The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-03

OF Europe. The line Russia crossed
as early as the 10Th century, but the
Gospel was not To clear place for her
In the family into which II had intro
duced her. The crash comes 20 her by
another road, from ByZanteum, not
from Rome and thus the very bond
which appeared TO link her TO Europe
was In reality 20 hold them apart"
developing still further the story OF
Russia, Miss Atkins described the
reign OF the Variagi, of Olga. Sviato-
slof and Vladimir and passing TO the
18TH century. the paper continues: I'm
the 18th century Russia suffered an un-
precedented misfortune. 1t was invad-
Cd anu subtugated by Asiatc hordcs,
which retarded its development by
many centuries. In those times, say the
Russian chronicles. there came upon
us for our sins unknown nations. God
alone knew who they were, God and
perhaps wise men learned In books,
When we think of the horror OF the
whole or Europe at the arrival OF the
Mongols we may imagine the terror OF
the Russians. They bore the first shock
OF those mysterious foemen who were.
so the people whispered, Cog and Ma
gog, who were 10 come at the end of
the world, when Antichrist is to de-
stroy everything. This terrible invasion
and the repeated pillages, the third of
which was most terrible, when even the
tombs were desecrated, snapped the
thread of Russias destlnies. Never yet,
was nation put through such school
OF patience and abject submission. but
upon the politics of Russia the Tartar
domination had two effects-the coun-
try which was falling TO pieces was
bound together by foreign oppression
as by a chain of iron. 1t also strength
ened autocracy." The paper concludes
thus: What attitude is Prussia to as
Gc Ie ah ~
slider herself Europe's pupil. as such
To submit TO Western schooling lmita-
ting and adapting Western things? or
is she 10 proclaim herself a stranger TO
the West and give up borrowing things
which suit neither her genius nor her
temperament and stands up unfetter-
ed. once more her own self?
''On the way this question Is decided
depends an the syiews the Russians
shall hold on their civil and political
life.
Between these two parties, growntall
under the cover of their wrangles Nj
hilism stands up. Nihilsm which sports
the armor of both. and taking the neg
ative portion of both their doctrines.
denies Russia In one breath and the
West with the next"
THE Social Glasses of Russia" was
the subject of an exhaustive and eX-
tremely interesting paper by Miss Mary
G.. Blake.
Miss Blake said in beginning "Thc
most salient fact TO the observer is the
division of Russias population into
distinct groups or neatly defined
classes. for a long time called castles.
Russia. from distance looks like
pyramid i'm stages. as history and law
have divided the people into compart-
ments, supersposed like tiers which
from base TO summit go tapering off
ahr tIxy -
plan dream, where every man at birth
finds his place and pursuits marked Qua
for hsm by law but on closer view wa
find it quite different. and under Alexan-
der III. Russia became a modern coun-
try.
''The town population ever since Pc
ter T. and Catherine H. has been classed
under five or six rubrics themselves
divided into two main categories, the
wholesale and retail traders the
wholesale traders forming a superior
class, which was long privileged one,
and the retail traders the mechanics
of all sorts. divided into the members
OF trade corporations. and the miscel-
lany. "A sort Of town rabble VINO do NOS
fit into any particular class"
OF the social condition OF the Russia
of today, the paper continues; 1T is
education. manners, the degree OF cui-
tire which keep tho different classes
of society separate. The nobility which
has long had the monopoly or European
instruction. continues TO live apart from
the merchants and a middle class.
whose wealth has not yet lifted over
the threshold of culture.
I'm large cities OF Russia, there are
always two clubs. one for the nobility
the other for the merchants. These
two classes. socially, form two separate
towns which mix very little i'm private
fnst.,re I'm hDi
There are. however signs or n changs
i'm the near future.
"The nobility and the bourgeoisi6
now meet not only i'm public assemblies
TO deliberate on the affairs of town ana
province. but begin 10 draw nearer TO-
gether by manners. tastes and culture.
the one becoming more national IN"
other more European"
Miss Blakes description Of the posi-
tion of the modern Russian merchant.
as compared with that OF the old time
merchant was interesting. In thess
DAYS r1e find him anXious-to give up an
cestrai customs and initiate the nobility
and assume French fashions. Palatia'
houses are his. luxurlously " not taste
fully furnished. His sons learn French
and travel abroad. and after coming
home continue TO get admitted 10 tho
drawing rooms Of the nobility. An IN"
| congruous element between these two
types was described. ViZ.:-the tfades-
man who has made money, In love with
modern luxury and yet unable to get
used to IL. always III az ease in his own
home and his own clothes.
Next to the czar," continues the pa
per. Stands the nobility-the strongest
prop OF the absolute throne. Nowhere
| else is the autocratic class so separate
and distinct from the mass OF the ma
tion. They are the only class enoyinn
| the personal right. and this only WITH
reference to the czar."
| 4 At this point the class distinctions
regarding nobility. the hereditary ana
| the personal mobiles. together with
| rights and titles descending TO the chill
| dren. were described.
The interesting fact was also broueht
| out. that the nobility. holding as they
| do All the administrative offices and al
| so elective. dependent on the car Tor
| not only social position, hut for main
tainance. are oftepAcompelled to bear
patiently and with mute submissions
| the most CALLING wrongs and insults.
| Thus. the nobility Is IN false position.
4, privileged, but without enjoying inde-
! ncndcnce, dignity or freedom"
| Passing from the higher classes or