New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-11-04
FROZEN r IJSSI i.
Hon. A1phonso Taft.s Description Of Life
I'm the Cars Country.

Judge Alphonso Taft, OF Ohio, Min
ister to Russia, gives some interesting
about that country to an
interviewer About his late post at
st. Peters burg as Minister to Russia he
said:
sit IS a very pleasant place for dip
lomatic service. The Car and all
his court are very civil, polite and
cordial with the representatives OF
foreign countries. was happy to find
in the diplomatic representatives OF
other Governments at ST. Petersburg
men OF cordiality and sociability max
ing the residence there very agreeable.
The officials of Russia are wonderfully
pleasant. The Car is man OF ex-
exceeding amiability and kindness.
l met him often at Petershoff, where
he expressed the highest admiration
for American enterprise, industry and
invention. The Empress is model
OF wife, devoted to her family, and
very useful in court society.
ssDid you find the climate rigorous"
3'The winter season, which is by
many considered Objectionable, is the
glory OF the year in st. Petersburg. l
did not find the weather so cold as l
expected, and actually suffered less
rom that source last winter than [
nave from the same causes in other
countries. Their houses are built air
tight. The windows are all double.
In winter they are all sealed. Provis-
ion is made for fresh air by ventilation
in the windows. It don't come IN I'M
hidden. The manner OF heating con
tributes to comfort. The furnace
does not give out q great heat. but a
comfortable one, while stoves are
placed in all the rooms to supplement
the furnace, so you can have the tenn
perature inst as you desire it. There
is no difficulty or trouble about ven
tilation. They provide wonderfully
against the cold in their dress.
You have a fur suit and overshoes to
put Oh when you 60 out, and they are
so perfect that you are as comfortable
outdoors as in. You never go out or
come in without putting on or taking
off your furs. Thus the weather has
no impression on you. The people 60
to parties, receptions, balls and din
ners regardless of rain, snow, sleet or
zero. You would think the horses
would be unable to stand it in cold
weather, but they do. They have no
blankets for horses. The best ami
mails are black stations. They will
stay out in the cold all night. The
drivers stay out, too. The drivers
are all bundled up so the cold can not
touch them. l do not think the
weather is so much colder than our
winter as generally supposed. It is
certainly more even, and gives less
discomfort"
GLOW about Nihilism?"
every little appears on the surface
in Russia as regards Nihilism. My inn
preston is that the government has
been SO persevering, and the police so
skillful in detecting the projects of
that kind, that they have pretty much
annihilated Nihilhisnl. 1t may turn
out differently, because the Nihil.sts
are not likely to advertise publicly
their purposes,if any had been formed.
The government has been exceedingly
dilligent III terreting out all their pro-
jects. have seen no Nihilists and
have had no opportunity for coming
at the precise objects entertained by
them. Really St. Petersburg is about
the worst place to go to learn about
~
ton in Russia OF any other liberalism
than Socialism and Nihilism. One
hears nothing of Republicanism. 1t is
not obnoxious to public opinion as
Socialism and Nihilism, and the gov
eminent has no occasion to talk
about it. AS the press is con
trOlled by the government there
is no talk about it. This is some
what true OF the entire continent. The
people of Europe are not generally
hostileto Republicanlsm. The Govern
ments have no motive to promote it..
But it does not profit them to discuss
it. They do not care to censure it,
because it is not obnoxious. Their
censure falls on Socialism and Mill
ISM
+ "What of Russian civilization?'
"It can be spoken of as improving.
Can not say as to the general intelli-
gence ngthe people, but materially
there is Improvement and that will
eventually bring the other. An era
OF material improvement began with
the emancipation of the serfs.
"The greatest attention is paid to
the army and the improvements OF
the military force much more than to
popular education. They have in
situations for the education OF the
children of the better classes, but with
nothing like the advantages that are
lavished in the schools of military ed
ucation. They have tremendous
army. It is nearly as large as the
armies of both Germany and Austria.
All the Executive officers of the EN-
pire are connected with the army. Rus
STA is paying more attention to naval
armament, significant fact when
considered in the light Of recent events
aud her great military force. AS to
advancement, have heard since
landed here that the Car has decided
IN Ornnf n c0nSt II ntion tn tho c0,1ntr1,