Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-08-21
LIFE OF RUSSIAN wORKMEN.
Migratory Habits-Open-Air SIeep-Baths-
Education.

Migratory Habits-Open-Air SIeep-Baths-
Education.
Tinsley's Magazine.
The nobility of Russia are more migra-
tory than those in other parts of Europe;
and the peasants travel hundreds of
miles, or even thousands in search of
work or in pilgrimages. The railways
now afford them facilities which were
wanting siX-and-tWenty years ago; and
every Spring trains arrive at st. Peters
burg and Moscow with the third-class
carriages crammed with wOrkmen from
the provinces, who leave their wives and
children to attend to the pig, COW and
plot of land which belongs to each peas
ant proprietor, and act as wood
cutters, pOrteTs, carpenters, white washers,
and in almost every mechanical capacity,
in the two capitals during the Summer.
They live out Of doors, and work day and
night, taking a well earned sleep at any
odd moment when it is convenient. In
the Autumn they return with their
wages to their villages; and to save lights
many sleep all the dark hours, which in
Russian Winter gives them at the most a
day not much longer than from to 3. A
tourist passing through the Russian
towns in the Summer sees the men wait
ing with the change of horses for the
tramcars, fast asleep on mats on the
ground, the horses bending over them
and the brides held firmly in their
hands. He goes away with the impress
sion that the Russian peasant is as lazy
as the NeapOlitan mendicant, but on the
contrary these men are sleeping when
they have time for it, to enable them to
do without sleep during the sun-lighted
night; for the street is their only lodging
If they perform any ablutiOns at all, it is
in the Neva, the MOskva, or some of the
canals; their prayers, which seem never
to be omitted, morning and evening, are
said in public before one of the many
chapels. in an open church, or before an
image of the Virgin and Holy Child; a
street fountain supplies them with bever-
ages; the itnerant dealers in fried bacon
fish, squares of minced pork. fruit, cakes,
bread, and all kinds of food, carried
about on trays, or a cheap Traktir, sup
ply their meals. The dealers, who are
attired in clean white aprons and cuffs,
know all the fast days, and adjust their
wares to suit them. On Saturday night
when washing is obligatory if the peas
ant is to assist at mass the next day, q
Russian workman usually goes to one of
the cheap vapOr baths, at least IN cold
weather, but in Summer he can often get
q bath in a river for nothing; and IN Sum
mer his clothing is Of the lightest. This
is no worse a life than that of many of
the lowest class in our large towns; and
sleep in the open air under a hot sun is
undoubtedly healthier than in a sitting
night lodging. In this way, food IS their
only expense, except two or three kopeks
weekly for the vapOr bath, and the small
contribution all respectable Russian
workmen put into an almsbOx Tea,
LARGE iups Of iced lemonade and milk are
sold in the streets, and the sight of a re-
view or a public procession, particularly
if the Emperor IS present, would reward
a provincial Russian for many weeks Of
hard work.
improvements are gradually being
effected in the peasants mode Of living,
and bed places ike those in some of the
Scottish co tages are now seen in many
places. instead of the old fashion of sleep
ing on the floor and the top Of the stove.
Directions are given to the elementary
school mistresses to enforce clean hands
and neat hair in the school; and two years
ago it was officially stated that there were
10, 000,O ofschOlars receiving instruction
in the places of education throughout
the Emp ire. There are many people still
found TO lament over these things and
to prefer the good old times" In 1879
the Moscow Gazette complained that
family life seemed likely TO disappear;
the higher education Of youth has re-
suited In making them look on their par
ents as ignorant people. Young girls
now desire to be Independent, to gain
their own living, and, plunging deep IN
to natural science, they wish for the
same right as man" In the late reign
D 900 elementary schools were esta bllsh-
ed, whereas before the emancipation the