The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-04
FROZEN RUSSIA.
aon. AYp1ronso Taft's Description of Life
in tire Cars Country.

Judge Alphonso Taft, of Ohio, Min
ister to Russia, gives some interesting
information about that country to an
interviewer. About his late post at
St. Petersburg Us Minister to Russia, he
said
E@It is "a very pleasant place for dip
Iomatic service. The Gar and all
his court are very civil, polite and
cordial with the representatives of
foreign countries. I was happy to find
in the diplomatic representatives of
other Governments at St. Petersburg
men of cordiality and soeiability, max
ing the residence there very agreeable.
The officials of Russia are wonderfully
pleasant. The Gar is a man of ex-
exceeding .amiabIlity and kindness.
I met him often at Petershoff, where
he expressed the highest admiration
for American enterprise, industry and
invention. The Empress is a. model
of a wife, devoted to her family, and
very useful in court society.
"Did you find the climate rigorous?"
1NThe 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 |
expected, and actually suffered less
from that sormee last winter than
have frUn 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 forfresh air by ventilation
in the windows. 1t don't come IN I'M
bidden- The manner of heating con-
tributes to comfort. The furnace
does not give out great heat, but
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 fur suit and overshoes to
put on when you go out, and they are
so perfect thaty you are as comfortable
outdoors as in. You never 60 out or
come in without putting on or taking
off your furs: Thus the S weather has
ilo LII ~ OSSfch o11 you. Liz pSopi0 So
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 theseold can not
touch thenf. {, l.. .doaEnot, think the.
weather is so much colder than. our
winter as generally supposed. It is
certainly more even, and gives less
discomfort"
Chow about Nihilism?"
every little appears on the surface
in Russia as regards Nihilism. My i'm
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 Nihilhism. 1t may turn
out differently, because the Nihihsts
are not likely to advertise publicly
their purposes, if any had been formed.
The government has been exceedingly
dilligent in ferreting out all their pro-
jects. l have SEEN no tNihilists 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
Nihllism. There is not much recogni |
tion 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
ernment has no occasion to talk |
about it. AS the press is con-
trolled by the government there |
what true of the entire continent. The |
people of Europe are not generally |
hostile to oRepublicanlsm. 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?"
cit can be spoken of as improving.
Can not say as to the general intelli-
yence among the people, but materially
there is improvement and that will
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
stitutions for the education OF the
children of the better classes, but with
nothing like the advantages that are
avished in the schools of military ed
1cation. They have a tremendous
army. 1t is nearly as large as the
armies of both Germany and Austria.
All the Executive officers of the En-
oire are connected with the army. Rus
sia ispaying more attention to naval
a significant fact when
considered in the light OF recent events
and her great military force. As to
advancement, I have heard since
anded here that the Gar has decided
20 grant a constitution to the country:
[ heard nothing of it before | left.
nave been surprised that it has been
20 long deferred. The Constitution
will probably give the country a Legls-
ature to enact the laws, subject to