Morris tribune., 1881-02-03
MAKING WINTER PLEASANT.

How the Russians Protect Themselves Against
the Cold.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.
The Russians have great knack for
making their winters pleasant. You feel
nothing of the cold in those tightly built
houses where all the doors and windows are
double and where the rooms are kept warm
by big stoves hidden in the walls. There
is no damp in Russian house and the in
mates may dress indoors in the lightest of
garbs, which contrast oddly with the mass
OF furs and wraps which they don when 60
ing out. A Russian can afford to run no
risks of exposure when he leaves
his house for a walk or drive. He
covers his head and ears with fur
bonnet, 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 him
self in an ample top-coat with fur collar,
lining and cuffs; and he burries his hands
in pair of fingerless gloves of seal or bear
skin. Thus equipped, and with the collar
OF his coat raised all round SO that it muff-
les him up to the eyes, the Russian expos
es only his nose to the coldair; and he takes
care frequently to give that organ little
rub to keep the circulation going. strang-
er, who is apt to forget that precaution, would
often get his nose frozen If it were not for
the courtesy of the Russians, who will al
ways warn him if they see his nose whit
ening," and will unbidden, help him to
chafe it vigorously with snow. In Russian
cities walking is just possible for men in
winter, but hardly SO for ladies'. The wo-
men of the lower orders wear knee boots;
those of shopkeeping classes seldom ven
f11ra Of oil. ,exl o
out in sleighs. These sleighs are by no
means pleasant vehicles for nervous people,
for the Kalmuc coachmen drive them at
such a terrific pace that they frequently
capsize; but persons not destitute
of pluck find their motion most enjoya-
able. It must be added that to be
spilled out of Russian sleighis tantamount
only to getting rough tumble on a soft
mattress, for the very thick furs in which
the victim is sure to be wrappId will be
enough to break the fall The houses and
novels of the Russian working classes are
as well warmed as those of the aristocracy.
A stovei is always the principal item of furni-
ture in them, and these contlivances are
used to sleep on as well as to cook in. The
mujick, 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
a good vapor bath. The amount of heat
which Russian will stand is amazing, and
his carelessness in facing the cold after
wards not less SO. On Saturday,
which is washing day all over
Russia, you may see in any village a
mujick, who has been cooking himself in
his stove till he is of color like boiled lob
ster, rush naked into the snow and roll him
self in it like dog till he CLOVIS all over to
his satisfaction. 1t seems monstrous that
one of the Russians principal projections
against the cold-his beard-was laid under
panalty by Peter the Great and subsequent
thy by Elizabeth and Catherine H., when
they were trying to civilize their subjects
according to the custom of the West.
These three sovereigns all laid tax on
boards; and peasants entering cities on
market days were required to exhibit.
in proof that they had paid their tax,
q brass coin stamped with bearded face
and the words "boroda lignaia tiagota" (the
beard tax has been settled.) This absurd
impost was abolished 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 NOUS
tache and whiskers; diplomatists and other
civil servants eschew the whiskers and gen.
orally reap their faces altogether. A Rus
sian with beard is pretty sure to be either
a pope" or member of one of the classes
below the upper middle.