alked in in procession, quaffing a goblet of Champagne
to the health of the parties, kissing the bride's hands, who returned
the salutations on our cheeks, and embracing _a la Francaise_ the
cheeks of the bridegroom, who luckily, in the present instance, had
neither the Russian beard nor the modern English whiskers. With one
voice we then wished the happy pair a hearty blessing, and withdrew,
when the doors were closed. The company gradually dispersed. Dinners
and dancing went on for three successive days. On the first of these
I attended for a few minutes, being determined to satisfy my curiosity
to the last. I had, however, to pay for this indulgence, having been
compelled, by immemorial usage, on entering the room, to drink a bumper
of the sparkling juice to the dregs in honour of the bride, to undergo
the same ceremony of bride and bridegroom's salutation, and to whirl
half a round of a waltz with the former. But I had made up my mind
to bear even worse _inconveniences_ than these, should it have been
necessary, rather than forego the advantage of judging for myself of the
truth or falsehood of the many exaggerated and fanciful descriptions
given by travellers of a Russian wedding. To complete this account of
what I _witnessed_, I should add, that on the eighth day, the happy
pair attended once more at the church, for the ceremony of "dissolving
the crowns," which is performed by the priest, with appropriate prayers,
in allusion to the rites of matrimony.

* * * * *

THE ANECDOTE GALLERY

* * * * *

DOCTOR PARR.

Dr. Parr's nature was highly social; and he almost always spent his
evenings in the company of his family and his domestic visiters, or in
that of some neighbouring friends. He was fond of the pleasures of the
table; and probably, in the course of the whole year, few days passed in
which he did not meet some social party, round the festive board, either
at home or abroad. At such times his dress was in complete contrast with
the costume of the morning, for he appeared in a well-powdered wig, and
always wore his band and cassock. On extraordinary occasions he was
arrayed in a full-dress suit of black velvet, of the cut of the old
times, when his appearance was imposing and dignified.

After dinner, but not often till the ladies were about to retire, he
claimed, in all companies, his privilege of smoking, as a right not to
be dispute