The Springdale news., 1889-11-08
ELEVATIONS IN RUSSIA.
Business and Politics Discussed By Young
 People of Both Sexes.

Business and Politics Discussed By Young
 People of Both Sexes.
 Of course h,rtations are going on on every side. There is not girl on hand but who. at the end of the sea- son, would have found her special affinity" Yet there is such a radical difference between Russian and Amer ican Irritation as to make the Russian article almost unrecogniZablc to the American. Social life in Rus5ia-even in large centers of population-isc 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 cir cle-mostly over the tca-table.
 The girls, as we'll as the women, get to be thoroughly versed an9 interested in the most serious of life's problems, and, as occasion offers, turn out splen. did helpmeets to mon in all their un. dertakings. No matter what social or political question is brought upper, most by the times. it is thoroughly discussed in the presence of women, and the men's course frequently is modified according to the women'9 suggestions So, in their Airtations. then, the younger the two kindred spirits, the more they vic against each other in stringing up their talk to the most serious topics; their idea is that love may make them womanish and handicap their usefulness in their chosen sphere of action. As soon, however, as a couple of flovers come tc m understanding they begin to lay plans for life's work in common. The futurn does not appear to these enthusiasts in any other form thar that of wide field of duties toward their lower. oppressed brethren. A Russian girl of liberal tendencies seorns the idea Of being supported by her husband And again, it would be difficult to find young people in Russia nowadays who would be will. ing to pledge their love to ono another forever and ever. as was the custom of sentimental lovers of former times. Their acknowledged ambition, how oyer, is to be "honest' before any thing else, and they promise to deal fairly with each other, and not to treat each other with rechauffe sentiment when there is nothing else to offer. When the ardor Of love gives out they are prepared to remain true and fast friends. It is understood neverthe. less that, We're q stronger. uncOnquer able passion to assert itself in either Of the two for another. then the ethie} of the young 'Intelligencia would command the unloved husband or wife to commit peculiar kind of hari-kari giving his or her partner fnlE liberty Of choice. Though the Greek Church is strongly set against divorce, and there is no other but Church mar, riages recognized by Russian laws, there is kind of pride among liberal minded young married people which impels them not to impose love and company on one who refuses to appre ciate it.
 Not long since still stranger ideas were popular among the educated Russian young people. 4 few years ago 1t was by no means an uncommon thing for two young enthusiasts to marry on firm understanding never to assume toward one another the re- latiOns of husband and wife. This transaction, though taking the form of church wedding, was called q "fictitiouso marriage, and was gener- ally resorted to to help a liberal minded maiden who had not yet reached her legal majority to throw off the tutelage of unsympathetic par ents or tutors and to acquire the right to dispose Of her estate or her money at her own will, since in Russia mar. ried woman-no matter how young and inexperienced-is perfectly inde, pendent from her husband in her prop. erty rights. N. Y. Star.