The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-02

she cared Tor 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 lovabe ways of the
summer girl OF America. had delightful
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 |
was going through Russia under false pre-
lenses because l had not plain gold ring
on the wedding finger, and she said every
married gentleman in Russia had to wear
one. She spoke English in sweet. broken
way and talked French and German fluently.
Every girl. in fact, In 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 g0vernesses. and she
learns her French, German and English as
child.
Many of the ladies of the higher classes
here have been educated in the colleges of
Europe, and until within few years ago
woman could get a good college education
In Russia. All of the female colleges but
one. however, have been abolished, as the
Government thinks they are the hotbeds of
nlhillsm, and they were closed by the i'm
perlal order about five years ago. In 1872
women's medical college was opened at st.
Petersburg and it had about 400 students.
and during the ten years OF it's existence IL
graduated geo women doctors. twas closed.
however. and though there are some women
who still practice medicine in Russia, the
bulk Of them are permitted to do their work
only as ASSISTANTS aud they are tolerated
only as an experiment.
When the present Gar came to the
throne he prohibited the practice OF medi-
cine by women, but they have been allowed
to practice, though their work is in reality
contrary to the law A large number of
women are schoolteaeherS here in Russia,
and there are 5000 schoolmistresses in the
empire. Women do a great:deal OF business
In the stores. They act as nurses In the
hospitals and Some Of the largest charitable
institutions of Russia are practically man.
aged by women. There is an INSTITUTIONAL
Moscow which is known as THE College
for the Girls of the Nobility" and | under
stand 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 expense of the Gar. l
visited the school here and have never
seen prettler or brighter girls. After their
graduation many of them will become gov
ernesses and others will go into the schools
OF the country to teach.
About twenty years ago some OF the lead
ing women OF Russia were nhilists. and
there arc many free-thinkers among the
Russian ladies of to-day, though 1 have
seen no short-haired women as yet
Alexander Ii, though he was liberal in
other things could not tolerate the short
haired girls, and the free-thinkiDs girls Of
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 sum-
mons from the police. She was terrified,
and she went to the superintendent, who
told her that the Emperor had SAID he was
much Gispleased with her, and she would
have to sign an agreement not TO cut her
hair in the future or go to prison, She
signed the agreement.
1t is generally supposed that these women
of the upper classes of Russia are very loose
in their social relations, and the story has
gone forth that every Russian noble has
mistress in addition TO his wife, and that it
is not uncommon for the wife to have her
lover in addition to her husband. This is
true to a certain extent, but not more so, |
think, than you will find in some of the
other great capitals of Europe. There are
as many faithful wives and husbands in st.
Petersburg as there are in London, and the
fact that 1000 wives care enough for their
husbands to follow them into exile to the
wilds Of Siberia every year shows that mar
ried love is strong in Russia. The Car him.
self is said to be one Of the best husbands
in the world and the conduct of the Empress
is.above reDroach.
FRANK q. CARPENTER.
Moscow, Sep. II.