The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-06-26
ODD RUSSIAN CUSTOMS.


Some of the Queer Ways of Catching
Thieves In the Rural Districts.
There is but little demand for de-
tectives i'll some parts of Russia.
Not that the citizens in those parts
are specially noted for the observ-
ance of the cardinal commandments.
The Russian peasant has many ex-
cellent characteristics. He is mus
cular, hardened, courageous, willing
to obey; he can stand all the hard
ships of climate and labor and the
greatest deprivations; he is also nat
urally kind hearted, hospitable and
readily contented with the coarsost
food and the plainest log hut
But there is also dark side to his
character. He will indulge from
time to time in short sprees, when
he exhibits uncomfortable levity,
sens,1ality. and an Unsuitable thirst
for spirituous liquors And these
moral defects are crowned with the
deepest ignorance and superstition.
In some of the rural districts the
latter forms part of the life of the
nushik. He will give greater cre-
dence to the divinations of the char
latan and the ridiculous traditions of
his. locality than to sensible delibera-
ton or the results of experience.
In his farm labors of seedtime and
harvest, of blowing and hay QUITTING
and other tasks, he is not ruled by
the nature of the soil OF climatic con-
ditions, but follows certain days of
his church calendar. He never COM
mences an important job on an un-
lucky day, and there are a great
many unlucky days in the Russian
almanacs.
The belief In sorcerers and witches
Is still in full bloom there. In casual
ties or sickness with man or beast
the Russian farmer knows but one
oracle-the wise old nushik of the
town, who is accredited with super.
natural gifts. He asoribes even tc
himself and his family certain
magic power acquired by strict OBJ
servance of ancient customs and
ceremonies.
Most original are the means he
employs to catch thief suspected OF
belonging to the family circle. Il
anything has been stolen which con
vcys the thought of masculine
thief, he looks all the male members
of his Observation-Disclosures and hired
help-in a dark room. A hen i:
ducked in tub of black SCOT, turned
loose in the dark room, and the door
is kept locked for quarter of al
hour or moro.
The farmers believe positively tina
the hen will take refuge with the in
nocent, but will avoid the guilty
ones. Suddenly the old farmer en-
tors with large torch, and woe t.
the unfortunate individual whose
pantaloons are not besmeared will
SCOT. He is undoubtedly the thief
and if he cannot restore the stole1
/ property he will be compelled to re
fund its value.
In other cases tho loser of articles o
clothing or jewelry balances hou'
sieve on his index finger, and while
doing so he pronounces the name
of his acquaintances. If the slew
threatens to fall at the pronunciation
of any name, its owner is pronounc
ed the culprit.
Still another method Is employee
for the apprehension of thieves. I
bowl is filled to the brim with water
The names of the members of tn
family and acquaintance are writer
on small slips of paper. These ar
rolled up and thrown on the water
surface The paper bits that re
main within the bowl contain tn
names of the innocent. If one o
more fall out, they contain the name
of the thieves, or at least of thos
having a guilty knowledge of th
theft.-Exohange.