The Placer herald., 1856-01-26
A Family Of Russian Peasants, or Mouiiks

A Famlly OF Russian peasants, or M0ullks.
The sketch represents group of Russian
peasants, or Moujiks, in their holiday attire.
The old man Gather, no doubt, of three
young girls is Dvornik or lodge-keeper to
one of the country villas; his business is to
guard the house throughout the winter, du-
ring the absence of the family, and is not
very burdensome. He has merely to attend
to his own comfort and that Of his dogs of
which he keeps several, as much for his own
companionship as for the protection Of his
masters property HiSxostume is extremely
Picturesque and becoming, though very SIM
pie, consisting merely Of striped linen or
black velvet breeches very full, and tucked
into high boots a red or any bright colored
shirt, fastened round the waist by narrow
girdle. long blue cloth coat, reaching to
the heels is the height of his ambition for
summer ou-ot-door wear In winter every
Dvomill wears a sheepskin coat and hat,
which is also very picturesque. All the
the men wear moustaches, cultivate long
boards, and possess teeth that many court
beauty might envy
The women's attire is more showy and
gaudy, consisting of bright crimson, yellow,
en- chemse, with full sleeves and kind of
strap or braces across the shoulders, Of the
same material as the petticoat; the parolnik,
or head-dress, is composed Of satin or velvet,
and is gaily embroidered with gold or pearl
beads; huge necklaces of amber, or some
other snowy beads, and immense earrings
The nurses in all wealthy houses--always
chosen from the moujik class-are half smo-
thered by the quantity of necklaces they
wear, as the bright, gaudy colots, are thought
to be pleasing to their infant charges When
they 90 out, pelisse Of some bright colored
cloth or damask trimmed with fur, completes
their costume; and certainly the most snowy
and attractive people in the promenades on
the Imperial and English quays Of St. Pc
tersburgh, on winters afternoon, are the
wetnurses of the Imperial family and those
Of the nobility. The female peasantry never
become servants in any other capacity, 9th
er domestic services are performed by French,
German and Swedish women.
The Russian peasant goes to work cheer
fully and contenedly after a meagre break
fast of black bread and an onion, though GER
tanlv no one works harder than he does
His dinner and supper is about the same as
his breakfast, perhaps little cabbage soup
for change, On holiday or Saints day
he thoroughly enjoys himself: in fact, during
the Carnival at Christmas and Easter he
makes a complete toll Of pleasure AT such
times on the Admiralty Plain there is held
fair Booths for dramatic performances are
erected: Noatagnes RuS$cs, swings, and mer-
ry-go-rounds. are among the chief amuse-
ments: and it certainly is Iudirrous sight to
see number of ey-beardcd men, old wo-
men (who look as if they had risen from
their graves, stalwart young men, and gaiy
dressed girls all demure|y seated on wooden
horses or in boats, grayey going round by
the hour together. At such times the con
sumption of hard eggs, nuts, and vodki
(brandy) is surprising, and if the latter is a
little too strong for them, it must certainly
be owned that a Russian. when drunk is not
only harmless, but very amusing person
The Imperial family, the Court, and all
the weather. classes, drive round the prone
made outside the booths and seem to derive
as much amusement at the groesque dancing
outside the theatres the singing and delight
of the moujiks, as the people themselves.
They are treated in a respectful way, and
his mixing mp Of the mobiles and peasants
seems perfectly natural and right.