The record-union., 1895-03-06
RUSSIAN COUNTRY LIFE
The Chateaus of the Mobiles and Their
Management and Pleasures.


To anyone accustomed to the many
sldedness OF country life in England and
America, with its varied social inter-
course. no contrast could be more strik-
ing tnan that which exists in the rural
o!stficts In Russia. Society there is di-
Vlded there into three absolutely distinct
classes: nrst, the wealthy titled nobility,
VINO are the principal land owners and
olten possess large tracts of forest and
other land; next, the little mobiles, who
are untitled, generally landless, and often
as Ignorant as and poorer than the peas
ants, Tor whom, however, they profess the
greatest contempt; and thirdly, the peas
ants themselves. They have many priv
lleges and are quite independent of the
other two classes. Each family possesses
us own plot of ground, granted by the
government, and every householder has
tne right to vote for members of local
village parliament, elected from their
own body every three years. In this par
lament laws concerning the government
of the village and its taxation are made
and discussed with as much party feeling
as elsewhere. They have also the right
to elect peasant Mayor and three peas
ant Judges, by whom all civil and Grim
lnal cases are tried and decided, prison
being also provided. in which their sem
tences are carried out.
Ihe peasants are, of course, numeri-
cally the most important class in Russia
The empire, with the most autocratic
Government in Europe, is pre-emi-
nently peasant empire. Nearly ninety
persons out of every hundred belong to
the moujik class. OF the inhabitants Of
the entire empire, over 86 per cent. are
engaged in agriculture, no fewer than
364, 100000 acres being now the property
OF the peasants From this fact it will be
seen they are not neighbors to be de-
spised. This Notwithstanding, the chat
eau and it's Inhabitants are very consid-
erable factors.
a Russian chateau, standing on the
border OF vast pine forest eighty kilo-
meters from the nearest visiting neighbor.
might be thought to be a very gloomy
abode. No mistake, however, could be
greater. 1he majestic beauty of the lofty
pines, contrasting with the rich foliage of
the oak, beech and other trees, cannot
be surpassed. Russian hospitality, too,
IS proverbial, and during the summer the
chateau Is filled with a succession of
delightful guests, when long carriage
drives IN the forest and excursions on the
lakes make the time pass rapidly enough.
There is also excellent fishing and
abundance of game to tempt the sports
man. CapercallZies as big as turkeys,
partrldges, Russian grouse and wild
ducks and geese are plentiful, besides the
golden aureole, the night-jar, the shrike,
and many others.
The chateau itself, which may be re-
garded as a good specimen OF houses OF
the same class in Russia, is large and
solid structure, very comfortable and e1-
ceedingly picturesque, being built OF
dark wood, with gables and balconies
curiously carved in old Russian designs.
The balconies are very large and form
delightful slttlng-rooms in the heat of
summer. Although the drawing and re-
ceptlon-rooms and well-hlled library are
furnished with all the comfort that mod
ern luxury can provide, native village in
dustries have been neglected. The fax
for the sheet and table linen is all
home-spun and woven in the village
looms. beautifully drawn lace work, of
the most curious and elaborate de-
signs, fully yard wide, for the cur
tains and bed covers, are a village
manufacture. Many of the carpets,
almost Turkish in appearance, are
made in neighboring village, while
curiously wrought silver and enameled
goods, painted boxes and furniture, all
the products of peasant industries, have
been brought from distant provinces of
the empire, and would delight the heart
Of collector.
Outside the chateau all is in keeping
with the interior. The gardens are
bright with a profusion of summer
flowers. The extensive hothouses and
well kept grounds make one think more
OF an English country house than a
dwelling in the depths of a Russian
forest. Green lawns and pleasant drives
stretch for miles among the forest trees,
and succession of winding lakes, bor-
dered with well-grown trees that cast
their bright reflections into the mirror
below. With such delightful surround
1ngs Russian chateau should be charm
ing dwelling, but as a contrast to all
this there generally comes a "but" when
describing too-long list of pleasures),
the one thorn in the flesh, the ''Naboth's
vineyard'' to the Russian proprietor,
stands the peasant villaga, i'll a
corner OF the grounds, few hum
dred yards only from the mansion. Even
the most ideal English hamlet, situated in
the corner of a gentleman's park, would
hardly be source of pleasure; but
Russian village, with its independent
form of local government, its self-made
laws and regulations, besides being used
by the Government from time to time as
conscript station for men and horses,
must be terrible trial to the most pa
tient of land owners.
This real grievance, however, exists on
nearly all the large estates, the Govern
ment having decided at the emancipation
that the serfs should retain the villages
that the proprietors had provided for
them, to which large piece of land was
added by compulsory purchase as
freehold for the peasants, not half the
real value of the land being given in
many cases. In spite of all, however,
though the ukase of the Emperor
had abolished serfdom, the old rela-
tions between the peasants and their
former masters in a great measure still
exists, upon this estate at least. The
chateau is their one unfailing resort in
time OF need. Tim Der, to build their cot
tages and to burn, is freely given. as be-
fore; and all their numberless daily
wants, as far as can be, are supplied.
Many of the old customs also are
still kept up by the peasants, such as
voluntary offerings, at seed and har-
vest time, of a bowl OF grain or
a crown of wheat ears, symbol
ical in themselves of the teudal times
that exist no longer. The too-near neigh
borhood of their villages is all that is
objected to by he mobiles.
browns BRONCHIAL TToCHEs" are
Il