The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-10
LITERATURE.
A Study Of Russian Society from an
English Point Of View.
MRS. STOVES "PoGANUC PEOPLE,"
Wonders Of the Recent Acoustical and
Electrical inventions.

1.-THE Russians OF To-Day" BY the author Of ''rhc
Member Tor Pars" (scribner, Wexford & Armstrong;,
Il book that every should road who takes the
slightest interest in the great question OF the hour
The author evidently understands himself as well a.
his subject He must have had experience to write
what he written and, all b true, the Russians
d to-day have made but little advance from baTbar
ism. Hypocrisy and ostentation he gives the
principal traits OF Russian character. He says they
Are never sincere and always corrupt Bribery is tho
only thing that makes lite bearabie that country,
according TO his account Allowances must DO made
for English author, who necessarily more less
prejudiced; but, granting one.hat 10 tha side OF
prejudice. tho other half Is bad enough. The oman
epation of The serfs considers good thing theo-
vstically, but not much OF an improvement practi-
caly upon their former condition. Indeed no considers
him more OF = slave than Of old. 40 can marry 1t
hts pleasure and he is not liable 10 BIO cuned or
logged, save illegally las sometimes happens);
these the advantages he has won, but he
more heavily taxed than no used TO be, and nothing
That he has is bis own. IT no works too little his
comrades abuse him; II he works his best no
gamer for all his earnings 60 into common stock,
which somehow never yields surplus. II man has
been fortunate enough TO save little money he dare
show it, least 1t would DO seized for tho common
debt so no spends It all in vodk the national drink
Drunkenness among tho lower orders. he says al
most universal, and the rulers OF the towns have
an interest IN tho sale of vodk every indncement and
even force Is used to make men drink According 70
the latest returns tho liquor duties yield tho revenue
$160, 900, 900 year. Thieves almost as common
rs drunkards IN provincial cities Merchants and
tradesnen often pay thief insurance money 70 the
police; but the thieves generally afford to pay
ain more for the privilege OF being lot alone. the in
Jurance is only accepted ad vaiorem. to say. I'm
nllanla md
pt ails often let out prisoners purpose that they
may theve, and when discovered in their plots are
rot even indicted. Since tho reign OF the present
Gear the Jews have not bcen badly
treated by law as formerly, but they still
labor under many disabilities not within the
law. Their wealth Is enormous, bat they have
position socially The mobiles will not admit thcm
10 their clubs nor to their houses guests. Thcy
would leavo tho stalls OF an opera II Jew came and
Eat down among them. Being virtually tabooed from
public functions they have pubic spirit. and hold
ing no land They do not what betalls the soil
The naughty lords OF It. The largo sums of specie
amassed by them invested out OF the country
and do nothing 10 promote national industry, but OF
late years they have begun to show themselves alive
to the political uses OF wealth, and Il s moro than
suspected that most Of tho agraan agitation which
is making the peasant minds simmer Is subsidized by
jews The laws OF Russia described most
onerous There laws regulating the cut Of ons's
beard, tho fashion Of ones hat and coat. A man
caunot light cigar in tho streets without peril OF in
iringeng some decree which might be enforced against
him by any rich man DESTROYS OF getting him iuto
rouble In other countries every thing that the law
ooes not forbid rs allowed. In Russia everything 10
forbidden which tho law does not expressly permit
Whipping 10 one Of tho chief forms Of punishment
Servants are continually punished In this way
when they are sancy. Great ladies sometimes
try this curative system their maids,
and moro than French soubretie In 81.
Petersburg has discovered in prison what II
costs to trade upon the secrets Of Russian grunde
danes boudoE Tho general corruption among
Russian officials, this writer says, extends 10 tho
clergy, who win DO nothing without pay mont ana
Who viii refuse TO do few things II VOL paid
One great reason for the abuses to which Russians
and all living in Russia subjected Ia tho fact
thai thcre is no Independent prcss to cry against
tyranny and oppression. Every sheet published
throughout the length ana breadth OF tho land Is
under tho surveillance of governments censora
chapter devoted to newspapers and reviews throws
much light upon this subject and Is full of interest.
81 Petersburg aud Moscow, says our author, have
some excellent reviews. a few well written daily
papers and hall dozen comic journals that are really
iunny and worry licentous. Among those last tho
Epstok Whisc) and the Isya (Spark) deserve an hon.
prapQ mention both for their ietterpress and carica
lures. THOR artists arc trained the French school,
but 60 further than Partisan caroopsts would dare 10
do They vaantly attack all but the strong, and
nobody has any remedy against them, for they are
projected by powerful persons, whom these attacks
amusc Thero are at this moment AIS daily, weekly
or biwcekly journals In Russia, 377 Of them being
published in the native tongue. we quotc:-
Tho most eminent OF so called independent pagers
70 the capital, the Goos tvo,oel Is tho organ Of tho
1oeraism II affects has It's source Court The Jour.
sdi de 81 fttsrsbourg, edited by a Belgian and puo.
shakoG ana MS friends Tne Invade is supported
b. the War oihcc and IS the mouthpece OF tho old
World, edited by General Fsdeien. clever man awe
cntos military reform under the ngis Of tho C1are
wrch. The 81 Petersburg Nc,cs, also called the Ac
adcDcat Gazette, was recently purchased OF tho Ac
adcmy by the Ministry ofPublic Irstruotion ana has
40 denoiso policy bui goes In for personalities against
ell VINO make themselves dlsagreeabie to Official
authors artists, doctors and tho ladies Of the Imperial
opera.
The writer says that the Moscow Gazette, edited by
n. Katkof for briiiancv and fearless. hard hitting
sxcels the other papers tue Empire There Is not
. Russian who hates England politically more than
N. KatkoG But no speaks Enqlish faulliessIy and
has great fancy for British literature
Our writer says q Russian will talk like q Bayard
because hc has learned TO do In books and no win,
out Of vanity. do spicndidly oslcntauous things; but
hs ! impact with tho teachings OF the Greek and
Tartar races anu both In love and will compass
BY stratagem what he cannot win BY might. war
with England he seems to believe inevitable He
ssys:-"Russhn pcacemongors going to have a
poor time Of Il, for greater than Russia ever
waged Is hold 10 be preparing, ana this time tho
sncmy viii DO England. There Will be no conceal.
nent ABOUT IL All over that vast country, which
sewers extent aai as large AZ Europe, Il Is known
already thai Russia has given Engiano buffet and
r.
under her humiliation. has become . menace Tor Rus.
sian Interest,".
''rocANUc PEOPLE,"
sPoganuc People" tFords, Howard Mulberry Is
decidedly the best of Mrs Harriet Bocchcr stowe,s
latter Jay stories. sh, more her own self In New
England atmosphere NAN anywhere else, and hcr