New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-08
CURRENT RUSSIAN TOPICS.
THE PREsS-THE Ews-EAsY-GOING OFF,
GALS.

ST. PETERsBuRG March TO-
The second half of the month of February was
marked by two measures OF which one, thouyh long
expected has attracted much attention, while the
other will be considered Of sufficient interest not 10
pass by unnotIced. The leading paper of the Russian
progressive party. the Golos or in English voioe'
has been stopped tor six months and the Emperor
has ordered revision and correction OF the laws
referring to the ong-suferng and much-abuseu
Jews. About eighteen months ago the Gotos under
went the same punishment. and for the same length
OF time. Thep however. its editor, Nj. kraensKey'
who had TO ay his hands their wages In order 10
keep them, started an interim paper, some hihg on
the scale of an American extra, and christened IL
The Neac Paper It saw the light for twelve consecu-
tive DAYS only, and then went out OF existence IL
did not die without feeble struggle. however, 1or
in spite of It's short life 1t was deemed worthy Oh
fist warning" but It's editor. seeing how deter
mined his enemies we've to crush him. and how nu-
merous and powerful they were, gave mp the hght
and stopped the paper.
Being the mouthpiece of tie liberal party, the Go
los has aroused the wrath of tho Old Muscovltes,
whose interests the present Emperor was supposed
to represent at time when he had yet elder bro
Their Rumor has 1t thai Count Tolsto. who holds
the fate OF the Russian press in firm grip, has per-
secuted the Goos out Of existence In order TO please
his firm friend and supporter NJ Katkof, the editor
of The MOscop Nelrs the principal organ OF the MUS
covite party. The Golos Is reported thoroughly
dead this time for the terms which have been dc
tated for the reopening of the paIer cannot 1t
would SEEM be accepted by any editor ambitious
honestly to represent certain part OF the Ieading
public and at the same time to edit paper that
amounts TO anything. However, the Golos has
proved itself such a plucky fighter that possibly IL
may DO only la trance even now.
The order of the Emperor concerning the Jews mas
four paragraphs The first orders the formation OF
q Con- mission Commissions thrive like mushrooms
here for the revision and correction Of laws now IN
force The second nominates members OF said CON-
mission. and appoints as president NJ. Makoh, secre-
tarv of state. actual. secret councillor and member
of the Emperor's Council The third grants to the
president the right to invite into the Commission
ANYBODY whom he may consider particularly well
acouaintcd with the matter in hand-a gentle hint
To NJ. Makoh, "the actual. the secret" that "
would De q good plan to consult such people as
really know something and not merely personal
friends whom he wishes to decorated or raised
In rank as IS generally done. And the fonrth
clause orders tie labors Of the Commission to be
forwarded without delay" the quotation marks
are mincl to the Minister OF the Interior
The shoit "without delay is very eloquent IN
this land of procrastination. for the manner in
which gentlemen in the Emperors, oi as AMERICANS
would say III the peoples pay attend TO theii bust
ness IS truly patriarcha, not to say Asiatic. Tho
Russians call it dressing gown fashion," Having
occasion to go b. one Of the Ministries or Courts IN
the city Of the Great and Lovely Peter. was shown
into sort Of reception partitoned of through
the middle by a network of wire upon wooden
foundation forming something like very large
cage In that cage cut OFF from the outer world but
IL. a g. taIV IN
over their work, while further on Tour servants OF
ushers also in uniform, were occupied in making
tea. Now people in America might possibly i'm
agine that tea-maKing in this country is very
complicated and laborOus affair, bnt IT Is no more
SO than anywhere else. only people here are so
easy guing aud good-natured; time has so little
value and LABOR is so cheap even though u may De
door, that about half n dozen people are doing here
what ono person would do with much more thor
oughness in America because not stumbling OVER
other peoples feet one of the servants in question
WAS ashng about half a dozen spoons, saucers and
glasses Meu IN Russia drink their tea out OF
glasses 80 they can admire the amber liquid and mt
the same time feel It's warmth creeping through
their bodies they hold the glasses between their
fingers. The second man brought the tes-csni,ter
and sugar bowl. and being impressed with tho i'm
portance and dignity of his work he moved about
u
tod IN the spectator violent desire to go to
his assistance The third man was arranging
sweet crackers and slicng lemons to be used with
the tea while tho fourth mans attention was on
TREY absorbed by the samo'sr.
The samovar. rs we'll as the steam bath, Is truly
national institution. Take away from the Russian
these two objects OF necessity aud luxury and he
will think life has been robbed of half its charms
The sanoyar is an Indispensable psce OF furniture
IN the houses OF the rich and the poor the high and
the low and not Till he Is tho happy owner of such
an titu.iOn does young man set abont in search
of life partner. willing to share with him the
comforts offered by room somewhere under q
staircase. Thu word samovarr is composed of the
uronoun self or itself" and the verb to boil"
and literally means sef-boller." The samoyar is
made of brass, has the shape Of egg. and holds
from one 10 two pals of water The lower end rests
un four feet, the upper IL tattencd, ana 1T has
funne for charcoal In the centre. The top OF the
funnel is finished off by an object resembling IA
crown. and when the water boils on your tea-tablo
You fill yonr teapot, put it on tho crown to draw,
and your tea IL ready
The four men were attending TO their duty In
religious silence, tho only time they opened their
mouths being to inform me that there was TO be an
extra meeting on somo important business ana that
II was ON that account they were making the tea.
Now the gentlemen who compose those meetings
come together at 2 eisurey sip their tea relate the
Latest news, and 20 nome 10 thelr ullneIs az ~
leaving a kind Providence to attend TO their affairs
unless indeed, the question be one OF politics
political unreliabty." as they call it here. Then
these same joval, easy-going gentlemen will in-
stantly be transformed Into stern. unuinchlng
Judges, working day and night aud to the best OF
their abilities in their eDdeayor to please the head
OF the country and thus earn stars and ribbons or
a more exalted " chin or rank
The present Emperor, In ordering a revision of the
laws relating to the jews has taken one step fur
ther on the road trodden by his father. When
Alexander H. freed the serfs he at the same time
tried to better the condition of his Hebrew subjects
Previous to 1861 no Jew was allowed to remain IN
O Russian town longer than a week, except IN
them. In Poland they even so numerous and
powerful once that Polish King was on the point
of marrying Jewcss Russians Knew oniy tno
bedding Jew, by no means the best representative