Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-09-07

DN ii CuEUdlluleub Oh ClluTCH EXPENSES.
Through generations of life ia Russia,
surrounded by devoteeS OF the Greek
Catholic church, who treated the
Roman Catholic with reyiIement and
contempt, these Russirns preserved
their loyalty to the religion of their
fOrefatherS.
For the greater part, these early
coloniStS could neither read nor write
their own language. To this day many
of them cannot speak a word of the
English language, The younger gen
Grafton, however, is advancing to the
quick beat of American music. They
go to parOchial schools and to the pub
lie schools in their. own villages, and
the young Russian who cannot read
and write little now is very much
the exception. while a few of them
have advanced to the higher educa-
tiOn Of academies and colleges. As an
illustration Of the adaptation Of the
young Russ to American ways it may
be stated that one of the most sue
cesSful commercial travellers in West
ern Kansas was babe in arms with
the first colony which arrived in
Hays. But the old people will never
be aught else than the Russian peas
ant. His idea OF American citizen
ship, in many instances, is to get as
much for his vote as possible. For
the trSt few years after their arrival
the cOlOniStS voted the Republican
ticket, through the influence of Hon.
Simon MOtZ, who ranked with them
as little less than q cOnSecrated king.
Now, however, a Republican Russian
in Ellis county is as hard to find as q
needle in hayStack. 1t soon became
notorious that Russian votes could be
bought, and whenever Republican
secured an election the suspicion at
once attached that he had used money
at the polls, for Ellis county has been
democratic on national issues for
eighteen years.
Indeed, to such an extent has this
vote buying progressed that last falls
candidates on the Republican ticket
were approached by syndicate Of 100
Russian voters, who, for the sum of
$500 offered to vote any names which
might be selected by the men who
''chipped in" to form the vote buying
pool. During an election campaign
in Ellis county whisky flows like
water, for the reason the Russian is
most easily approached through his
appetite for strong drink. Whisky is
the fayOrite beverage among these
colOnists. They keep it in their
houses; no lunch in the harvest field
is complete without jug of Jersey
lightning, and it is the basis of most
of their feStal assemblies. The prob
ability is that more money has gone
out Of Ellis county for liquor than
enough to seed the wheat fields for
the next twenty years.
These curious people transplanted
many of their social and domestic
habits from the steppes of Russia to
the plains Of sunny Kansas. Particu-
larly is this so of their marriage GUS
toms. OF all the social recreatiOns.
INDUCED in by the young and old
alike, the wedding frOlic easily takes
the lead, and no matter how poor the
parties may be. there is always a
feast. with drinks galore, to which all
the villagers are invited.
After an engagement has taken
place between two young people the
bans are cried in the church, old
country fashion, fixing the date of
marriage some three weeks ahead.
The ceremony takes place in the
morning, after which the bride and
groom are escorted back to their
homes by two PROFESSIONS that con-
Quoting the groom being composed Of
all the young girls in the village, who
torment the unlucky fellow with all
sorts Of ridicule, while the bride is
escorted by a crowd of young men.
| These young men raise a terrible din
with guns, horns, tin pans or any
thing else which comes nOiSily to
hand. Next two friends Of the
grOOm'S father make the circuit OF
the village delivering invitations to
the wedding frOlic. Each carries a
walking stick, at each house a bit of
bright cOlOred ribbon is attached to
these sticks in token of an acceptance
Of the invitation. A feast has been
announced at high noon. When the
guests arrive at the house of the
groom they are met at the door by
the latter, who serves each with a
drink of liquor, as sort of starter to
the frOlic.
The bride takes her station within
the door, where she is congratulated
by the guests as they arrive, and re-
ceiveS the presents, which are always
| given. During the feast the groom is
compelled to remain on the outside,
where his male friends continue to
make life a burden to him. After the
! feast dancing commences, to music
made by viOlins and dulcimerS No
| Russian orchestra is complete with
gives dash and nerve to the quick
pOlkas, which are principally danced.
Guests of honor, usually Americans
from Hays, are expected to dance
with the bride, and then, in turn,
with each bridesmaid. 1t is point
of etiquette that the guest SO honor
shall dance three continuous polkas
with the bride and each of her maids,
and many is the poor town dude who
has narrowly escaped dancing into a
premature grave at a Russian we'd
ding, This dance is kept up all night.
One great combination, served to
guests who are not acquainted with
the power which turks in it's seduct-
! iveneSS, is mixture of sWeetened tea
and whisky. Another is drink call
ed ''quast," which is sour home
brew, which possesses all the exhilar-
ating effects of blue ribbon BudweiSer.
1t is not an uncommon thing for
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