Hillsboro recorder., 1888-04-12
RUSSIAN PEASANTS.
AGRAPHIC PICTURE OF sToLID
SUBMISSION ToFATE.
a Country With Gorgeous Churches
but Bereft of Schools Distress
and observation-disclosures
gfaa mes in Paying Taxes. agaa

There is very strong contrast between
the appearance Of things on the two sides
of the boundary between Germany and
Russia--as much as between the rural
districts Of Massachusetts, and Missis-
sippi, says correspondent of the Chi
cago Ncso'. On the German side the
landscape is dotted with beautiful, cosey
homes, with every evidence Of prosperity
and thrift, with well cultivated fields,
viuc.clad stables, neat.looking kline,
hedges tastefally trimmed, and patches
of flowers, while in the town and villages
are handsome railway stations, tempting
cafes, large factories, handsome school
houses, and every symbol of higher
civilization and prosperity. On the east
side of the line there are none of these,
and the change takes place instantly.
Thrift and comfort are replaced by dis
tress and degradation. The fields are
uncultivated, except IN patches here and
there-spots where it was the easiest to
plow-the cattle are lean and hungry,
the homes of the people are log or mud
huts, and there is not schoolhouse to
be seen from the boundary line TO the
capital .s4 H,s.
There are churches enough, however,
for in every collection of cabins rises a
splendid temple with gilded dome and
spire, sheltering mass of precious vest
ments, candlesticks and altar plate of
solid silver, and usually al altar Of
malaehite, lapis-laZuli, or some other
precious stone. One always finds, in the
most poverty stricken and deso,ate viii
lages, icons, as the images of the Saviour
are called, covered with shields OF gold,
and ornamented with all sorts of Jewels.
The Eestmeuts of the priests cost more
than all the rest of the clothing in the
village, AID the contributions for the
support of the church are usually equal
to. If they are not greater than third
OF the combined incomes Of the people.
of the scanty earnings OF the moujik
one third goes to the church aud another
third TO the crown, and both exactions
arc paid without the slightest resistance.
The moujik is only glad that the priest
and the tax gatherer do not take il all.
Centuries OF oppression have left their
stamp indel!ibly upon the character Of
the people.
The most striking characteristics of
the Russian peasant are sadness and
submission aud the desire for strong
drink. A Russian seems to be truly
hsppy-I an speaking of the lowest
class-only under two conditions. One
when he is drunk on vodka, the corn
brandy, and the other when he is saying
his prayers before his fagorite saint.
To him the interior of the church,
gilded from foor to dome, decorated
with icons that are covered with sheets
OF pure god, is a representation of the
heaFen the priests teach him is awaiting
those who say their prayers, fast on fast
days, and obey the Gar. He is always
loyal to the church and TO the State.
The peasant Is never a nihilist, never an
atheist, but pays his taxes AID his tiihes
without murmnring, and expects no
more than his father got, which was
nothing. The only Tecompense he has
is 10 creep into some gaudy chapel, bow
his head 10 the floor in front OF the icon
Of his faYorite saint, and let his dull and
lisiless mind enjoy the visions OF para
disc that fioat over it. The church, with
its marble pillars, the vestnents of god
brocade, and the gold-incrHsted pictures,
makes the most beautiful spectacle his
foggy imagination can conceive Of, and
TO live in such place always, like the
efigies he sees there, is heaven enough
for him. s.
There Is said to be no instance in
which peasant ever refused to pay his
taxes. Once a year the collector enters
the village, taps the window and calls
''Razan Then the manor woman OF the
house comes out with thc money, which
isaiways ready, tosses it into the blg of
the collector, who does not count il, bc.
cause be knows ii il all the moHjis has
got. When night comes the collector
enters the best house ID the village,
hangs his money-bag under the image
Of the Saviour, and carouses or sleeps
till morning, being perfectly confident
that his money will not be disturbed,
beeause of the yenerat.on Tor the Gar,
when he Represents, aud the image
under which the treasure il placed.
How the people live is a mystery to
those who have not Investigated the
subject. The ordinary traveller only
sees their little gardens. where are
grown a stauty allowance Of potatoes,
corn, turnips and cabbage. They eat
whea they arc hungry, generally cab.
bage soup, always siInmeTing ON the Gre,
are drunk ~ often as they car get vodka,
and when night comes curl up some.
where on the floor in a warm place like
a kitten Or a caterpillar. In the cabins
one seldom fnds bed or q table or a
chair, and very few dishes. They haze
no comforts whatever, not eyc1 what We
consider the necessaries Of life--the
church fakns the nlaae Of them al.