New-York tribune., 1882-04-23

family life. When boy marries. during ms
fathers lfe he takes his young wife home as q new
recrnit for the service of his fathers farm; Sos
and maiden daughters. sons wives and children Az
work for the old man as long as he liVes ana y ipo
TO manage his affairs Even wheh nihIrir'I s9,, ~
ooes away from home to work on the Taiifoad or IN
the mines he is expected to send TO bis father the
chief part of his earnings But TINS pr paIiarcna, i
plan is one of the first things TO pe aIec'eu @ alI
altered by American example. Already young
Russians are occasionally setting up for thenseNes
with an unfilal independence which would not
have been tolerated in their former homes -
These people perhaps uore ignorant 'h",
any other class of German imm grants. Compul,
sory education did not reach them III huSsla' anu
very many Of them are unable to read lhey carry
an their farms with sufficient intelligence ana are
well practiscd in sharp bargaining. me Kansas
people give them bad name for petty thelt Dut my
expericnce has not confirmed tins reputatlOn'
find chem quite as honest as the average hansas
settler. Their reluctance to spend money ior per
sonal luxury is an eitectua preventive ol Ihtelh1
perance. and their love of whlskey Is only nouIgeu
on special occasions of festvty. A personal ac-
uuaintance with the Russians makes 1t easy 10 ma
good farm laborers among them; ana tne gIIIS I,,s
though unskllled in American cookery, are Zenlou
and efficient scruDbers of floors ana IN all tHe
heavier work of the house.
One of the few pretty girls OF the COLONY ..n nao
been cooking for an Apercan family tor some
time and her labOrs had been cheered by frequent
visits of numerous suitors AT length, alter Inush
embarrassment of choice taking advantage OF tne
abaence of her dearest love in Colorado, she sud
denly made her decision, taking boy who, hs s'e
said was better than Joe, though not SO hah1,
end this sketch with an account OF thlS StrahRe il
performance The wedding ceremony had taken
place early in the morning anc the danclhg aui
drinking had been going on ever SINCE et apou..
: in the evening | found the house. accompanied
bv solid Kontishman from the farm. Cr9wd-
ing in through the jam OF boys at the % door,
a collection of TenIcrs. Around the four sides
of small low room the Russian men ana women
and children stood closely packed, leaving n
small circle in the centre for the dancers \
dozen couples chased each other Iouhd all'! rVlni
tine ring with q mvnotonous but energetic mop
waltz. In the further corner, behind small taole
which held the whiskey bottles and glasses, sat two
ancient hddlers OF weird aspect races as pass
for carcatures in the old Dutch or llenish pant
incs They fddled with intense and solemn dey0
ton and Andres master of ceremonies Wllq WIN l
the divine fury of leader of Dacc 3nals, backed ny
an irregular chorus, accompanied the WaH Ol Inee
strings 10y fierce screaming OF songs, stamping vi
feet aud unbOunded gestIculaton. On MN WAS inc
responsibility OF the hOcklelt' ana us success
depended chiefly on the amount OF force apPlieu.
The Old rren their long haT Ealing unheeded over
red and wrInklrd faces and blinking eyes sat near
the lddlcrs and the wlllskey benlgnanlly enjoying
the orthodox cecoratlOn. Inc dance WtS ill'cl M
ruptcd by frequent calls OF time, when the eldsses
were filed. to he empticd without privilege OF
refusal, by the energetic couples. lhree innings
seemed 10 complete set at the uaholng' aiteI
which a chance was offered for others to take theiI
turn. ,.,
Immediately on my entrance the BRIDEGROOM
seized me, and, spite OF al protest. was co.lt't,ou
to swing the glowing BRIDE nine times liTough tll9
pleasing figure Katharine wonderfully clad
in white and red and gold with large rcliElo1IS
valentine on her breast She beamed with a smile
more placid than her wont, and ! asked her win
some concern il she were not getting tlreu le7'
She sighed. & hrtc," And haven't you had TOO
much whskey, Katharine p ooh novel, yes a
btle too muchw She went through her dance
faithfully nevertheless. and asked anNlously 10
Won like itg Is il schOcnW Twas the cOnsumma-
tion of her dreams and plannings, and she seemed
to fear lest anyone should think II inadequate She
had at least abundant enjoyment OF her Conspicuous
decoration. for the dance lasted through the next
day and night. But my companion ana J. mhdIul
that it was not our wedding. and lncNhlhg 10 the
demands of moderation limited ourselves to briei
participation in these joys. brisk walk home
through the cold night scattered the fumes OF
whiskey and left Us with q curious experience OF
prlmtlNc iestlVity.