The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-05
~WOMENS KINGDOM"
RUSSIA HAS \ SETTLEMENT ~
FEMININE HANDS.
Men Absent Most Of the Ysar-During
TIL. Time the Wives Mothers and
svssthsarts Enjoy Themselves at Their
Cory Ciubs

Champions Of woman's rights will be
glad 70 know that there Ia at least
one part Of the civilized world In which
their theories are accepted az gospel
truth and In which the superiority OF
the gentle sex Is amply demonstrated.
In the Russian province Of Smolensk.
which IL a prominent country In White
Russia, this interesting state OF affairs
exists. smolensk IL divided into ~
counties or states. and one OF these
states ia governed wholly by women.
says the New York Telegram. This
state Is known far and vide as The
Women's Kingdom" II contains sew
eral small towns and It's principal OBJ
ject Of interest Is the celebrated con-
vent Of Beskujow, 20 which thousands
Of pilgrims and mendicants used 10
wend their way during the last cen
fury. The reason why IL IL called The
women's Kingdom" IL because the en-
tire male population emlgrates from
the state each spring. in order 10 look
for work In Smolensk and In the other
large neighboring cities. and the wom-
en- are left at home 70 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 u the state Il
done by the women. Agriculture ID
the great industry Of the country and
month after month the stalwart women
labor IN the fields. intent on securing
a good harvest II they fail dreary
may be their lot during the winter
for their husbands and brothers DO mol
always secure remuneratiye work. ant
Il costs money 10 live In White Russia
as everywhere else. But they seldom
fail and the statistics show that In thl
respect The Womens Kingdom" q
one Of the most prosperous states Il
Smolensk. The women also attend q
municipal affairs. and all the local or
dinances and regulations are issued b.
them. Each town has It's mayores
and board Of alderwomen there ar
times when one must coin a world. an
at regular seasons there are commune
assemblies. az which the adult wome
discuss. with becoming seriousness. al
matters Of public Interest. Buslnes.
however. does not occupy an thei
time Being women. they NATURAL
can not DO without healthy amusement
and 10 their credit be Il said they mau
age 10 get a good deal Of fun out q
life Instead OF sitting In silence b.
side their lonely hearths and bemoar
ing the enforced absence OF their hul
bands. brothers and sweethearts. the
say 70 themselves. Our men don't s
and moan when they are away from q
and why should We? Let us enjoy ou
selves"
Most Of their leisure hours are pas
ed In the club house. one OF which
20 be found In each town. Every won
an belongs 20 one OF these clubs. an
most Of them spend their time the
I from o'clock In the evening uni
i3O 20 o'clock In the morning. Th'
talk. sing. drink tea. listen 10 mus
discuss the fashions and doubtless n
, quently play a few innocent games
, cards They can get the latest ne'
, at the club. and they are sure 20 me
all their friends and acquaintanc
/ there II they do not care 10 indul
In conversation. they can read q
. latest papers there, or they can wrl
long letters to their absent male rel
, tiyes. In word. the club Is N,
second home. and without Il II Is d!i
! cult 10 see how they could endure q,
lonesome life.