Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-11-19
THE MUSCOVITE.
A TRAVELLERS CLOSE STUDIES OF A
VERY PECULIAR PEOPLE.
Superstition and subserviency-Em lnci-
patton OF the serfs-A Copious and
Grstesque MythoIogy-Dishon
of the People-CIeanliness
lReysew of Iare's " studies in Russia. u

Review OF Hare's Studies in Russia."l
In extraordinary coatrss. To the stories so
generally told Of the dangers from which the
czar shrinks, aud whick We know to have
basis of fact, is Mr.. Hars's assertion OF the
stupefaction with which the people as a
whole consider his person. 1T is certain
that no position OF temptation can possibly
be more terrible than th..t OF the car, who,
nourished in self-ido olatry, constantly hears
bis infallibiity proclaimed by s., 900, 000 of
his subjects And it is extraordinary that,
in spite OF such temptation, all the sover-
eigns since the time Of Peter the Great and
the empire have lived in various degrees ac-
cording 10 the light for the good of their
people. They have not. however, always
continued the liberal policy OF Peter. and
under several OF the sovereigns who sue
ceeded Catherine III genius was always con-
sidered a sure passport for Siberia 1t
did not create surpri.e when one
day at the council of censurs a high
official declared that every writer is bear
who ought TO be kept in chains Under the
Emperor Nicholas none, even of the books
published under his predecesrors. could be
brought out again unless submitted 70
changes, SO vigilant was the censorship Of
the press.
Men Of letters were somewhat freer under
Alexander H. The conservative Russia -
the government which administered the
country without the participation Of the
people seemed To be passing away. The in
fiuence given by freedom to literature was
speedily felt, and one OF its direct conse-
quences was the emancipation OF tho serfs.
But it was due still more to the impulses OF
the emperor himself. and il was not appar-
emily due at all to the Serfs.
They scarcely hailed il with enthusi-
asm. When they foda1 that, although
they had free lanl. they hal also
TO pay government taxes, they were not dis
posed 10 look upon emancipation as an un-
mixed boon. Mr.. Hare aflirms that n con-
siderable proportion of the ssrfs still regret
their freedom In serfage they were pro-
vide1 for in old age, their doctors bills were
paid when sick. they had an hereditary in
terest in their proprietor an1 his belongings
aIi he in them and il their lord was too
cruel they had a remedy. They assassinated
him. There is something very grand in
the name Of liberty said tho philanthro-
pist "But can il feed one' asked the ssrf.
The supersttions Of the people are largely
paganish. The mythology Is copious and
grOtas que. and the homage paid old heathen-
in deities = Transferred. it is said, to the
saints OF the Russian church. So absurd ls
the belier in the supernatural that for ex-
ample, in one part of the country il is for
biddsn & freak up the smoldering ruins of
fagots with a poker; whose commits such
an act runs the risk OF causing his nearest
deceased relations 10 fall into hell Their
image worship has undergone no change
during CENTURIES. Every house has its
shrines and its statues. and whenever the
Russian enters "a new dwelling for the first
time he salutes first the statues then the
company.
The spirit OF obeiiencs to all in authority
appears to be carried 10 excess. On one oc-
ca.ion. when a boat was upset on the Neva,
the order was given to rescue especially the
officers Of the guards Are you officers Of
the guard ~ cried out the rescuing party ID
individuals struggling in the river. Their
mouths were too full of water to answer,
and the poor fellows wentdown On aRother
occasion a detachment was sent 10 water
the parade ground. A heavy shower sud-
denly fell, but the watering proceeded; "it
was so ordered
Whether the frightgul punishments in
fiictsd on disobedence have aught TO do
with this blind docility Mr.. Hare does not
pretend TO ascertain. But be is certain that
these punishments are not so appalling to
the Russian who suffers them "a they ap-
pear 10 Us, from whose discipline barbarity
is so rapidly disappearing. Flogging. which
is still used in Russia and which used To be
inflicted for religious as well as civil
offenses. is said to be esteemed @only little
stronger than good brandy and pepper
The Tartar punishment for debt seems
somewhat worse than even northern Siberia
can be. The unfortunate debtor is beaten
in public daily by the public executioner
upon the shin bone for an hour at the time.
Why that particular bone was selected is
not explained. Perhaps the locality OF the
torture was meant 10 stimulate the sufferer
TO greater zeal in finding the wherewith to
cancel his obligation. But the frequent ap-
plication of the remedy would in time rem
der any effort impossible. and il is pleasing
for once 10 learn that Russian official can
be bribed The shin bone can escape some-
thing Of the agony il tae debtor pay the exc
cutioner for deftly inserting an iron plate
where il will receive the worst Of the blow.
So universal is the dishonesty Of the peo-
pie, accoriin. TO the conviction OF Mr.. Hare
and numerous others whom he quotes, that
it is said popularity OF the peasants by them
selves; ne PEASANT may De slupiu OUT 10
would make only one mouthful of God him
self.' Their superstitiousness is called on u
detect crime, although il does not appar-
entity repress stealing. When n hoUsc IS
robbed the mistress summons the SUSPECTED
persons and a witch. The witch, or Babuzhka,
takes a piece Of bread and kneads it into
as many little balls as there are persons
present; then she places a vessel of water in
front Of her and makes all present stand
around in a semi-circle. Taking one Of tho
balls she looks iixedly at the first person and
says: "Ivan Ivanovitch, if you are guilty
your soul viii fall into he'll rs this ball falls
to the bottom Ivan Ivanovitch, il guilty,
knows that the ball will fall 70 the bottom;
AMI rather than risk the implied conse.
quences he generally owns up.
Ii is likely that the food was the last gen.
eral bath in Russia Personal cleanliness is
all but unknown. The food OF the peasants
comprises many things rejected as rnclean
or offensive 70 the rest OF tie world and
their sanitary condition is one Of hopeless
nes-. whose effects in any climate but their
own would be appalling. The temper Of
the people is very sad They sing melan.
choly songs, drink much, talk little, and feel
snail concern about life.