The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-02-17
TIE DAILY DISPATCH.
sarUkOAY MORNING. FEsRuARY y, 1855.

u u DAAA LIMA Il = 49,
SATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARy -, 1855.
"TNs YElRs IN RUSSIA. We have not
scea this new publication, but Judging froni
review Of II Id the n Y. Tribune, the au.
thoress, tccejecsured TO be one OF the Eng
lish governesses who are said to have been
hanished from the empire by command OF
the Cxar) has colored her statements pretty
highly and is too much under the sway OF
prejudice to be altogether reliable.
We can easily believe the authoress, how
ever, when she states that the position OF
the English in Russian society was At once
changed by the declaration OF war. Ihey
had never conciliated tho cordial good will
cf the Russians--were regarded with senti'
meut of respect rather than Of sympathy
and the moment that hostilities were an.
nounced. they became the objects of an in
tense hatred. The bonds of amity were sew
cred even between the Oldest and most al
tsched friends-a barrier of ice was placed
between those who had been on the closest
terms of intimacy-and SO far was the AMI
mostly carried that q staunch Russian would
AS soon have touched toad as have shaken
hands with an English person The preva-
lent ill.feeling, of course, found vent in words
No opprobrious term was too strong to ex-
press the universal spite. 1t was common to
hear the phrases "those dogs 'those swine
the English even from the lips of ladies OF
rank and education. No reply could be
made; except in the most guarded terms
There were spies on every side eager to catch
at word, and enjoy the pleasure OF subject
ing lady or a gentleman to q visit from one
of the secret police, with summons to Count
Orlofrs office"
The authoress gives some interesting par
ticulars of the Russian mode OF courtshP
and love making among the serfs but as Eng
lish writers are so thoroughly unreliable IN
their statements of men or things connected
with slavery (vide Charles Dickens Amer
can notes. there is no knowing whether our
fair authoress is romancing or not. She says,
however, that the domestic servants cannot
marry at all without the consent OF their mas
ter or mistress-which is seldom given-or
by purchasing their freedom at price fixed
by their owners-for if girl wed serf be-
longing to another proprietor, she is trans
ferred as the property of her husbands mas
ter. eDo you think am going to let Zou-
loft marry Ivan!" was the speech of lady
one day "why, should never get another
maid to suit me SO WELL besides which, ap-
prenticed her, for which paid good money
to Solavieff one of the best dress makers in
ST. Petersburg and if / were to let her marry
l should lose her services entirely
Uben ,tavins on one occasion, at the house of a
I.5y of hip rank in Russia, present at scene
that would scarcely be credited in England The
establishment was on very grand scsie as many many
and in the lapse of time the numerous boys, some OF
these servants, had grown up into Young men The
noblemsr on looking his list, seemed to think
that so many were not needsd-at lesst that they
were wasting their time in town when they ought
for his advantage, to be down at tho villages and
GETTING married; he therefore ordered them into his
presence-there were about twenty altogether He
thsr should think of becoming settled in lie-that it
was their duty to be married-and for that purpose
he would give them fortnight at the expiration OF
which he expected every one OF them would have
found wife, and that they must go down to their
village to do 50.
with downeast eyes ana serious aspect; little wills
perng took place among them, and then one of them
stepped forward and respectfully intimated that the
shortnsss of the time such that they were
afraid they could not find SO many msrriageabie wo'
in the village and it would take them longert
look about them, as they must make inquiries in the
neighberhood." Their master. therefore, granted
them a week longer, with which they appeared sat
listed, and withdrew. had the curiosity to inquire
as to whether they had succeeded in finding the
requisite number of wives and assured that they
had all got married, and within the time specified.
In Russia, the authoress tells US, it is Gus
tomary for the bride to bring dowry for
her settlement in life. Among the upper
classes, she says, ''the trousseau is always
shown for several days before the wedding
takes place. 1 once saw oue,' says the au-
thor, which was worth many thousands of
pounds there were dozens of everything
all tied up with narrow pink satin ribbon,
quantities of table and bed linen, countless
dresses, nantes, and all the etcetera of a
lady's toilet, beautiful jewelry and magnif-
cent furs, everything that money could pur-
chase, and in such abundance that in the
longest lifetime it would be impossible to
wear them out AS general rule, the mo-
ney is found by the lady's friends, while the
gentleman's friends find the man to accep,
it. If young person has money, there is
never lack of suitors-they come even
from remote provinces-it matters little whe.
ther she be good, handsome or amiable-
having seen her once, they make an offer on
the spot, and are soon married"
Does our good English lady really believe
that Russia is the only country in which it
matters little to sutton whether LADY be
good or handsome, so she have plenty of
money?
Our authOress says that the household ser
wants are treated more like young children
than grown up men and women. Of this
she gives the following amusing instance
One day the eight footmen, and the five other
men servants at Madame r e, all had new liyerie,
Being DESTROYS to see how they looked Madame or.
dered them ell into her presence they came with
the porter at their head the lady babe them stand
In row, 90 that she might the effect and bey
ing had good survey of the waistcoats Commanded
them to turn about, which they did in true military
order and gave as gratifying view of thrtee en- n.irs
OF broad shorlder all covered with light bue broa5
cloth Of the best quality they then marched ont
Incy nsa performed an exemplary duty At ano- |
ther time tne family was increased by raw recruit
OF slackey. about six feet two high, who Va ~
lowed with the awkward habit of letting ey srnth,
fall that he took in his fingers. After bs M ling
haustsd ths patience of every BODY In the bon e.
was told that the next time he gave us a specmae e