Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-02
THE AVERAGE RUSSIAN.


than anything we have seen:
As for the Russians being "barba-
rious" and to great extent inculca-
bly, barbarious, that is a position sus-
ceptable of a great peal of argument
from many different points Of view
The most familiar, the most ad captan-
dun, and perhaps the most unjust theo-
~ is that even the better educated and
refined of Russians are at the very best
only coated with a thin veneering of
civilization. The great master of cyni-
cal terseness in expression, Prince Bis
marck, has lent the immense weight Of
his celebrity and his repute for far
reaching sagacity in judging the char
acters of mankind to the "veneering,"
and barbarian" hypothesis in his IA
nous dictum, "The Russian is a capital
fellow till he tucks his shirt in" To
understand the tremendous force Of this
merciless resume of the Muscovite char
acter one must have lived in Russia.
Ivan Ivanovich the moujik-peasant,
droschky driver, mechanic, porter, la
borer, or what not-wears his shirt
usually aired cotton one-outside his
other garments. All of those familiar
with Russian humanity know Ivan
Ivanovich, to be, on the whole, "capi-
tai fellow" He is frank, brave, gen.
erous, affectionate and docile. He is a
fervent devotee Of the grossly idolatrous
rites of that Russo Greek Church which
some Anglican Ritualists are insane
enough to think can, without much diff
fculty, he brought into communion with
the Church Of England. He is crassly
ignorant but he has the utmost rever-
ence of the Offices of the Church, and
does not think the worse of his pope or
priest when, in bis village, he is occa-
sionally called upon to assist in carry
ing home from the dramshop the eccle-
siastic, dead drunk, Oh stretcher. Ivan
himself gets tipsy whenever he has the
chance of doing so; but he is the best
natured of sots, and too much beer or
vOdko scarcely ever makes him riotous
or pugnacious. Inebriety rather incites
him to the shedding Of maudlin tears, OF
to an excess of piety in expectorating to
the right and left in order to exercise
the devil.
Truthful be can scarcely be said to be-.
He has been too recently slave to be
able to understand the moral capability
of telling a lie, bat be is passing honest.
He is, in fine, "good wood" capable of
being seasoned and fashioned to many
useful purposes, and be is in particular,
industrious, patient and submissive. He
is not very inventive, but he has a GU
riously strong initiative faculty, almost
Chinese in its concentration and labo-
rious fidelity to the thing to be initiated.
Thence he can be taught to be an admir-
able cabinet maker, an inlayer, an enam-
elist, a pottery painter and worker in
metals. Similarly his womankind are
the most skillful of embroiderers. He is
very domesticated and very fond of his
children, although he occasionally whips
his wife Of strong liquor as have
limited, he is passionately fond other
wise he is contented to live on the SIM
plest and coarsest fare. White bread
he seldom tastes: 'brick tea" is, after
corn brandy, his favorite beverage; hdlf-
picked ogurtsi, or dwarf cucumbers,
enter largely into his diet, and with bad
drainage, help to give him typhus and
the cholera; and be can sleep anywhere
the top of stove is his most chosen
resting place-quite Indifferent as to bed
clothes. There is no Drawer soldier than
Ivan Ivanovich when he is drawn for the
CONSUMPTION, and cropped and shaver,
and put into hodden-gray garbedine,
with spiked helmet on his head and a
rifle in his hand. Press him up in gaudy
livery, powder his head, and put slken
hose on his big calves, and be will make
as stalwart and as obedient lacquey.
Put him on the box of droschky, a
sledge or carriage, accoutre him in a
blue caftan, with sash round his
waist and fur cap on his head, and let
him hold the reins squarely and he will
drive you through the SHOWS "perspec-
tives" of St. Petersburg for hours and
hours-aye, and wait unmurmingly out
side the house where you are visiting or
the restaurant where you are dining, say
from eight in the evening until two or
three in the morning.
AS ack-Istvostchik-he system
aticaIly overcharges his fare. Does not