The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-06-26

London, June 25.-The famine in tie
seven provinces of East European Russia
is sinking the wretcl.ed peasantTy deeper
and deeper into their misery. They need
about a penny a day to live on, aud there
are not nearly enough pennies TO so
around. for IN q population of 100000
more than 100000 are hungry every hour
of their lives The actual starvation in the
afflicted territory is said by those WHO
know the situation to be immeasurably
worse than the much-pitied famine OF
1ssl-92.
During the next three months 7,5Oo,0 900
roubles a month will be required to keep
the majority of those famishing peasants
alive. exclusive of medicaments wherew.tl
to meet the terrible ravages of disease.
According to the lowest calculation, / 12
roubles month, little more than cents
a day. will be necessary to support one
person, so that quite q, SOC, 000 roubies will
be required. All that has hitherto been
given by the Emperor and Empress tsome
$500. eco roubles). the Red Cross Society
and private persons, and what is still INV
Ing in frcm various Independent sources
will be utterly inadequate TO provide for
all the necessities of the situation. and
most of il must have already besn spent.
The authorities everywhere seem to lave
shown themselves quite unpTepared and
unable to deal with the calamity by any
practical and effective general organiza-
tion. and this must always be the case as
long as the local so-called sef-g government
institutions are deprived of all initiative
and freedom and everything is concen-
trated in ST. Petersburg. There is bitter
complaint that the Government is lending
the peasantry through the Zemstvos seed
corn at famine prices. The grain is being
bought at present market prices, which are
half as high again as those OF ordinary
times. and the peasants are expected TO re-
turn as much as will be worth The sum OF
money now being expended In this way
they will be required. If ever they are able,
10 pay back more corn than they now Ie-
ceive.
More than one-third of the vast region
is left untitled and barren. Other char
ecteristic features Of Russian admins
trative methods are described by people
on the spot. For instance, large num-
bers OF men are being kent away from
labor OH their fields just at the time when
this is most necessary by employment on
relief work of no immediate importance.
A correspondent has seen 500 peasants
thus engaged in making road, being at
tracted by the comparatively high pay. in
stead of being assisted to cultivate their
land for the next harvest. Fortunately
for the poor sufferers there are many
undetermined Russians, especially ladies
of the highest society, who are contribut-
ing largely from their private fortunes,
and devoting themselves personally TO the
task of alleviating the distress. Miss
Vasiltchikcf. a maid of honor TO the
Empress Princess Dolgorouky, and
Countess BobrikOff have gone TO the fam
inc districts. Princess Lieyen has taken
under her charge no fewer than forty
villages in the Chistopol district Of Kazaa.
where. thanks to her care and superinten-
dence, scurvy has been warded or while
in the southern part OF the same district
there is not village without it. Countess
Carlow. the morganatic wife Of one Of ths
sons Of the Grand Duke Of Mecklenburg
Strslitz, has also organized q relief party.
Another party OF volunteers has gone
among the Tartars Of the KaZan Govern
ment accompanied by several Englishmen,
and from one Of these comes a most pa
thetie description of the village in which
they have settled down TO work. The de-
tails he gives are too narrowing for pub
licat:on. and it is really unnecessary to
quote them, for they can add nothing to
the stern significance of a statement made
10y Russian OF authority in the district
above referred to, viz. that not one child
Lorn there this year is alive.
RusSia and Bremen ut Odds.
The Cars Government is in conflict
with the free Hanseatic town of Bremen,
which refuses 10 pay compensation for the
arrest of a Russian pope accused of theft
on an Atlantic liner some months ago.
TAinlnrunriN al inns hax
By the recall Of the Russian Minister (non-
residenD and the withdrawal of the Rus
Sian Consul's powers. There is no dan
ger OF an army being sent from Bremen
TO sack ST. Petersburg, because the burgh-
ers. according to the constitution Of the
German Empire, have no right TO carry
on war. Russia, however. is not bound
by the German constitution. and could
at any moment land forces at Bremerha-
ven 10 obtain satisfaction and punish the
Bremen people by capturing the city hall
and emptying the famous wine cellars OF
the Rathhaus. II the Russian Govern
ment has not been misrepresented there is
no intention at St Petersburg to proceed
10 such extremes. and the only practical
outcome of this international rupture will
be 10 attract attention to the opera bouffe
character OF the diplomatic rights of the
smaller German States.
workmens dwellings have been under
discussion in castle and cottage through
out Germany during the past week A pri.
vate speech. reported to have been made By
the Emperor, started the matter During
visit to the estate at Cadinen which
was presented to him by Herr Birkner. b,
is reported TO have said that the piggerie.
were Teritable palaces as compared will
the laborers' dwellings in the eastern
provinces. and to have added that such
state of things cannot continue. The opin
ion attributed to His Majesty is by nj
means palatable to the Agrarians. who de
clare that the Emperor cannot possibly
have spoken as reported. In the Reich.
stag Herr Singer the Socialist orator
quoted His Majesty's utterances TO the dis
comfture OF the Junkers. who retortsd b,
describing the town workmens dwelling
as even more disgraceful than those pro.
vided by the landowners for the rural Ia
borers. That the proletarian element il
Germany. whether rural or urban. is badl!
housed is undeniable. Count Klinkoxstrou
asserted in the Reichstag that on rura
property belonging 10 the city OF Berlin
eight married couples sleep in one room
during the harvesting season, and. thougl
the city fathers contest the statement, i
is borne out by other witnesses. In tn
villages of the eastern provinces IL Is b.
no means uncommon for three generation
to occupy a cottage composed OF a singh
room. Such men as Pastors Wagner an
Witienberg say that the immortality tha
is admittedly so general In Germany is
in a large measure distinctly traeeable I,
the shameful housing OF the poor. II
what horrible dens the urban poor dwell
Is known only TO the police officers calle,
n-fr vfafH .