Russia's Magnificent Churches

■une cnurcnes in oc. .rerersDurg are so magnificent that they go to your head, "writes Lilian Bell in The Ladies' Home Journal. "We did nothing but go to mass ou Christmas eve and Christmas day, íor although we spent our Christmas in Berlin we arrived in St. Petersburg in time for the Russian Christmas, which comes H3 days later than ours. St. Isaac's, the Kazan and Sts. Peter and Paul dazed me. The icons or images of the Virgin are set with diamonds and emeralds worth a king's ransom. They are only under glass, which is kept murky from the kisses which the people press upon the hands and feet. The iuteriors of the cathedrals, with their hundreds of silver couronnes and battleflags and trophies of conquests, look like great bazaars. Every column is covered clear to the dome. The tombs of the czar are always surrounded by people, and candles burn the year round. Upon the tomb of Alexander II, under glass, is the exquisito laurel wreath placed there by Presiderit Faure. It is of gold and was made by the most famous carver of gold in Europe. "