was conducted in the same manner as that for the officers had been. The two persons to be selected were voted for separately. No one had a majority; and a great many had a single vote, leading to the suspicion that a considerable number had voted for themselves. Among the latter was De Forrest, who had done more electioneering on his own account than any other student in the ship. Lincoln had the largest number, and it lacked only a few votes of the required majority. The balloting was repeated, and thistime Lincoln was elected by a very handsome majority. De Forrest had one vote again. The indications of the first two ballotings were a guide for the next one. A little fellow, who had been nicknamed Billy Bobstay, had thirty-one votes, which was next to the commodore's vote. His real name was Bradshaw, and he was an orphan. He had lived in Brockway with his uncle, who did not use him well, and the boy had attempted to run away to sea, but had been returned to his guardian, who was a poor man, and perhaps would have been glad to get rid of him, though he gave him an unmerciful flogging. He compelled the boy to work beyond his strength, thus exciting the sympathy of the neighbors. Mr. Lowington was at home at this time, and heard about the case. He examined the matter himself, and having satisfied himself that the little fellow was abused, he offered to take him on board of the ship, feed, clothe, and educate him. The uncle did not object, since he was thus wholly relieved of the support of the boy, whose labor, hard as it was for the youth, was not worth much to him, and Billy went on board of the Young America, delighted both with the idea of going to sea, and of getting away from his cruel and exacting uncle.
Though Billy had a great deal of spirit and energy, he was very kind and obliging to all his shipmates, and soon became a great favorite among them. As his education had been neglected, he could not compete with his fellow-students yet, though he was making rapid progress in his studies. His story was well known in the ship, and it excited the sympathy of all the good-hearted boys on board, and these included many of thewild and rude ones. If any one wanted to "pick" upon Billy, he had a dozen champions always at hand to take his part. He was very active and daring, and seemed to have been born for a sailor. His station in making and furling sail was on the main royal, for though he was nearly sixteen, he was one of the "lightest weights" on board. Though he never had any money, except the small sums given him by the principal, who was not a strong advocate of pocket-money for boys, he shared the luxuries of the steerage as fairly as though he had purchased his portion. Perhaps it was a freak on the part of a few of the boys to vote for him, which had become contagious. At any rate, on the next ballot, Billy Bobstay had a clean majority of all the votes, and the result was hailed with lusty cheers by the crew.
"I can't go," said Billy, when his shipmates began to congratulate him.
"Why not?" asked one.
"I haven't any money," replied Billy, frankly and innocently. "Besides, I don't want to take this chance when so many of the others wish to go."
"You shall have the money, my dear Billy," said Scott. "But who pays the bills for this little excursion?"
No one knew; nothing had been said on this subject; and a messenger was sent to the principal to ascertain his purpose in this important particular.
"The expenses of all will be paid to Moscow; beyond that the party will pay their own expenses," replied Mr. Lowington. "If, however, when they return, I think it proper to reimburse them, I shall do so. Ofcourse any one may decline the privilege extended to him. It is not forced upon him."
"Of course I can't go, then," said Billy Bobstay, decidedly. "I haven't a dollar, nor a ruble, nor a copeck."
"Don't you decline yet, Bubby," interposed Scott.
"Yes, I shall. It wouldn't be fair for me not to do so."
"Don't you do it. We'll raise the money for you," persisted Scott.
"But I don't want to take any other fellow's chance. I am much obliged to those that voted for me, but I can't go."
"Steady, now, my darling baby," continued Scott. "I want you to go, so as to help me, for I have a big job on my hands."
"I tell you I can't go. It's no use to think of it."
"Then you won't help me?" added Scott, in sad tones.
"I shall be glad to help you. What can I do?"
"You can do a big thing for me—the greatest kindness that one good fellow ever did for another. You are generally very obliging, William Bobstay."
"What can I do for you?" asked Billy, much troubled at the thought of disobliging any one.
"You can help me spend my money," pleaded Scott. "I have always been willing to help any fellow in this way, even when he didn't have half as much in his trousers pocket as I have."
"O, nonsense, Tom Scott. You are making game of me!" laughed Billy.
"Making game of you, my beloved infant! I should like to see the fellowthat would do it! I would make him up into Bologna sausages, and then make him eat them. You are going, my child, and I'm going to take care of you. Not another word; if you do it will choke you;" and Scott ran off to execute a little scheme of his own, no less than to take up a collection for the favorite.
"What's the matter?" asked Captain Cantwell, as Scott rushed by him.
The joker explained the situation, and said he was going to get up a subscription.
"Don't do it, Scott. I shall not go on shore this month, and you shall take my allowance for Billy. He shall go, and I will pay all his expenses."
"That's handsome, captain," replied Scott, heartily; "but the fellows that like Billy can give him a small sum each."
"They will all want their money on shore; I shall not. Wait a moment till I go below for my rubles;" and the captain hastened down into the cabin.
"Billy Bobstay, I will give you twenty rubles for your chance," said De Forrest to the little favorite.
"I can't sell it."
"Yes, you can; just go to the principal, and tell him you would like to have me go in your place. Don't say a word about the rubles, and he will let you do it."
"I can't; the students elected me to go, and it wouldn't be right for me to sell my chance," replied Billy, very respectfully, but firmly.
"Nonsense! Say quick, and run to the principal. I'll go with you."
"I can't do it."
"Do what?" asked Scott, coming up at this instant.
"It doesn't concern you. I didn't speak to you," said the purser, sourly. "I order you to go forward."
Scott touched his cap, and obeyed; but De Forrest dared not say anything more to Billy about the bribe, except to tell him not to mention what he had offered.
"Here, my darling Billy!" exclaimed Scott, as the little fellow went forward. "Here is a hundred rubles to pay your bills on the journey. It is the free gift of Captain Cantwell, who insists upon paying all your expenses, and declares that you must go. You see, my darling, he has so much money he can't possibly get rid of it without your aid, and you must do him the favor you refused me."
Scott repeated the story of the captain's generous gift so that all the students on deck could hear it.
"Three cheers for Captain Cantwell!" roared one of the big fellows; and they were given with a will.
The principal wanted to know what it meant, and Scott told him. He smiled, and approved the act; and Billy Bobstay was actually crying, he was so overcome by the kindness of his friends. Then Scott hugged him, and made him laugh; and with the tears dropping down his cheeks, he went to Cantwell and thanked him for his liberal gift. With but few exceptions, the ship's company were pleased with the result. The growing popularity of the captain troubled De Forrest, Beckwith, and a few others, and they were thinking how they could safely turn the tide against him.