Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-01


The women Of the higher classes Of Russia
are among the best educated and most intelli-
gent women Of the world met a sweet little
Russian on the Volga steamboat Missouri who
told me she liked philosophy better than fiction
and that the only novels she cared for were those
she could have in her own life. She was on
her way to the summer resorts in the Caucasus
and she had the same loving and lovable ways
of the summer girl of America. had delight
full time with her until / happened to mention
that was married and then she forsook me for
the bachelor from America who was travelling
with me. She rather thought l was going
through Russia under false pretenses because
had not plain gold ring on the wedding finger,
and she said every married gentleman in Rus
STA had to wear one. She spoke English In a
sweet broken way and talked French and Ger
man fuently. Every girl, In fact, in a well-to-
do family in Russia begins to prattle in foreign
languages almost as soon as she cuts her first
teeth. She has three or four governesses and
she learns her French, German and English as
a child.
EDUCATION.
Many OF the ladies' Of the higher classes here
have been educated in the colleges of Europe,
and, until within a few years ago, woman
could get good college education in Russia.
All of the female colleges but one, however,
have been abolished, as the government thinks
they are the hot beds OF nihilism, and they were
ago. In 1872 q womans medical college was
opened at st. Petersburg and it had about
400 students, and during the ton years of
its existence it graduated 600 women doc
tors. 1t was closed, however, and
| though there are some women who still practice
medicine in Russia, the bulk of them are per-
mitted to do their work only 40 assistants. and
they are tolerated only as an experiment. When
| the present car came to the throne he prOhib-
tied the practice Of medicine by women, but
they have been allowed to practice, though
their work IL in reality contrary to the law. A
| large number Of women are school teachers
here in Russia, and there are 5000 school
| mistresses In the empire. Women do
a great deal of business in the stores.
| Ticy act as nurses in the hospitals
and some Of the largest charitable institutions
Of Russia are practically managed by women.
known as The College for the Girls of the
| Mobility" and l understand that this
| institution has branches in other parts OF
the empire. 1t is for the poorer classes of
the mobiles, and the girls are taught at the ex-
pense Of the car. / visited this school here
and have never seen prettier or brighter
girls. After their graduation many Of them
will become governesses and others will 60 into
the schools Of the country to teach.
SHORT HAIRED WOMEN.
| About twenty years ago some Of the leading
women of Russia we're nihilists, and there are
many free thinkers among the Russian ladies OF
today, though 1 have seen no short-haired women
as yet. Alexander II, though he was liberal in
other things, could not tolerate the short
girls, and the free-thinking girls Of his time
| had a costume of their own. and one day one OF
them met him on the street. She bowed to him
as he passed by and he, looking very curiously
at her, returned her salute. The next day she
received a summons from the police. She was
terrified, and she went to tho superintendent,
who told her that the emperor had said he was
much displeased with her and she would have
to sign an agreement not to cut her hair in
the future or 60 to prison. She signed the
agreement.
1t is generally supposed that these women Of
the upper classes Of Russia are very loose in