The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-09
FLIRTATIoNs IN RUSSIA.
Business and Political Questions Dis
cussed by Young People Of Both
Fron q N - So

From the NelU YORK. Star.
Ot course firtations ara going on on
every side, There is not "A girl on hand but
VINO, at the end Of the season, would have
found her special ''atiuity." Yet there is
such radical difference between Russian
and American filtration as 10 make the
russian article almost unrecognizable to
the American. Social life in Russia-even
IN large centerS of population-is cast on
such lines as constantly to throw the men
and women together; family men are in
the habit of bringing their unmarried
friends to their homes. Here social and
business questions. as well as politics, all such
topics as are considered of interest to men
alone, are freely discussed in the family
clIcie-mostly over the tea-table
The girls as well as the women get to be
thoroughly versed and interested in the
most serious of life's problems, and, as oc-
caslon offers, turn out splendid helpmeets
TO men IN all their undertakings. No mat
Ter what social or political question is
brought uppermOst 10y the times, it is
thoroughly discussed in the presence of
women, and the mems course frequently is
modified according to the women's sugges-
lions. So, in their flrtations. then. the
younger the two kindred spirits, the more
they VIE against each other ia stringines
up their talk to the most serious topics :
their idea is that love may make them
womanlSh and handicap their usefulness in
their chosen sphere of action. As soon. how
ever, as couple of lovers come to a. I'M
de standing, they begin to lay plans for a
mes work in common. The future does
not appear to these enthusiasts in auv
other form than that of a wide field of
duties toward their lower, oppressed breth-
rem. A Russian girl of liberal tendencies
scorns the idea of being ''supported''
by her husband. And agoia, it would
be difficult 10 find young people in
Russia nowadays who would be willing
to pledge their love to one another "for-
ever and ever" as was the custom Of senti-
mental lovers of former times. Their &C.
knowledged ambition, however, is to be
"nonest" before anything else. and they
promlse TO deal fairly with each other, and
not to treat each other with rechautfe sem
tlment when there is nothing else TO offer
When the ardor of love gives out they are
prepared 10 remain true and fast friends. 1t
is understood nevertheless that, were a
stronger, unconquerable passion to assert
itself In either of the two for another.
then the ethics of the young "Inteligelcian
would command the unloVed husband or
wife to commit a peculiar kind of hari-kari
giving his or her partner full liberty of
choice. Though the Greek church is strong
ly set against divorces, and there is no other
but church marriage recog azed
by Russian laws, there is a kind of
pride amo g liberal-mi ,ded young married
people which impels them not to impose
love and company on one who refuses to ap-
preciate it,
Not long since still stranger ideas were
popular among the educated Russian young
people. A few years ago it was by no
means an uncommon thing for two Young
enthusiasts to marry on a firm u lderstan
ing never to assume toward one another
the relation of husband and wife. This
transaction, though taking the form of a
church wedding, was called Fictitious
marriage and was generally resorted to to
help liberal-mieded maiden who had not
yet reached her leg al majority to throw off
The tutelage Of unsympathetic parents or
tutors, aad to acquire the right to dispose
OF her estate or her money a. her own will,
since in Russia q marrlel wonau-no mat
ter how young and inexperie lcei-is per-
fectly independent from her husba nd in he
property rights.