Servia and the Servians 1862 William Denton

94 BERYL/ . ..I.ND PHJJ BERYI..J.NB.
even when it fails to reach their conduct, which if it
has produced but few whom we should call saints or
philosophers, has produced through centuries of oppression
whole armies of eonfeS!Om and martyrs. We may
leam something from the sight of a calm strength,
reposing 'in the quietness and confidence' of a treasure
. of hereditary belief; which its possessor is content to
value for himself, without forcing it on the reception of
others. We may learn something from the sight of
Churches, where religion is not abandoned to the care
of women and children, but is. claimed as the right and
the privilege of men ; where the Church reposes not so
much on the force and influence of its clergy as on the
independent knowledge and manly zeal of its laity."•
Sunday is better observed in Belgrade tl\an in any
other city which I have visited on the Continent. It is
kept without any affectation of moroseness, but really
as a day of rest and for public worship. Except in
the case of the Turkish shops, all business is suspended
on that day. In the morning the churches are well
filled, and in the afternoon everybody makes friendly
and family visits in a quiet way, or saunters into the
country, or at least to Topschidere, by the side of the
soothing and sabbatic Save. The other holy days are
of a more mingled character-Sundays so far M the·
total suspension of all business is concerned, and gala
days at least after the early morning mass. Even the
Turkish shopkeepers close their shops on these days,
and the Servian citizens make parties to the beautiful
• Stanley's.'~ LeeturJ3S OB the Eastern Church," Leet. I.
Digitized by Google