Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-10
WINTER IN RUSSIA.
How the People Keep Warm
The "Beard Tax

The Russians have a great knack for
making their Winters pleasant. You
feel nothing OF cold In those tightly
built houses, whore all the doors and
windows are double, and where the
rooms are kept warm by big stoves hid.
den In the walls There is no damn in
Russian house; and the inmates dress
indoors IN the lightest garbs, which
contrast oddly with the mass Of furs and
wraps which they don when going out
A Russian can afford 10 run no risk of
exposure when he leaves his house for
a walk or drive. lie covers his head
and ears with fur bonnet, his feet and
legs with felt boots lined with wool or
iur, which are drawn on over the ordi.
nary boots aud trousers, and reach up
10 The knees; he next cloaks himself
win an ample top.Coat with fur collar,
lining and cults; aud he buries his
hands IN pair OF tngerless gloves of
seal or bear skin. Thus equipped. and
with the collar Of his coat raised all
round 80 that il mules him up to the
eyes. The Russian exposes only his
nose to the cold air; aud he takes care
frequently to give that organ little rub
To- Keep circulation going. A stranger,
who Is apt To forget that precaution,
would often get his nose frozen il 1t
were not Tor the courtesy Of the Rus
slams, who will always warn him il they
see his nose whitening, aud will, unbid-
den help him To chaie dangerously with
snow.
la Russian cities walking is Just pos
sihle Tor men during winter; but hardly
So Tor ladies. The women Of the lower
order wear knee-boOts; those Of the
shopkeeplng classes seldom venture out
al all those oi the arlstOcracy 20 out ia
slelghs. These sleighs are by no means
pleasant vehicles for nervous people,
Tor the kalmuCk CoaChman drive them
at such a terrific pace that they ire
quently Capslze; but persons not destl.
tute Of pluck will find their motion most
enluyable. Ii must be- added that to
he spilled out OF Russian sleigh is tan
lamount only to getting rough tumble
ON SOFT mattress, for the very thick
iuIs IN which the victim IL sure To be
wrapped will be- enough to break the
fall.
The houses and novels Of the Russian
working classes are as well warmed AZ
those Oi the arlstOcracy. The stove is
always the principal item Of furniture
IA them; and these COntyiyanceS are
used To sleep on as well IA To cook in.
The mulick, having no bed, Curls him
sell up Un his stove at his time Tor go
ing to rest sometimes hC may bc found
creeping right into the stove aud enjoy
ing the delight OF a good yapor bath.
The amount Of heat whicha Russian will
stand Is amazing, and the carclCssness
ia facing the cold aiteTward not less 50.
On a Saturday, which il washiug-lay all
over Russia, you may see IN u village u
mujlck who has been cooking himself IN
his stove till he il Oi a color like boiled
lobster, rush naked into the snOs aud
roll himself IN it like dog, TILL lac glows
all over To his satisfaction. IL seems
mOnstTuuS that one Oi the Russians
principal projections against the cold
his beard was laid penalty by Pc
ter the Great and subsequently, by EliI-
abrth aud Catharino H.. ,whcnthcy were
trying To Ciyilizc their subject according
to the custom Of the West. These three
sOvereigns all laid a tax on boards;
aud peasants entering cities on market
DAYS we're required To exhibit in proof
that they had paid their tax, u brass
coin stamped with bearded face aud
the words "Boroda tignaia tiagota, tthc
beard tax has been settled. This ab-
surd impost WAS abolished by Paul, but
the effects OF il survived ia "a measure,
for the beard is still considered "bad
form" in aristocratic circles. Military
officers wear only mouslachc aud whisk-
ers: diplumatists and othcrciyii servants
cschcw the whiskcrs, aud generally reap
their faces altogether. Russian with
a beard is pretty sure To bc either II
pope" or "A member oi one oi the classes
below the upper middle.