Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-13
FLIRTATIONS IN RUSSIA.
business and Political Questions Discussed
by Nnmn. Hennle of Both Sexes.

by Young People of Both Sexes.
OF course ttlrtatiOnS are going on IN every
side. There is not girl ON hand but who.
al the end of the season. would have found
her special affinity Yet there Is such
a radical difference between Russian and
American Irritation as to make the Russian
article almost unacceptable to the
American. Social life in Russis-even in
large centers of population-iS cast on such
lines as constantly to throw the men and
women together; fanlily 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 circle
mostly over the tea-tabe
The girls, us well as the women, get to
be thoroughly versed and interested in the
most serious of life problems, and, as oc-
casion offers, turn ont splendid helpmeets
to men in their undertakings. No matter
what social or political question is brought
uppermost by the times. it is thoroughly
discussed in the presence of women. and
the men 5 course frequently is modified ac-
cording to the women 5 suggestions. SO.
in their firtations. then, the younger the
two kindred spirits, the more they vie
against each other III Stringing up their
talk to the most serious topics; their idea
is that love will make them wOmanish and
handicap their usefulness in their chosen
sphere of action. As soon. however. as Il
couple of lovers come to an understanding.
they begin to lay plans for life's work in
common. The future does not appear to
these enthusiasts in any other form than
that of a wide field of duties toward their
lower oppressed brethren. A Russian
girl of liberal tendencies scorns the idea of
being supported by her husband. And
again it would be difficult to find young
people in Russia nowadays who would be
willing to pledge their love to one another
forever and ever, as was the custom of
sentimental lovers of former times. Their
acknowledged ambition, however, is to be
honest before anything else, and they
promise to deal fairly with each other, and
not TO treat each other with rechauffe SEN
timent when there is nothing else to offer.
When the ardon of love gives out they are
prepared to remain true and fast friends
1t is understood nevertheless that. were a
stronger. mconquerable passion to assert
itself i'll either of the two for another,
then the ethics of the young "Intelligen-
cha would command the unloved husband
or wife to commit a peculiar kind of hari-
kari-giving him or her partner full liberty
of choice. Though the Greek church is
strongly set against divorce and there is no
other but church marriage recognized by
Russian laws, there is a kind of pride
among liberal minded young married people
which impels them not to impose love and
company on one who refuses to appreciate
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 firm understand
ing never to assume toward one another
the relations of husband and wife. This
transaction. though taking the form of
church wedding, was called fictitious
marriage, and was generally resorted to to
help a hberal-minded maiden who had not
yet reached her legal majority to throw off
the tutelage Of unsympathetic parents or
tutors. and to acquire the right to dispose
of her estate or her money at her own will,
since in Russia a married woman-no
matter how young and inexperienced is
perfectly Independent from her husband in
her property rights.