The Red Cloud chief., 1898-05-20
''WOMEN'S KINGDOM"
RUSSIA HAS a SETTLEMENT IN
FEMININE HANDS.
Men Absent Most Of the Scar-During
This Time the wives, Mothers aud
s~wrrthcarts Enjoy Themselves ~ Thei-
Cory Clubs.

Champions Of woman's rights will be
glad to know that there IL at least
one part OF the civilized world in which
their theories are accepted as gospel
truth and in which the superiority OF
the gentle sex is amply demonstrated
In the Russian province OF Smolensk.
which is IA prominent country In White
Russia, this interesting state of affairs
exists. Smolensk IL divided into IL
counties or states. and one OF these
states Is 20, erncd wholly by women.
says the New York Telegram. This
state Is known far and wide as The
Womcn's Kingdom" 1t contains sew
cral small towns and it's principal OBJ
ieCt of interest Is the celebrated CON
vent Of neskujow, I o which thousands
OF pilgrims and mendicants used to
wend their way during the last cen
fury. The reason why 1t is called The
WomCn's Kingdom" Is because the en-
tire male population emigrates from
the state each spring. In order to look
for work in SmOlcnsk and in the other
largo uciEhboring cities, and the won
on are left AT home to look after all
state and domestic affairs. The men
are absent from home about nine
months each year. and during that
time the entire work Of the state Is
done 10y the Agriculture Is
tn" great industry of the country and
month after month the stalwart women
labor In the fields. intent on securing
"A good harvest. If they fail dreary
may be their lot during the winter.
for their husbands and brothers do not
always secure rcmunerative work, and
II costs money to live In White Russia.
as everywhere else. But they seldom
fail and the statistics show that in this
respect THE Women's Kingdom" liz
one OF the most prosperous states in
Smolensk. The women also attend to
municipal affairs, and all the local Or
dinanccs and regulations are issued by
them. Each town has it's mayoress
and board Of alderwomcn There are
times when one must coin n word), and
at regular seasons there are communal
assemblies. nj which the adult women
discuss. with becoming seriousness. all
matters of public interest. Business.
however. does not occupy all their
time. l'eing women. they naturally
can no, do without healthy amusement.
and to their credit be II said they man
aye 10 get "A good deal Of fun out OF
life. Instead Of sitting In silence be
side their lonely hparths and bcmoan-
ing the enforced absence of their hus-
bands. brothers and swcethcarts, they
say to themselves: our men don't sit
and moan when they are away from us
and why should We? Let us enjoy our
selvcs'"
Most Of their leisure hours are pass
ed in the club house. one of which is
to he found in each town. Every wom-
an belongs To one OF these clubs, and
most az them spend their time there
from ) o'clock In the evening until
| 30 to . o'clock In the morning. They
talk, sing. drink tea. listen to music,
discuss the fashions and doubtless fire.
quently play a few innocent games OF
cards. They can get the latest news
M the clab. and they are sure to meet
all their friends and acQuaintances
there. II they do not care to indulge
In conversation. they can read the
latest papers there. or they can write
long letters to their absent male rela-
tives. In IL word, the club Is their
second home, and without II II Is diff
cult to see how they could endure their
lonesome life.