New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ru.,,, 70 THE land OF THE CZAR.

n
forming more or less intimate ACQUAINTANCE WIZ"
members of all classes OF the people, anu "o's '"'
materials thus presented to his hand III the spirit OF
sooocious observation and critical Judgment HIS
,In,o oonnrises full geographical and statistical
o,t f tle Russian empire. with notices OF It's
orr,orltnro and manufacturing industry the char
otor and habits of its population. md It's political
,na literary history. lie has not neglected the
doto furnished by previous writers on the subject,
i; connection with his own personal experiences and
has thus collected o macs of information, much OF
II of rare and curious character, which can hardly
he found in any single work of the same compass.
The generality Of the Russian population, accord
ing TO the author exhibit traits of character which
cannot fail to excite certain degree OF interest.
even if they do not command unmin yled sympathy.
Although q creature of emotion and impulse, the
Russian of the common people has a good DISPOSE
ton and excellent natural tendencies. deyout,
patriarchal spirit peryades all his thoughts and
actions. Ardentiy devoted to his religion and his
country, he makes the Car the representative OF
supreme perfection. lie is regarded as the only lc-
climate sovereign of the whole world. His
orders are executed without reserve. The
Russian is devoted. with inviolable fidelity
to the throne to the church, and to the an
cient national customs HIS life on the vast plains,
in the boundless forests, the mighty rivers and
the stormy lakes, brings him into perpetual contact
with nature. His mind thus acquires practical
cast His innate love of nature Is shown by the
kindness of his behavior towards dumb animals.
He almatcs his horses by carcsso7 and terms of en-
dcarrnent With q wonderful instinct OF hospitality,
his hand is always open in the presence Of distress
and want He places the treasures of his aTder and
cellar and his best room az the disposal OF the be-
uig.Ited wanderer who knocks at his door. The de-
cfepit beggar even the wrc;chcd criminal dragging
his chains to Siberian prison, never goes empty
from his village The IsSlan cares ht,lc for his
parental hearth for the parish soil, he helps to
cultivate. This indifference arises from
the absence of landed property among the
peasants. They become attached to their
families their neigh5OTs, their parishes. but
never to the ground or the place they iuhabit. No
man IS more capable than TIE Russian of creating
comfortable existence for himself But he is per
fectly destitute of any pride of his profession H.
attempts to turn everything to his advantage, and
esteems his work only as the means of gain. lie is
wanting in foresight and is singIlarly aYcTsc to a
fixed and orderly existence. With an intense love
of money he is careless in regard 10 property. lie
lives only for the present loment.without troubling
himself for the future Owing to hi long 3eridGn'
he Las 10 idea Of thrifty management. and has
vet to learn the art OF hU5b1nGug his resources
when English machinery was first introduced ID q
the agricultural districts OF Russia the peasahiS
world look in silent wonder upon the preparations
preceding the start of Il steam thraShlnG-lnachhr'
for instance. Bat the moment the steam was let oh'
ard the machine began to move, to thrash the corn
and bring IT out really famed, slfted, and sorted,
they often With accord would break INTO an ul-
comfortable it of merrimen throw themselves on
the ground and roll about in a perfect agony OF
LAUGHTER mt the ridiculous toys those English had
brought into Holy Russia, in their audacIous cOncet
trying to supersede the thrasher (ox, the plow and
fan of their fathers. At the angry call of The stew
ard. however they would jump up and begin to
supply the machine, to remove the straw, Gll and
clear away the sacks and chall &c, and the English
TOW led them such dance al day long they never
had experienced before. Reluctantly they began TO
admire the amount and quality Of the work done,
but they did not look uDO" the machine, that
threatened to become ii severe taskmaSter anu, rs
an Innovation was a nuisance altogether with any
favorable eye"
The Russian nobility generally live IN the large
cities paying little attention to their vast estates
ONLY the proprlctor Of small landed property re-
mains at home to superintend his farm in person.
Hence agriculture is in a very backward condition.
Uosoitality is one Of the leading virtues OF the Rus
sian family of the higher class. The visitor is wei
coined with sincere joy. He is at once made to feel
at home and even the donesics show that they are
pratIGed by hi, presence The society OF st. Peters
burg ranks with the best in Europe. There Is a
great passion for luxurious style of living, but the
educated Russian is h1ghy Intelligent, and OF quick
comprehension.
Tho family Ike ot the Russian rlost distinctly reflect
his character his bent OF mind and the eject OF The s
iorical POLITICAL social Influences % the past ana oi
present which have been Instrumental IN tho IOrn
THe Rrsrln begins and ends the day ny prayer The
daily abuiioEs OF the lower CLASSES take up but little
time and trouble Ine baths tproOabN or Finnish
oiiLul invaluable in sanitary respcct applied,
OF the pores the fal off Of the hair prcma-
Even tine lower classes make use Of tDem ut
The father or master OF the household takes upon him
self the smallest share o! It's dutcs he prcsidcs over
the arrangement of tde whole AMI goes III his own, or
IN the person OF other members Of bs family in search
outdoor work. The greatest share Of the household
work aud the hardest Is thrown on the women whose
paIcut submission. IN the presence OF The cOparat 9
incidence # the men, remind one but too windy Of
The peasants Oiet is OF the frugal description
His foot is not substantial but he much and often.
| the country.
All Russians even the highly civilized sleep much
people who required aud enjoyed 50 much sleep thry
DO nap after meals Is Indispensable to them People
in easy circumstances, particularly the women, sleep
Ous in tao morning; hence pernciOus results ~ the
household. to the proper training OF cildren g. Or
der proper surveillance. aud regularity dnder such
cunistGnceF, are next TO lmpOs Die.
The table manners OF the middle and lower classes
depordby dchceUf III grace aud deccDcy, although
good society they resemble those OF other countries
But frequently IN the most luxurious house holds the
visitor may at glance detect certain want OF order
tho absence OF the indcfatgbc hand OF the yigIInt
eve belonging the lady OF the house whose Influence
howe invisible must somehow other peryade the
very OF the establishment.
Ii the female of the working class labor too much
that Of the higher does too little Among the former
much Of the WORK by rights belonging men Is laid
her shoulder among the latter the generally
attend TO many niEgs which ought to form the exclu
business OF tncr wivet. A false and unnatural
state OF things Is the result OF this irregular and unfair
distribution dutics-Ome Is Ill at case and weary for
want OF suitable occupation.
While The woman OF The people anpears cnprrs sed
Tint OF the hlghsr classes Is too sn 81.