Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-10-21
How the Russians Keep Warm.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.

L lHAOm buc L I'LL Mall UdZ6ILe.l
The Russians have great knack fol
making their winters pleasant. You fee
nothing OF the cold in those tightly built
houses where all the doors and windows
are double, and where the rooms are KEEP
warm by big stoves hidden in the walls
Ihere Is no damp in a Russian house, an0
the inmates may dress indoors in the
llghtest garbs, which contrast oddly with
the mass of furs and wraps which they
don when going out. A Russian can af.
ford to run no risks of exposure when he
leaves his house for walk or drive; he
covers his head and ears with fur bon
net, his feet and legs with felt boots lined
with wool or fur, which are drawn on
over the ordinary boots and trowsers, and
reach up to the knees; he next cloaks
himself in an ample top-coat, with fur
collar, lining and cuffs; and he buries his
hands In pair of fingerless gloves of seal
or bearskin. Thus equipped, and with
the collar OF his coat raised all around so
that it muffles him up to the eyes, the
Russian exposes only his nose to the cold
air; and he takes care frequently to give
it a rub to keep the circulation going. A
stranger, who Is apt to forget the pre-
caution, would often get his nose frozen,
were 1t not for the courtesy Of the Rus
slams, who will always warn him if they
see his nose whitening" and will, un-
hidden, help to chafe it vigorously with
snow.
In Russian cities walking is Just pos
sible for men during winter; but hardly
so tor ladies. The women of the lower
order wear knee-boots: those of the shop
keeping classes seldom venture out at
all; those of the aristocracy go out in
slelghs. These sleighs are by no means
pleasant vehicles for nervous people, for
the Kalmuck coachmen drive them at
such terrific pace that they frequently
capslze; but persons not destitute of
pluck find their melton most ENJOYABLE.
1t must be added that to be spilled out
of Russian sleigh is tantamount only
to rough tumble cn a soft mattress, for
the very thick furs in which the
victim is sure to be wrapped will be
enough to break the fall.
The houses and novels of the Russian
working classes are as we'll warmed
as those of the aristocracy. A stove is
always the principal item of furniture
in them; and these contrivances are used
to sleep on as well as cook In. The
mujlck, having no bed, curls himself up
on his stove at his time for going to rest
sometimes he may be found creeping right
into the stove and enjoying the delights
of good vapor bath. The amount of
heat which Russian will stand is amaz-
ing, and his carelessness in facing the
cold afterward not less SO. On Satur-
day,which is Washing-day all over Russia.
you may see in village a mujick who
has been cooking himself In his stove till
he is of color like boiled lobster, rush
naked into the snow and roll himself in
it like dog till he glows all over to
his satisfaction. It seems monstrous
that one of the Russians principal
projections against the cold-his beard
was laid under penalty by Peter the
Great, and subsequently by Elizabeth
and Catherine H., when they we're trying
to civ1lize their subjects according to the
custom of the West. These three sover-
eigns all laid tax on boards; and peas
ants entering cities on market days, were
required to exhibit IN proof that they had
paid their tax, brass coin stamped with
bearded face and the words, "boroda
l1ghaia tiagota' beard tax has been
settled. This absurd 1mpost was abol-
ished by Paul, but the effects of it still
survive in manner, for the beard is still
considered 'bad FORM in aristocratic
circles. Military officers wear only mus
taches and whiskers; diplomatists and
other civil servants escheW the whiskers
and generally reap their faces altogether,
A Russian with beard is pretty sure to
be either "pope" or member of one
the classes below the upper middle.