The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-02-14
Life of Russian Workmen.


The nobility in 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. Petersburg 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 the plot of land which be-
longs to each peasant proprietor, and act as
woodcutters, porters, carpenters, white wash
ers, and in almost every mechanical capae-
ity, in the two capitals during the sum-
mer. 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
Russia winter gives them at the most day
not much longer than from nine to three
A tourist passing through the Russian
towns In the summer sees the men waiting
with the change of horses on mats on the
ground, the horses bending over them,
and the brides held firmly in their hands.
He goes away with the impression that the
Russian peasant is as lazy as 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 ablu-
tions at all, it is in the Neva, the Moskva,
or one of the canals their prayers, whic
seem never to be omitted, morning and
evening, are said in public before one of
the many chapels, churches, or before an
image of the Virgin and Holy Child
street fountain supplies them with bever-
age the itinerant dealers In fried bacon,
fish, squares of minced pork, fruit, cakes,
bread, and all kinds of food, carried about
on trays, or cheap Traktir, supply 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 peasant is to assist at
mass the next day, Russian workman
usually goes to one of the cheap vapor
baths at least in cold weather, but in sum-
mer he can often get bath in river for
nothing; and in summer his clothing is of
the lightest This is no worse life than
that of many of the lowest class in our large
towns, and sleep in the open air under 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 yapor bath, and the
small contribution all respectable Russian
workmen put into an almsbox. Tea, large
jugs of iced lemonade and milk are sold in
the street, and the sight of review or a
public procession, particularly if the En-
peror is present, would reward provincial
Russian for many weeks of hard work.
Improvements are gradually being effect
ed in the peasants mode of living, and bed
places like those of the Scottish cottages
are now seen i'll many places, instead of the
old fashion of sleeping on the floor and the
top of the stove Directions are gwen to
the elementary school mistresses to enforce
clean hands and neat hair in the schools !;
and two wears ago it was officially stated
that there were fifteen millions of scholars
receiving instruction in the places Of edu-
cation throughout the Empire. There are
many people still found to lament over
these things and to prefer the 'good old
times In18T9 the Moscow Gazette COM
planned that "family life seemed likely to
disappear; the higher education of youth
has resulted in making them look on their
parents as ignorant people. Young girls
now desire to be independent, to gain their
own living, and plunging deep into natural
science, they wish for the same rights as
man" In the late. reign 5000 elemen-
tary schools were established, whereas be-
fore the emancipation the landowners as
rule set their faces against all education for
the peasantry. The number of the work
ing class who can now read show that the
schools have not been useless. We have
seen cabmen consulting almanacs and read
ing on their droshky seats, and children
reading the newspaper to the old market
women. OF course this gives the Nihilist
propagandist more opportunities than If
the peasantry were still as densely Ignorant
as in the days of Nicholas. The Bible
Societies are no doubt doing very good
work in Russia, and it is to be hoped may
counteract the infdelity which on the con-
tinent seems always to be allied to Repub-
licanism.
The late Emperor promoted education
among the working classes, as he publicly
said, to enable them to resist the peculation
and oppression of their superiors; and the
peasant has found out that the best way to
avoid being imposed upon is to enable him
self to read and write. Consequently there
is universal desire to learn, which has
been stimulated by the term of service in
the army being considerably shortened for
those who can pass certain standards.