The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-23
Peasant Life in Russia,
s. skedeIsky. In Philadelphia Times.

o. CheuclnhyS III FnIduelpHlH Hines.
The American reader can hardly imagine any
thing more miserable more wretched than the
little hut In which family, averaging six or
seven members is often found living Imagine
little cave of five by four, half Of which is cut
off by primitive large stove, dark and gloomy.
ard that will be the ''sweet home" of the Rus
sian peasant. Every inch of space is inhabited,
so that, as matter of course, the air is made
poisonous and intolerable, and this explains the
frequent fata. diseases prevailing among the
Russian peasantry. Their daily habits and
methods of life are of the simplest character
Five o'clock in the morning in all seasons, is
generally the hour at which family rises. The
woman immediately begins to prepare breakfast,
which generally consists of a mixture of sour
krout, beets and potatoes, called "borshtch'
and coarse rye bread A large trunk the only
piece of furniture to be seen in peasants hut,
which, at the same time. serves table, is
spread with a coarse cover, and, after saying
prayer, the head of the family; followed by the
rest OF the members, occupies his seat. After
the "borshtch" pot is emptied. every one goes
out to his work. If it is winter time, the men
are engaged In feeding the cattle, and the
women In spinning their fax Every one has
his hands full A 12-oclock dinner is announced
Again 'borshtch" on the trunk table, followed by
potful OF bulled potatoes and plenty of coarse,
rye bread Supper consists of the remnants of
dinner On Sundays, however, or days of fest
val, an epicurean piece of salt pork mutton
and fresh rye bread--which the peasant and
stll more MS better half, Is very fond ot--adorn
the table. White bread. tea or coffee are looked
upon as luxury beyond the reach of the peas
antry. 1t is only on very rare occasions-if, for
example, any one in the family is sick-that
such luxury finds place In the peasants home
After days work is over the peasant goes
out for recreation. The tavern, which is the
only place of attraction for him, is generally
crowded in the evenings The most burning
topics of the day are discussed there What
strikes stranger who is present at one of such
meetings is the absolute confusion which char
acterizes its proceedings. All speak at once, no
one listens, and the debates are scenes of wild
disorder. But there is rule without
ception; an orator may sometimes command
general attention. In such cases utter silence
prevails, and those who interrupt are ordered to
''shut up AS general thing, however every
body is arguing at the top of his voice, wild
uproar goes on, which oftentimes ends in a
fight
Balloting is unknown in the Russian village
assemblies. Every question, of whatever char
acter, must be settled unanimously. The set
Element of question mostly depends on the pro-
posal of the starosta (village Officially, or any
other important person of the village, whose in
fuence concihates all interests and wins the suf
frage of the entire grenada community To
reach this contamination, however, thorough de-
bates and good threshing of the subject dis
cussed are Indispensable. Everyone must freely
express his opinion and shout out at the top of
his voice his arguments before any concessions
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