The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-13
TIE nriuoBoRs.
Something of the Disciple. of Tolls
!. tot NcccntIy landed.

~ A
Austin, Texas February u.-Dr- Hal
sted, professor OF mathematics In the UNI
yersity OF Texas, talks interestingly OF
strange sect of people, known as the Dur !
hobors, or Spirit Wrestlers. who have Just
arrived In America. They have been saved
by the Tolstoi fund. Or. Halsteds Interest
in the matter is due TO his correspondence
with Count Tolstoi growing out of his
translation of .sfaster and Man" by that
author. Speaking Of tho puhobors, DR..
Halsted said. &&
The arrival on the shores of our West
ern continent Of 1900 Duhobors. to be
quickly followed by 1000 more. all saved
from the munching NOW of the Russian
bear after Incredible prosecutions, ie SO
momsntous an event as to have aroused IN
tense interest.
As speit in the papers the name Duho-
bprs would be inevitably mispronounced
THE root of the word Tor spirit Is spelt In
Russian with three letters, of which the
first is d, the second II With the sound OF
90. the third Il letter which does not exist
IN English, sounding between our u ana
the CHI In the German word ich. TO dsttn-
guish this from the Russian letter which
has the sound OF ch In chicken, 1t Id
technically transliterated kh; but IL has no
perceptible sound OF X. and for purL/seH
Of English pronunciation Is best trans
liberated by our h alone. In fact, the
dreaded political police of Russia actual.
used this letter as the initial in theil
phonetic transcription Of my3 own name
there being no simple h In Russian
These Duhobors are branded by tn
Greek Catholic church as heretics, charged
with denying the divinity of the Hol.
Ghost. The charge is true. In belief tn
nd ~
Quaker, who takes as guide for practic
the actual worlds Of Jesus OF Nazareth q
reported In the four gospels. Consequent
he will not fight, and this is his speclh
offense against the Russian government
Very ille seal was the welcome gl,e
them to America in st. Johns barber. Ne
Brunswlok, where, as they stood on "a
decks singing their hymns to the Prince {
Peace wA.le tho people on the shol
waved their handkerchiefs Ia greeting IN
canpons OF the harbor, ayinbals OF hateli
war suddenly belchcd disoord.
The Outdoors in Russia are PIX
turesque people, tho men and boys ella
In goat or sheep skin coata and caps; Il
women in skirts OF bright red or blu
heavy black jacketD and colored shawl
which they put over the head, like II
Spanish montlla, There We're six ma
riages on the voyage over here, and OF
girl baby was born aud was Immediate
christened Miss Canada Upon arriving
ST. John eleven more couples were ma
ried Two Russian philanthropists, u
Alexis Bacunine, graduate OF the Tn
yeraity OF Moscow, and Marie Cauz train
nurse. escaped from Russia disguised as
brother and sister and caught the steam
nj Constantinope, They can never now Z
turn.
The Duhobors never worry. IT Is contra
10 their religion. They weave their clio
with primitive locking spinning whe
from the wool Of their hocks, then dye
tho brightest colors, in which they delig
Prince HillSov met them at Halifax Ask
why there We're 50 few old people O
little babies, tine prince answered ys
simply: persecution, suffering, exposu
They are all dead" Their singing is dirt
Ike and sad In tono, n psalm OF sorro,
Tho second steamer full OF these mode
Christian martyrs arrived OH Halifax
January ~. but Il case OF smallpox In
child will now detnin them at quarant
for the next three weeks. In charge
them Is Count Serge Tolstoi. eldest son
tho famous ideal!sE