The Butler weekly times., 1890-01-01
FLIRTATiONS IN RUSSIA.
Business and Politics Discussed by Young
People of Both Sexes.

People of Both Sexes.
OF course iirtations are going on on
every side. There is not a 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
lean Irritation as to 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 10 men alone.
are freely discussed III the family cir
cle-most!y over the tea-ta5.e.
The girls, a. well rs the women, get
to be thoroughly vcrsed and Interested
in the most serious Of life's problems,
and, as occasion offers. turn out splen-
did he!pmcets TO men in all their un-
dertakings No matter what social or
political question is brought upper
most by the times, it is thoroughly
discussed il the presence Of women,
and the mems course frequently is
modified according to the women's
| suggestions. SO, in their illrtatlOnS,
then. the younger the two kindred
| spirits, the more they vie against each
| other in stringing 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,
| however, as q couple of lovers to
an understanding they begin to lay
| plans for life's work in common.
The futurn 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. Aud again, it would
be difficult to find young people in
Russia nowadays who would be will
| ing to pledge their love to one another
forever and ever as was the custom
of sentimental lovers If former times.
| Their acknowledged ambition. how
ever, 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. 1t is understood neverthe-
less that. were a stronger. unconquer-
able passion TO assert itself in either
of the two for another, then the ethics
Of the Young "Intellimcncia" would
command the unloVed husband or wife
to commit peculiar kind of hari-kari
giving his or her partner full liberty
of choice. Though the Greek Church
is strongly set against divorce, and
there is no other hut Church mar
riagcs recognized by Russian laws,
, there is a kind Of pride among liberal-
minded young married people which
| impels them no: 10 impose love and
company on one VINO refuses to appre-
ciate it.
Not long since still stranger ideas
We're popular among the educated
J Russian young people. \ few Years
, ago it was by no means an uncommon
thing for two young enthusiasts tC
marry on q firm understanding never
to assume toward one another the re
lations Of husband and wife. THIS
transaction. though taking the form
OF Il church wedding. was called 4;
''fictitious' marriage, and was gener
ally rcsorted to to help Il liberal
minded maiden who had not ye
> reached her legal majority to throw
off the tutela@e Of unsympathetic par
ents or tutors. ard.to acquire the righ
to dispose Of her estate or her money
| at her own will, since in Russia mar
/ | ried woman-no matter now yOunE
and inexperienced-is perfectly indie
pendent from her husband in her prop
erty righ ts.-N. Y. Star.