The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-01-07

SlOpneu, N tne evening VI very nOI uhNf
IN pleasant meadow; the female peasants,
in picturesque dresses, according 10 the Gus
tpnl Of the country, were returning from
their labor, singing hose sirs Of the Ukraine,
the words Of which, in praise Of love and
hheey. breathe n sort Of melancholy, ap-
roachng 10 regret. ] requested them to
dance. and they consented know not ing
more graceful lhan these dances Of ;he coun-
try, which have all the originality which ma
lure gives 10 the fine artsi certain modest
voluptuousness was remarkable in them the
Indian bayadcres shouil have something an
alnsous 10 that mixture of Incidence and vi
vacity which forms the charm of he Russian
dance. This Incidence and vivacity are in
dica,ivc OF reyeric and passion, two elements
o. character which civilization has yet ne-
iher formed nor subducd. was struck with
the mild gayetv of these female peasants As
had beer, in different degrees, with that of
the greater part Of the common people with
whom had come in contact in Russia.
can readily believe that they are terrible
when their passions are provoked; and as
they have no education, they know no. how
to curb their violence. As another result of
this ignorance, they have few principles Of
morality, and theft is very frequent in Rus
sis, as well as hospitality they give as they
take, according as their Imagination is acted
upon by cunning or generosity, both of which
excite the admiration Of this people. In
this mode Of life there is little resemblance
to savages; but it strikes me that a; present
there are no European nations who have
much vigor but those who are what is called
ba5barous, in other words, unenlightened, or
have'only acquired from civilization an injlf-
ference for this or that yoke, provided their
own iire-side is not disturbed those nations,
which have only learned from civilization the
art of explaining power and Of reasoning
seryitude are made to be vanquished. fre-
queniy imagine 10 myself what may now be
the situation OF the places which have seen
SO tranquil, of those amiable Young girls, of
those long bearded peasants, who followed
50 peaccably the lot which Providence had
traced for them; they have perished or fled,
for no one Of them entered into the service
Of the victor.
A thing worthy of remark is the extent 10
which pIblic spirit is displayed in Russia.
The reputation of invincible, which their
mulhpliedsuccesse have given to this nation
The natural pride of the nobility, the devol-
edness inherent; in the character Of the peo'
pie, the profound Influence of religion,
the hatred Of foreigners, which Peter |. en-
deayored to destroy in order 10 enlighten
and civlze his country but which is not less
settled in the blood OF the Russians, and is
occasional, ruused--sll these causes com
blEei make them a most energetic people.
Some had anecdotes of the preceding rei.ns,
some Russians who have contracted debts
with the Pa'isian shonkeepers and some Lon>
mats Of Diderot have put it into the head,
Of the French, that Russia consisted only of
corrupt cou military chamberlains, and
"A people of slaves. This is a great mistake.
This nation, il is trae, requires long ex-
animation to know it thoroughly, but in the
circumstances in which observed it, every
thing was salient, aud country can never
be seen to greater advantage than at per-
od OF misfortune and courage. 1t canno t
be too ollen repeated, this nation is compos.
ed Of the most striking contrasts. Perhaps
the mixture OF European civilization and Of
Asiaic character is the cause.
The manner of the Russians is SO oblig-
ing, thar YOU might imagine yourself, the
very first day, intimate with them, and prob
ably at the end Of ten years you would not
be So The silence Of Russian is allogelh-
er extraordinary; this silence is solely occa-
stoned by what he takes deep interest in.
In o'her respects, they talk as much as you
will; bat their conversation teaches yOn
nothing but their politenoss (; it belrays neilh>
er their feelings nor opinions. They have
beaa frequently compared 20 the French, in
my opinion with the least justice in the world
The feasibility of their organs makes inila-
ton in all things matter of ease TO them
they are English, French, or German, in
their manners according to circumstances
but they never cease to he Russians, that is
to say, uniung impetuosity and reserve, more
capable of passion Than friendship more bold
than delicate, more devout than virtuous,
more brave than chivalrous, and so violent in
their desires that nothing can stop them, when
their qualification is 10 question. They are
much more hospiIable Than the French but
society does not with them, as with us, con.
sst of circle of clever people of both sex
es, who take pleasure in talking together
They meet, as we 60 to fetes, 10 soc great
deal OF company, TO have fruits and rare pro.
ductons from Asia or Europe, to hear music,
to play-in short, 10 receive vivid emotions
from external objects, ralher than from the
heart or understanding, both OF which they
reserve for actions, and not for company.
Besides, as they are in general very ignor-