Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-10

THE sERFS OF RUSSIA

mains are declared free and the emancipation
of the rest is only retarded for the completion
OF the necessary arrangements. The connec-
tion between proprietor and serf has, of course,
ever varied according to circumstances; being
mild and patriarchal on some estates, slave
driving on others. BY law, the labor to be
imposed on the serf, for the land he holds OF
his master, is that of three DAYS per week; vet
many proprietOrs force their men for six days
during the summer, and in winter field labor
Is impossible. Such properties may be soon
recognized by the squalidness and misery of
the peasantry. A certain proprietor, passing
from the south to St. Petersburg, told me tha t.
passing twice through such district, he in
quired the reason of so much poverty and dirti-
ness among the people; the answer was that
the PHmsSchtE, or landlord took six days a
week, and that they had no time for them
selves. In village about the center of the
country, In the same condition, asked the
same question, and received the same answer
My conversation was with the gamshik, or pos
hillon, who was serf Of the estate, and hired
out on the Obrok system; he received sixty
roubies year, the whole of which he had to
Pay to his proprietor. "But this will soon be
over now, - said the man. "SrObOdnie sh ne
SrobodH'e-tO be free, or not to be free, that
Is the question now" On asking further
found he had not the least idea of any of the
blessings of freedom, but thought they con-
sisted in doing nothing, or only so much as to
provide the means of getting drunk. Of this,
however, there is no doubt, that since the
emancipation has been mooted, many propri-
etors have been doubly hard in squeezing as
much labor as possible out of the serfs; while
tne serfs, knowing they would soon be Free
seem resolved to do as little as possible
Many proprietors, on the other hand, when
tne subject took a serious aspect, either volun-
farlly emancipated their serfs or made ar
rangements with them. A friend of mine an
ctlcer IN the navy, on his return from long
voyage, when the peasants came to coDgratu-
late him according 20 old custom, addressed
them seriously on the change about to take
place In their condition. With one voice
they cried out they we're happy as they wanted
TO be, and did not want to be free Indeed
under an easy, humane proprietor, serfs
ere almost as much a burden as a profit.
Ihey have no cares but such as their
labor imposes, and the proprietor is bound by
many bonds to them; he must pay their taxes
to the Government; If their is6a or hut, be
burned down, he must rebuild it; if their COW,
pig, or horse die, he must replace it; if sick
ness De In the family he must provide doctor
and medicines; if in want he must feed them;
II Naked he must clothe them-in short in all
their wants they look up to their pamesehik
for assistance and advice. 1t is true that the
peasant should repay all this by degrees; but
as ne Is lazy and has little money, he is al
ways deeply in debt, as arc most Of the serfs
throughout Russia. All the enlightened ira
yelled Russian proprietOrs with whom ever
spoke, leaving their ideas of humanity aside
declared they thought that the emancipation
would be, after short period, more a profit
than loss to them; men of narrow ideas, or
those whose estates were deeply mortgaged to
the Government, were Of course fearful that
the change would injure them very materially
As most OF the prOprietors are absent during
the greater part OF the year, their estates are
managed by agents; if the estate is small by
the head men of the peasantry. Every male
serf has the right to a certain portion of land
about four techetverts (eight acres, two roods,
thirty poles circa,) but often less in the most
valuable districts; for this he gave his labor
three days per week. Where the communal
system exists, the land thus ceded is classed,
measured and portiOned out among the differ
ent families comprising the commune. This
mIrs, or commune system, is one of the most
striking OF Russian institutions. 1t has already
descended from generation to generation for
more than thousand years, and is in fact a
primitive emblem of what in other countries
has grown into selfgovernment The COM
munes meet under the presidency of its Starsi
or elders, to deliberate on the general good
Over every district is, however, q tchinoinick
or Government Supervisor.
The soll-bound peasant, the serf who lsbOrs
on his own account and pays the obrOk or trib-
ute TO his master, and the droUerIts or per-
sonal servants, form the three classes of nus
sian Serfdom. But to the glory Of humanity
and progress such an institution will, in Eu-
rope, soon belong only to the past, though the
curse thatslayery entails can only be redeemed
by rational freedom. The emancipation once
accomplished, it will be curious to mark its ef-
feet on the people. Different opinions are
formed by thinking Russians as to what these
effects will be. From my own observations
and deductions came to the opinion that the
change will be deeply felt by the country, and
at first for the worst-for the Russian peasant
bears strong resemblance, in many respects,
70 the lrlsh-Celtie peasant. Both peoples too
have long suffered from absentee landlords,
who were only heard of when money had to be
squeezed from the unfortunate tenants.
The Russian peasant will work Just enough
to supply the bare wants Of his nature. lie
wilFcaltivate little buckwheat for his kash, \
and plat Of cabbage for bis stchu; the sale Of
his pig, his fowls, or his calf. will provide him
With whisky and tobacco; the sheepskins sup
ply his clothing. Unaccustomed to any charge
made upon him, except by his proprietor, he
will not at first understand the payments to be
made to Government for the land he occupies;
although such payments may, after q time,
prove an incentive to industry. If the com.
munal system be preserved, this again may
call forth the peasants energy; for the land
being held in a mass by the commune, and
paid Ter By it, one mans industry will be a
reproach and a check on the Incidence of the
others. Such will probably be the state of the
Russian peasantry for long time after they are
free; and, until the whole social life of Russia
can be reorganiIed, and things find their level,
the country will have to experience the after
effects whish such a curse as slavery ever
brings upon every grade Of e population,
whether noble or kind. There is, however,
one strong feature in the character Of the Rus
sian lower orders; and that is, their disposti
TO barter and commerce in this they much
resemble the Chinese, whose love of trading is
well known. Many serfs, therefore, on their
liberation will, 10 doubt, flock to the towns,
and there gain livelihood In various channels
Of commerce. Magazine.
-% Kash, the grain Of buckwheat, eaten
rice is In India, or the potato In Ireland forms
the stchu, or cabbage soup, the chief alment of
the Russian peasant.
UAn infant child, about eight months old