New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS
sKETcHEs OF RUSSIAN LIFE.

phEIHhks w tIos or THE sERFs EDITED by hSShI
AohIES Professor Ct bhf15 5. Chapman Hall Pllsdst
eSSs j. D. LPpsBoot& Co. ,.1, -.
rrho .n,bor Of this book is an Engshman who has
pent fifteen years in Russia engaged ID business " va
Hon, Kinds which has brought him into contact with
Aersons Of all grades in nearly all parts oil Inc
Professor Morley, who originally acted the part Vi
literary drynurse to the Sketches" dressing theh
ND in appropriate garb for appearance in AH me rear
ReuAd now comes forward as their sponsor, ana in-
PRODUCES them to the public with promise tha' 'hey
shall tell no lies set forth 1.-THE mnutest trace oi
On imaginary fact" We have no doubt that ID SUD
stance the book is toeraby ruei though some OF the
incidents are grouped with dramatic and improbable
fitness which calls TO mind Professor Morleys we'll
known theatrical experience and familiarity with
stage business Some Of the anecdotes we have heard
before with variations, but We must remember that
thew were first published in weekly paper, and
thence may have wandered out into the world 10 fol-
low the usual vagabond, protean life Of funny stories
Our author takes us with him several interesting
Journeys across great stretches Of country Once be
rode 200 miles in the midst of sDOw-stOm Of almost
nnexampled fury, his conveyance beng an open
sledge drawn by three horses and his only companion,
beside the driver being fat taeturn, gOod-natuTed
Russian neighbOT. lie attacked on the road by
pack Of hungry wolves, most Of whom he Killed. aiter
fierce battle full of har-breadth escapes, beside
which the pers Of our Western hunters and Indians
seem almost tame. Again he journeys in hbitka, or
diligence sledge and after several Of the horses have
bOrst blood vessels otherwise put an end TO them
selves In struggling through the drifts the travellers
about midnight are stuck fast in mountain ridge Of
snow Three of the party set out in search oil assist
snee and presently TO their amaZement discover by
che ascending wTeaths Of smoke that they wrecked
In the midst of a snow covered Villages an adventure
(which seems like mild version of a celebrated chap
ler in the Travels Of Baron Munchausen. Opposite
the hut in which author obtains shelter, house
has been entirely buried for some days. The family
are dug out uninjured; but the diggers come upon
Aledge with its horse, driver and two women, lost,
buried and frozen to death in the midst Of the village
Three months afterward when the melted, 1t IS
sad that from $50 10 300 cOrpses were found on the
Moscow road alone; all which the author ayows that
he firmly believes. I
! One night during this journey, our author took
khelter in peasants hut where he found the whole
family spinning and weaving flax. They worked at
this all Winter and in Summer titled the fields. The
baron their mastertor this before the decree OF
emancipation went into oree-spent his time in Mos
BOW and st. Petersburg leaving his sers to the tender
mercks OF a German steward, who heeced theln uh-
merCtuly. The two eldest girls had been ordered 10
marry after Easter, and to marry men they dld Iot
bke-for the baron, his representative the steward,
Exercised under the old slavish system, direct con-
troll over the marriage of his sers. There Is no such
thing, generally as courtshlp among the lower
klasses, matrimonial alliances being arranged by en-
bAssadresses called SnakhaS and being generally mat
tiers of bargain and sale. swakha came IN while our
author was talking with this family and began to
e1tol the virtues and accomplishments OF one OF the
bnoXious suitors; chief among which was that though
very fond OF brandy he knew how to gett for nothing
The next morning when the travellers were about
startng, one of the party, young Russian VINO had
devoted himself the previous evening 10 the society Of
The prettiest of the daughters, was nowhere to be
Hound, and had to be left behind. We give the rest Of
the story in the authors own words:
Nine months afterward stepping Of railway
Sage az Moscow when met old companion OF the INIT be
ped pormanteau with hand and with the other be
dragged me the gate tumbled with himself into pre-
sa small open earriage and directed the dnYeI where 10
go You are going 10 my house he said 70 meet en- old
acquaintance and TO be guest while you remain in Moscow
Don't 1t shall be So On arriving at his house small
and but very respectable agredaby surprised 10 meet
the beauty Of the hut who forward as his wife looking as
Pappy as man cond DESIRE she haa Just nnisned MUSIC
lesson dressed very neatly and she did the hono Of the
house quite creditably while stayed
You remember telling on that awial journey IN March
hast said the young Russian when we sat up together how
Shey married for love England and not for how
women were not there slaves 20 and so forth Well
thought her good and pure and yOlknow she is beautiful
SO began night love her told her and told her
abe end Of that time determined would have her let cost
me what might SO when got TO Moscow called On hed
elbow her be married TO the bad mau whom the steward had
Ia been before me there He told me that he had seen an In.
hman who represented the case that he had given orders
Cor the stoppage of that marriage
YES said did see him and found him kind hearted
gentleman quite unayare his steward pnks He
granted request At once and in my presence sent letter Oh
aat ne aid hst il not all He refused to sell her said
thshe knew the family well that the old man had charge OF
im while boy and protected his life at some risk lie
asked me what was aud what interest had in the girl
replied that wanted marry Der Then said he the
whole family shall have its freedom make out
che necessary papers That all done long The rae6y
steward is discharged and am to fill his place"
The Russianized Germans who are very numerous
In the empire bear bad character, being as q class
crafty, unscrupulOus and greedy. Many Of them are
stewards on the great estates, and in the good old
times Of serfd0m they used to abuse and fleece the
Door peasants outrsgeOusly and cheat the masters.
In some cases. since the emancipation the sers have
taken dreadful vengeance their Oppressors There
IL story Of an occurrence of this kind the estate Of
IA Madame ObrassOf, where the family consisted Of
abe proprietress her daughter an English girl named
Lucy Murray. goTerness and German steward
named Hansen with his wife and children The stew
ard had finished long course Of oppression by rObbng
abe serfs of q considerable sum Of money which they
had laid away in secret place aud the peasants took
an osth-to be revenged The story opens in the most
approved melodramatic style
Oae evening four stood at the end OF hut shaking
something One Of thOn put h hand in snd drew
be told the result and tho operation repeated Then the
Tour separated and took different paths through the village
Sht soon after twilight and the had risen almost
coudiess SKY Just the old starot passed the stewards
How do you DO, starO.tf hSPe your health is good
Goodnight must run to the house
Stay maiden with the golden hair and the laughing eyes
eel who there in yonder house besides the steward
ASisme obrassoa and her daughter sleep there tonight
you know for the last nstsment Of the purchase
sponey Of the estate
"Tomorrog mornag We should have gone 70 night bat Il
Is hate 20 begin journey and the horses want rest Why do
IseR daughter Of the English and let my words go into
your heart Tel genershe from her old
6aros her and hers though he has often deceived
IN less hour God dooms it. and a In it 20 deruc
dion Now tell her and secretly but vaae her life
fny words Cool bye English ehiis and ny God give you
a, ;,L 49, p,ssio, 6or- o-oss