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Page 193 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1

Moir, Ethel, 1916, Document
Page 193 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1
Page 193 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1
Page 193 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1
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Item no
25221
Title
Page 193 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1
Description
We've had our "fill" of churches here I think - but they're worth seeing. One institution of town life that strikes one in Russia is the
"dvornik" or night house-watchman. He is a sort of indoor servant, usually about the front door, sort of hall-porter, but also an he is "ex officio" a member of the police & has to make his report from time to time. At night the number of dvorniks are countless. They sit at the yard & house doors wrapped in their fur "shoobas" "[shubas]" (coats) & must be very cold & wretched. Samovárs & counting-boards Russians cannot do without. Russia is undoubtedly a tea-loving country. The domestic samovár or greatly, brightly polished urn, is practically, the rallying-point of the household & "chai" is being brewed at all hours of the day & night! The leaf is imported from China. They drink tea, not in cups, but in tumblers, fitted with a metal frame that provides a handle; no milk, but plenty of sugar
& a thin slice of lemon is put to float on the top & the concoction is perfectly delicious! We're becoming great "chai" drinkers too!
I'll write again soon & I hope next time my letter will be from across the Frontier! /
Artist / maker
Date
1916
Size
20.4 x 16.0 cm
Type
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection