The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-13
RUSSIA UNDER PETER T5IE
GREAT,

The manners and domestic habits of the
Czar and his associates were rather those
of savages than Of people on whom even
the first CLEANS of civilization had dawnei.
At the court dinners Peter entertained o
mixed assemblage of ship-wrights and
other artisans, generals, priests, ministers
of State, merchants, ambassadors, and
people of all grades and trades employed
on his works. The workmen, in the dress
of their calling, filled the places of honor
next the Gar, who appeared in tire same
kind of coarse woolen clothing. Other
guests who could find seats at the festive
board took possession of them sans cere-
monte. Those who could not stood around,
getting stray morsels "by hook or by
crook" and in the intervals refreshing
themselves with "potations pottle deep"
of brandy and common Tokay; for in
them the Gear allowed of no stint to his
guests and in no wise stinted himself.
Before the repast was half finished the
company was uproarious, and in the end,
infamed by strong drink, more feroclous
than wild beasts-never separating until,
in their drunken frenzy, while fighting and
blaspheming, they had inflicted some
bodily injury on each other. And the
more the blood flowed, the merrier the
meeting, and the more to the taste of the
Gear. From these royal banquets the class
called the old aristocracy was rigidly ex-
cluded 1t consisted of families who
plumed themselves on their descent from
the bold Scandinavian pirate Rurik, who
founded the Russian Empire during the
Ninth century. They were generally
wealthy, and pompous in manner, from
pride in their ancient lineage; ostentatious,
I and of indolent habits-an improbable
part of the community, Peter considered,
and therefore particularly obnoxious to
him. Gradually he humbled and crushed
them, leaving them only the privilege of
appearing on great state occasions at court.
Even then he marked his contempt for
them by assigning them places far below
those of his own nobility-the men who
by service had obtained military rank, held
offices of trust in the State, or were Skillful
superintendents of his dock-yards or works.
The festive board of the Czar, as may well
be imagined had not hitherto been graced
by the presence of the fair sex. From all
the rude hospitalities, social enjoyments,
and court reyels of the time-such as they
were-woman was banished. She lived in
Oriental seclusion, but not in luxury. She
was the slave of her lord and master; must
not sit in his presence, or eat at the same
table. Sometimes her spirit rebelled, her
courage rose, and with dagger or poisoned
cup she freed the earth and herself from a
tyrant But what, then, was her fate
He might have struck her down with i'm
punity, but she, unless she had arranged
to fly to the protection of one more power
ful, and perchance more humane, than he,
was seized Immediately, loaded with fetters,
and her tongue cut out. Had she not
profanely dared to speak reproNchfully oi
her lord, and lifted her sacrlegous hand
against him? Cut it off then; brick hel
up in wall, Or bury her in the earth up tc
her chin, and there let her slowly die, 6
warning to disobedent and rebelIious wives
Alas! for poor Russian women in those
days. Temple B@.