The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-09-04
A Russian Princess on American Man.
nerS.

American society, so far as she has
seen it. is a revelation to la Princesse,
and her observations cannot fail to In
terest the people studied.
"I must be honest if I talk to you,
for we Russians have not the skill
you possess of, will not say dissem-
bling, but giving to a word, letter OF
an opinion a variety of lnterpretatlons,
and you will pardon me If think that
there is far too much freedom IN Amer
lea. do not like it. 1 think IT IS a
menace in many ways. For instance,
I think your children are frlghtfully
reared. They are free from the very
nursery to abuse their nurses, they
. always have their own way from In
start, and the contempt they must feel
and often show their parents is sim
ply disgraceful. AS for disrespect, L
have seen nothing else since came to
the States. This they tell me is free
dom: they call the insolent little girl
Miss Liberty, and her brother the COM
ing president, and this is just the quail
ity of freedom that I never could be-
come accustomed to. have seen a
child not yet seven years OF age order
his father as if he were a servant, 10
bring his puzzle-box from the nursery
that he might show me how to get the
pigs in; at q home where a young lady
sat at her piano practicing singing les
son, the mother of the family was act
ually sent to turn on the heat that the
shameless daughtermight not take coid:
A young man with a soldiers helght
and university training ended an argu-
gument his mother was making, In
this manner: My dear mother, you
don't know what you are talking
about and then proceeded to relate
the occurrence in his own way, and
that too in the presence OF callers.
And so you know tall son who was
being reproved for reported dlscour-
tesy to q young sister, told his mother
to let up.' I never heard such a re-
monstrance before, but by the distress
in the lady's face l knew it must De a
remark of great disrespect. The free
dom of the child amounts to positive
unrestraint in growing manhood and
and womanhood, and though still de-
pendent, sons and daughters have
their own friends, make their own
plans. spend money as they like, go and
come as they please. Not only is tne
boy his own master, but the young
lady is free to accept invitations and
presents from gentlemen, and TO mar
ry, even, when she pleases. The free-
dom that permits her to wound hef
mother is the very same that leads her
to elope with her fathers coachmen
or chairman.
RUSSIAN CHILDREN.
"What are our children like? Like
ladies and gentlemen from the time
they can speak. Instead of waiting
for q child toget old enough for school,
as YOU say here, we provide a govern
ess. and from the very beginning the
little one is taught respect, obedience,
politeness and language. He will nev.
er presume to examine or use any OF
their private belongings without first
getting permission, and at the entrance
of either into room the child rises,
offers his chair with as much Difference
as though in the presence of sovereign
and will remain standing until told TO
be seated. At table the children are
considered last and after the meal each
one thanks the parent for 1t before
leaving the dining room. And a. you
know what the result is? Such life
long devotion and reverence as few
American parents ever receive. Old
mothers and fathers in my country
have the best rooms the incest clothes,
the choicest dishes from the Kitchen,
and every day they are visited by the
children and grandchildren and ell
tertained and favored. In the eve
ming no one is seated before the aged,
and the daughter or guest who plays or
sings always consults their choice"
Princess Engahtcyef.