The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-27
DECLINE OF THE RUSSIAN NOBILITY.

DECLINE OF THE RUSSIAN NOBILITY.
Hopelessly Bankrupt and Stepped in All the
Vices and in Petty Crime.
st. Petersburg Letter.
The little battle fought on the Afghan Rus
sian frontier on March 80, which has made so
much noise throughout the world, has opened a
series of imposing festivities in the Cars coun-
try. In all the cities and towns Russians have
recently celebrated three jubilees.
April Is was the thousandth anniversary OF
the death of St. Methody, one of the two Slave
MAN apostles This religious Slovenian mil
lennial very opportune In view OF the
dangerous Anglo Russian conflict, which in the
end might test the strength of the great north
ern empire, the national prayers OF the Slave
MAN apostles not only have strengthened, but
even sanctifed the patriotism of Russians over
a thousand years ago two Slav brothers. MISSION
aries from Byzantium, penetrated the dense
prmeval forests, thinly inhabited by the nomadic
pagan tribes, and preached to them the gospel
in their own tongue. Then the two missionaries
went west where they were wanted by some
Slovenian kingdoms; but they left behind them
to the pagan tribes of their a precious
gift-the Bible in Slavonian characters. Thus
they are identified in the Russian imagination
with the religious unifcation of the country, and
through that with general patriotism Such
brilliant religious professions and such crowded
public meetings as on this occasion of the great
Slavonian anniversary, have never before been
witnessed here, and the biographies of ST. Cyril
and st. Methody have been scattered far and
wide throughout the country, like the leaves of
the fall. Thus the military ardOr of the war
party is, as it were. sanctioned by national and
even religious feelings. In his present excite
ment the Russian giant is dangerous fellow to
fight, dangerous even to John Bull
Another jubilee was the centennial celebration
of the imperial charter by which very important
rights and privileges were granted to the Russian
mobiles, such as the possession OF serfs and civil
and military administration. In fact, since
Catharine Ii, until the abolition of serfdom in
1861, the nobility exclusively ruling class
in Russia. The Czar-Liberator, however, had
taken away from the mobiles all their special
rights, so much so that to day the peasant boy
has as many chances of making good career as
has the heir of the mostillustrous princely fam
lily. 1t is general opinion of the best observers
here that the Russian nobleman is fast degene
rating He is bound to yield his place to new
blood. Public schools colleges and universities
of to-day are preparing here q new generation
Of boys who boldly push to the front,
not the least abashed that their families
are not inscribed in any 'velvet
book" No matter whether this homo novus is
the son of village priest or of a country ply
sician or of a merchant, or of tradesman or
of a peasant or of government clerk, he is
bound to get his due by virtue of his education
and personal ability and energy In his re-
script issued on the occasion of the MOBILES
jubilee May 81, the Gar has virtually admitted
hopeless bankruptcy and in order to save their
lands from the hands of spectators, he has
ordered the establishment of special Mobiles
Land Bank, by means of which the state will be
the sole creditor of the bankrupted mobiles. Re-
Gently in Moscow court there figured certain
Prince Galitzin. He was tried and condemned
for petty crime Prince Mestchersky in his
Citizen on that occasion. said
Il remember very we'll when this Prince Galit-
Yin, brilliant officer of the Imperial Guard. by
marriage came into relation with such families
as Count KuSheloff's and Stronganoffs And
now the same prince IS proved common SWIM
dler! Is he an exception to general rule2 Not
at ALL There is direct relation between the
criminal and his own titled class. The high life
of to-day is not what it used to be quarter of a
century ago. Formerly our mobiles valued most
noble principles, and now all PROSTATE them
selves before the golden calf Honor. honesty
duty, everything is put on the altar of that deity
They do not mind borrowing money under
worthless pledges. They are ready to dishonor
their family name every day, provided they will
get by so doing money for women, champagne
horses, and similar designations"
Such are the Russian mobiles of to-day, accord
ing to the Citizen, and yet the Gar urges them
to see to it that the children of the country at
large be brought up in the rules of honor, hon
esty and faith.
The third Jubilee was the centennial ceebra-
ton of the self government of Russian cities
Czarina Catherine Ii, on having granted certain
rights and privileges to the different guilds
found it advisable to intrust to their hands the
management of their own affairs. Since then
the industrial city has taken lead of the official
city of Russia. In this and in other cities Rus
sian tradesmen have arranged industrial ex-
hibitions in order to show the progress of
Russian industries. l visited the exhibition
in this city several times. and from what have
seen and heard there cannot help concluding
that Russia still is world in ITSELF separated
from the outer world. Her tradesmen work in
their own obsolete styles. / am told that nine
out of ten Russians eat to-day with wooden
spoons from wooden plates and bowls. and drink
water from wooden ladies.
Gould not you afford to make these things of
galvanized iron" / asked a manufacturer of
woodenware
Perhaps we could, he answered, "but so far
our people think of what to eat and not of what
to eat it from"
Slowly grows the Russian giant. Poor fellow,
though thousand years old, he is hardly able to
feed himself!