Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-07
The Average Russian.

AS for the Russians being " parbarials," and
to great extent incurably barbarous. that is a
position suscepttble Of great deal OF argument
from many different points OF view. The most
FAMILIAR. most ga cdptdadkn1, and perhaps the
most unjust theory is that even the better
educated and refined Of Russians are &C the
very best only coated with q thin veneer of
ciyliz "a the great master OF cynical terse.
ness In expression, Prince Bismarck, has lent
the immense weight OF hts celebrity and his
repute for far-reaching sagacity In judging the
characters OF mankind to the ''veneering'T and
barbarian" hypothesis in bis famous d7csum,
the Russian Is capital fellow I'LL he tucks
nus snfC In" re understand the tremen-
ocuS force OF this mercie5s resume OF the
MuscOV1te character one must have lived In
Russia. Ivan Ivanovich, the mou1ik-peasant,
oroschky driver, mechanic, porter. laborer,
OF what not-Wears bis shirt-usualy a
red cotton one-0utstde his other garments
All those familiar with Russian humanity know
Ivan lvanovich to be, on the WHOLE capital
ielioW:" He Is frank, brave, generous, afrec-
the grossly Id olatrous rites OF that Russo creek
church which some Anglican ritualists are in
sane enough TO think can, Without much diff
Guilty, be brought into communion With the
Church OF England. He Is crassly Ignorant;
but he has the utmost reverence for the Offices
OF the church; and does not think the worse Of
occasionally Called upon to assist In Carrying
home from the dramShop the ecclesiastic, dead
drunk, on Stretcher. Ivan himself gets ticsy
whenever he has the chance OF doing so: but he
or vodka scarcely ever makes him riotous or
pugnacious. 1nebriety the rather incites him
10 the shedding OF maudlin tears. or to an ex-
cess OF piety In expectorating to the right and
left in order to exercise the devil
Truth1ul he can scarcely be said to be. he
mas been too recently q slave to be able &c I'M
but he Is passing honest He is, In fine, "good
wood" capable OF being seasoned and fash
Toned 10 many useful purposes. and he is, il
particular, Industrious, patient and submissive.
hJrt hc hos, q ,Yrfo ,lx-
strong Initiative faculty, almost Chinese In It's
concentration and lauorlou5 fidelity to the
thing to be initiated. Thence he can be taught
to be an admirable cabinet maker, an lnlayer.
an EVANGELIST, pottery painter and worker
In metals. Similarly MS womankind are the
most skllful OF embrolderers He Is very do
though he occasionally thrashes his wife. @:
stroDg liquor. as have limited, he is passion
ately Iona; otherwise he Is content to live on
the simplest and coarseSt fare. White bread ne
seldom tastes; "br1ck tea" is, after corn brandy.
his favorite beverage; hall picked ogurJsl,
or dwarf cucumberS, enter largely into his dIer,
ana' WIN oaa drainage. help TO give him typhus
and thecholera; ana ne can sleep anywhere
tne TOP OF stove Is his most chosen resting
ace-quite indifferent as to bed clothes. There
Is no Drawer soldier tnan Ivan IvanovIch when
ne Is drawn Ter the conscriptiOn and cropped
and shaVen, and put into hodden.gray gaoer-
0lne, With spiked helmet on Lis mead u I'd
rifle In his hand. Dress him up In gaudy lv-
cry, powGer mis- head. and put silksn hose on
MS Dig calves, and he Will make as stalWart and
as oDed1ent lacQuey. Put him on the box OF a
oroschky. q sledge, or carriage &C coulter him
In blue caftan, With sash round his " list
ard a fur cap on his head, and let him mold The
reihs squareiy, and he Will drive you Jnrou "a
the snowy 'perspectiveS" OF St Petersburg Tor
AoaIs ana houTS-ay e, and wait unmurm ltlng!y
outside the house where you are visiting or Ine
restaurant at winch you are diniDg, say ton
eight ln the evening until TWO or Lnree In the
morning.
AS a hack-Istvostchik, he systematically
overcharges his fares-doe3 not the shopkeeper
In the Gostinnot DvOr do The sane?-Dut he is
good numoredly extOrt1onate, Is easily beaten
down and Is never 1nsolent. His repro lches
rarely extend beyond mild remonstrance
"HaVe you no fear Of Heavens WRATH" an ist.
vostchik asked me one day during this last
journey, because refused TO dtSDurSe an add
uonal ten kOpecks Another laid the fare
which had given him on the cushion OF his
sledge, buried his face In his hands, and pre-.
tended to Dlubber like Child while third
rare humofist, he!-prOfesSiDg to regard with
mute DeWlldermeLt the fyean0-tWenLy kope;k
piece which l had handed hun, bestowed 1t
upon beggar who was shivering in his rags
on the steps OF the pOrticoOf st. ISaacs Cattle.
dral, and, with an lrresistibly droll expression
OF interrogation in his eyebrows seemed to ASK
NE whether had meant the money for himself
or 1Or The mendtcant in tatters. He got the best
OF me ''al1 round" for had not only, for his
Waggishness' SAKE to yield to his demand for
moe kopecks, but to fee the beggar into the
barga1ns