Wichita eagle., 1889-11-15
YOUNG WOMEN OF Russia.


Their Surroundings Greatly Improved
Within Quarter of Century.
AS to the manner of the bringing up of
Russian young women, it must be said that
for the last quarter of century entirely new
methods have prevailed. Previous to the
series of liberal reforms introduced by Alex
ander II, in the sixties, Russian girls of good
families were mostly educated in boarding
schools and institutions supported by the
crown and were never allowed to go out, ex-
cept in closed carriages for drive, during
the whole eight or ten years their education
lasted. Since the female gymnasia have been
instituted, however, the great majority Of
Russian girls of the ''intelligencia" are re-
ceiving in them the same education as is given
to the boys in the male gylnuasia, prepare
tory to their entering one OF the great uni
versities. Mindful of the drift Of the times,
even such exclusively aristocratic educational
establishments as the Convent of Smolny, the
crown Institutes and the highest priced board
ing schools have greatly deviated from the
strict rules of the former method OF clustered
education for young girls.
In fact, former methods can no longer be en-
forced, for, out Of hygienic considerations,
little girls are on all sides encouraged to romp
about as their brothers do. No.girl is ever
chided for being a tomboy, and they grow to
dread the appellation of ''kisseynaya larysh-
nian-'' ribbon-and-lawn young lady'-mock-
ingly applied to all mandy pamby, eminently
proper young persons.
Being brought up under very similar con-
ditions, the young women and the young men
of Russia develop great similarity OF tastes
and ideas. The young girls enjoy nearly, II
not quite, as much freedom In Russia as In
England and America, and are generally con-
sidered equal to the young men in their intel
lectual resources, strength of will and deter
minatieA
When such young people marry there is,
of course, complete equality between hus-
band and wife; this equality is enhanced by
the laws of the empire. which makes any
woman of 81 the complete mistress of her
fortune. her income and her personal earn
ings though she is not allowed to live any
where apart from her husband, unless he
voluntarily provides her with separate pass
port empowering her to do so. In that last
respect, however, few men are obdurate
enough to resist the strength Of public opln-
ion-scarce any man of the educated class
would brave public censure and expose him.
self to ridicule by keeping his wife by force
were she determined to live apart from him;
nowhere outside of France, does public ridi-
Guile kill or cure a person so speedily as In
Russia.
OF course the perfect equality on which
the majority of the Russian young women
insist, has brought some drawbacks; they
have heavier burdens to carry; they often
have to face the brunt of life's battle scorn-
| ing to profit by any chivalric offer of aid
from the men. So much in principle; but in
fact there are many and frequent deviations
from the theory of woman's perfect indie
pendence Still, no matter how strongly
| liberal minded girls adhere to the principle
| of personal liberty, they easily relax from
their cast iron principles when happily mar
ried; and though moved by sense Of hon.
esty, many young women assert that they
cannot consistently VOW that they will al
ways love the man they wed, still, separa-
tons are very few indeed, and nowhere are
children more thought of and cared for than
in the families of educated Russians who
| have grown to be men and women since the
'sixties."
The changes worked by time are apparent
even in the most trlfiing details Only gen.
Grafton or two ago it was considered I'M
proper for girls of well to do families to take
step in the street without the escort of a
governeSs or some trustworthy attendant; on
every side ones eye was met by the ludicrous
sight of six foot servant in a cockaded hat
! and livery bringing UP the rear of couple
/ OF ladies out for walk on the street or the
boulevard That would be considered most
! unique sight nowadays The most carefully
brought up girls of the oldest noble families
are free to go out alone on foot or in their
carriage; they even would feel hurt-and
justly, TOO, think-at the distrust of them
were they put under the obligation to account
for every step they take, and forbidden to go
out In the daytime except under escort. The
young girls and women strongly insist on
being trusted, and the liberty thus obtained
makes them self reliant and is seldom put to
unworthy uses.
OF course, even now, in remote provincial
/ towns or in old fashioned Muscovy, there are
! some narrow minded mammas-female Rip
| Van Winkles-whc, mindful Of their OWL
youthful escapades, insist on keeping their
daughters under the same old regime; but
! then, the young women not being put on
their honor, so to speak, indulge IN many
risky pranls on the sly. Such girls, how
ever, as willingly submit to the bother of an
escort in the snape of liveried Turnkey are
generally plain girls who love to imagine
that they stand in danger of importuEate
attentions from men in the streets, or else
| they may turn out to be some squeamisb All
tiquated maiden ladies VINO prefer to imply
that they are still so young and unsophiSti'
Gated as to be entirely at the mercy Of any
| bad, bold man IN this wide, wicked world
were they not blessed with the means of hav.
ing safe escort in the person of buttons" a
foreign governesS or some dilapidated lady
companion with corkscrew ringlets framing
her withered, wistful face.
| Still, ii must be added that, with ali their
pretenSions to Independence, none among the
Russian girls would go to ball without a
chaperone, or even think of going to the the
atre alone with any man not near relative
and it is positively an unheard OF thing il
Russia for young woman to receive pres
ents from any male acquaintance otherwise
than in the shape of candy, fruit, plants or
| fowers.-Cor New York Tribune.
Turkey Quilts for Whalebone.
Yes" said an exporter who was superin.