All the lanes and alleys that Intersect the gostinnoi dvor are deluged throughout the day by a stream of sledges and droshkies, in which the cooks, the stewards, and the other servants of the great houses, come to make their daily purchases. In a city containing half a million of inha bitants, there must at all times be a great and urgent demand for a vast variety of articles, but there are many reasons why this should be more the case in St. Petersburg than in any other capital. In the first jjlace, there is no other European capital where the inhabitants are content to make use of goods of such inferior quality, or where consequently they have such frequent occasion to buy new articles, or to have the old ones repaired. Then there is no other capital where the people are so capricious and so fond of change. The wealthy Russians are here one day, and gone the next ; now travelling for the benefit of their health, now repairing to the country, to re-establish their finances by a temporary retirement, and then reappearing on the banks of the Neva, to put their hundreds of thousands into circulation. This constant fluctuation leads daily to the dissolution and to the formation of a number of establishments, and makes it necessary that there should be at all times a greater stock of all things necessary to the outfit of a family, than would be requisite in a town of equal extent, but of a more stable population.
A Russian seldom buys any thing till just when he wants to use it, and as he cannot then wait, he must have it ready to his hand. Boots, saddlery,
wearing-apparel, confectioneiy, and other articles, which with us are generally ordered beforeliand from a tradesman, are here bought ready for immediate use. Each article has its separate row of shops, and the multitude of these rows is so great, that a stranger may often be heard to inquire, "My little father, where is the row of fur booths?" "My little mother, where is the cap row ?" " Pray show me the stocking row ?" " My little father, tell me the way to the petticoat row."
If the throng of buyers is calculated to anmse a stranger, he -will be likely to find still more diversion, as he lounges along the corridors, in observing the characteristic manners of the merchants. These gostinnoi dvor merchants are almost invariably flaxen haired, brown bearded, shrewd fellows, in blue caftans, and blue cloth caps, the costumes uniformly worn by merchants throughout Russia. They are constantly extolling their wares in the most exaggerated terms to those who are passing by. " What is your pleasure, sir? Clothes? I have them here; the very best, and all of the newest fashion." — " Here are hats of the first quality, and bj the best makers." " Kasan boots of the choicest description — " Shto vam ugodno 'ss? (what would suit you?) a bear-skin, a foxskin, or a cloak of wolf-skin? You will find every thing here; pray, walk in." Cap in hand, they are always ready to open their doors to every passer by, and are incessant in the exercise of their eloquence, whatever may be the rank, station, or age of those they address. They will not hesitate to offer a bear-skin mantle to a little fellow scarcely strong: enough to carry it, recommend their coarsely fashioned boots to a passing dandy, invite an old man to purchase a child's toy, or solicit a young girl to carry away a sword or a fowlingpiece. Where the merchant does not act as his own crier, he usually entertains somebody to officiate in his place, and it may easily be imagined what life and animation these constant cries and solicitations must give to the whole market. Preachers and actors have generally a tone peculiar to their several classes, and even so has the gostinnoi dvor merchant, whose voice may be known afar off, but who immediately alters that tone when a fish shows a disposition to fasten on the bait, for then commences a more serious discussion of the merits and quality of his merchandise.
No light or fire is allowed in the building, unless it be the sacred lamps that are kept burning before the pictures of the saints, and which are supposed to be too holy to occasion any danger. The merchants are, in consequence, often exposed to intense cold, but this they endure with admirable fortitude and cheerfulness. Over their caftans, it is true, they put on a close fur coat of white wolf-skin, a piece of apparel worn by every gostinnoi dvor merchant, of the same cut and material.