The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-27
A NEW BOOK ABOUT RUSSIA.
The Emancipation Of the Serfs-Result Of Ten
Years.

has published DIR. Julius Eckhardt's work on
Modern Russia" volume which makes
timely appearance in view of possible contin-
gencies in Europe. DIR. Eckhardt, confning
his researches chiefly to the reign of Alexan-
der ii, describes the present condition of
Russia better than any other writer of the
day, and a large part of his book is devoted
to the serfs and the effect of the decree of
emancipation This decree became a law less
than ten years ago-February, 1S61-but this
brief period has sufficed to create peaceful
revolution in the empire and to strengthen
the Government by elevating twenty-five
millions of persons from a condition OF
slavery to the rank of citizens and free
holders.
The old custom had been that certain
amount, usually third, of every estate was
reserved to the proprietor, the remainder
falling to the use of the village community.
But the peasants were obliged to cultivate
their masters portion without wages, and
three days a week were generally devoted to
this service. The serfs were divided into
two classes, those who titled the soil and the
household servants, who were entirely depen-
dent on and supported by their lord The
former possessed their land in common,
which was divided anew, according to fami
lies. every nine years. 1t by no means fol-
lowed that the head of family received the
same allotment at each recurring redistribu-
ton, and it frequently happened that the
portions assigned him did not lie all toge-
ther. The individual possessions of each
man consisted of his house and garden,
horses, cattle, and movable goods. Run
away serfs were severely dealt with, but any
peasant desiring to quit his village and settle
in the towns could do so by purchasing his
freedom or by paying an annual tax to his
lord. Many proprietors derived large sums
in this way from serfs who had become
wealthy merchants and tradesmen.
PROVISION OF THE EMANCIPATION ACT
BY the Emancipation act the freedom of
the serfs both agricultural and domestic,
was assured, and the village communities
were allowed to acquire absolute possession
of the land by purchase, or to hold it under
easy leases Nothing else was altered. The
household servants were to remain in their
former positions, receiving fixed wages, until
the 18th February, 1868, when they could
terminate their engagement if they pleased.
The serfs who were living in the towns re-
manned for the same period under the old
conditions, except that the tax paid to their
lord was limited to thirty rubles (about e4)
for man and ten rubles for woman. At
the same time, all obligations on the proprie-
tor to provide for his serfs in sickness, scar
city, or old age ceased.
Previously to the Emancipation act it
depended solely on the will of the proprietor
as to what portions of his estate should be
assigned to the village communities, the only
rule being that each peasant was to receive
four and half dessiatins (about twelve
acres) for his support. Here, then, arose a
difficulty. 1t was the peasants interest to
get the cultivated and most productive par
of the land, the lords to keep in his own
possession as much of those portions of his
estate as possible. The question was left to
the parties themselves to settle, under the
supervision of officials appointed for the pur-
pose and styled peace mediators. 1t was i'm
l. E H.
throughout such a diversified territory
as the Russian Empire. 1t was there
fore divided into three zones, each of
which was subdivided into regions
Special regulations were drawn up for each
of these divisions, according to the varying
conditions of soil, climate, and agricultural
life and customs. These regulations were
most complicated, and the transition period
during which they were to be carried out was
originally fixed to terminate in the present
year, but much longer time will probably
elapse before the land question may be con-
sidered as settled. Not the least difficult
part of the business is to be found in the fact
that the Russian peasant, as rule, hates
work almost as much as the negroes in the
West Indies showed they did after their
emancipation, and he is ready, for the sake
OF immediate and temporary qualification, to
surrender all his prospects of future WELL
being and prosperity.
RESULTS OF TEN YEARS.
The results of this change, as described by
DIR. Eckhardt, are summed up by the London
Spectator in its review of his work.
The serfs settled in towns were the first to
recognize the benefits conferred upon them,
They were no longer in danger of being re-
called, at the caprice of their lord, for their
lucrative occupations, to resume the old
drudgery they had abandoned; and the tax
which they were to pay for the next two
years was mere triffe. The lower orders of
these, such as mechanics, droschky drivers,
and the like, after the fashion of true Rus
sian peasants, Immediately proceeded to get
drunk, and paraded the streets in bands, shout
ing "Volyushka!" ''Volyushka," dear little
freedom" The agricultural serfs, on the other
hand, did not at first comprehend what had
been DONE Their ignorance was played upon
by political agitators, and disturbances arose
in various quarters. They thought that the
real Emancipation act of the Tsar had been
tAmpered with in its transmission to them.
They said, ''We belong to the lords, but the
land belongs to us, and they imagined that
it had been the Tsar's intention to give them
absolute possession of the land without any
payment to the proprietors. These disturb.
ances were, however, easily suppressed
though not without bloodshed, and the re-
adjustment of the land tenure has since gone
peaceably on. But is is not until compre
hensive system of education-such as thai
now in contemplation-is in force throughout
the land, that the Emancipation act will beal
the full fruits contemplated byits enlightened
originators.
THE MOST POWERFUL SECT IN RUSSIA.