Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-05

Esbie9 In recognition Of personal services
rendered 70 the crown. Of all kinds ef mer>
chants and Of the lower grades Of govern
sent and municipal employes-the more i'm
pcrtant places being filed by educated men
Of rhs aobiiity. the LANDED proprietors-
class
Tacugh really. as has been observed be
fere. there are 10 impassab.e barriers between
Russians Of different social standing. yet it is
a tart that there Is scarcely any social inter.
course between the middle and the higher
Glasses Of the people. When they do meet.
however. there is seldom any arrogance or
sit,serviency observed. rs would be the case
in the contact Of such people in Germany. for
irS1anca
Whilst during more than twenty years
life IN Russia, I never happened 30 hear Of a
eoblernan turning merchant engaging in
bona fide trade. yet certainly know many
ss.ions Of the oldest families Of the Russian
nobility who have drifred Of late into the
middle classes by turning Of necessity TO
aich pursuits as those of train conductors
raIlrtad porters. book peddlers. common
sailors. speculators IN grain and provisions,
soutrartors aud the like Among many
sihsr instances Of the kind that bad come
under my own observation as recall them
sow there was one particular old noble
fnnily-that Of tho Princes Obolenskys-
which in its divers branches had undergone
the most incredibls deviatious
THUS. whilsi many of the Princes Obolen-
skys still ara rico and hold good positions
eRs Of them OeIug now master OF ceremonies
Of tsse court of the Grand Duke Wladimir-a
young cousin Of his another Prince Obo-
lenssy. weni specularing in order TO make
suuey. engaged in cheating on government
eoutracts. supplying the army with moldy
biscuit, and narrowly escaped jail But he
sill holds his head high and is very success
fui tn accommodating money. AT that same
ums Princess Obolensky was teaching
girls In government school, gymnasia,
for the pal,ry pay of $500 a year, and later
sn married a third class German apothecary
Of no standing to speak OF Again. near my
fanily's country place, in the government of
Tuia. where my early life was passed, there
soood a most dlapidated settlement, inhab-
tied mostly By such ignorant men and
women-almost uamps in appcaraace-that
30 peasant serf from our estate would ever
pass them without pfying them with jokes,
though always addressing them by the title
Of prince or ''princessD-which indeed
they were. being direct impoverished do
srendants Of the old noble families Of the
Princes Ukhtcnskys and the Princes Obs-
IensEy1
On the other hand, children Of peasants
and common workmen-nos 20 speak of
merchants and government employes-often
reach the highest grade. In ths adninistra-
tion Of the empire, or attain the greatest dis
Junction as professional men No one stops
To consider that a certain renowned lawyer
B the son of a carpenter. or that the minif-
Ter Of public education. n PobeionostEov
had priest for his father, as did also N.
rishnegradsky, tbs present minister OF
finances. that Professor Botkin, the Russian
scientist OF European renown. the trusted
body physician Of the czsr, Is but q msr.
chants son, that the celebrated Gen Soobe-
lefs parental grandfather was q common
soldier, distinguished and raised up from the
ranks by Catherine the treat. thanks TO that
soldiers strikingly handsome appearance;
that thIt same common soldiers grand
daughur, who has Inherited bis beauty, b
now called the Counte8 Reauharnais, bsing
the mcrganatio wife OF the Duke OF Leuch-
tenberE, frst cousin 10 the czar Of Russia
h Mosoow-shas favorite nest Of the old
elannish Russian nobility, proud of its una-
dulbsrated Slavouic origin-there exists, side
by sde with the ipdoient MOBILES, yet entirely
apart fsvsn shehs barge dssd etd, wesagS