The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-11
A wOMAN's VIEW OF SIBERIA.
The Russian Peasant Not Downtrod-
den, as So Many Have Described.

Anna N. Benjamin, in Ainslee's Magazine.
Il think that there is great deal of mis-
conception concerning the Russian peasant
He does not present the listless, down-trod-
den, hopeless picture which so many peo-
pie have drawn. Physically he seems al
most peerless. do not refer alone to his
health and strength, for the massive blonde
type is pleasant to look at, and, as a whole
presents more claim to personal beauty
among the men than any other, except, per-
haps. the italian. One element of the more
or less latent power OF the Russian peas
ant is his ability to live in the utmost sim
plicity. His Drawn is produced by the con-
sumption of black bread and sour milk
He requires no luxuries. He is simple and
he is stolid, but not dull In Siberia. at
least, he is contented with his lot; he is
devoted to his family, and shows a never
failing tenderness for his children If he
lacks In enterprise and in business ability
1t must be remembered that he has en-
countered nothing to develop those quail
ties He makes up for this to a certain
greatest curse is drink, which is the beset-
ting sin OF the Russians, but II any race can
stand excuses, they can.
Il have spoken entirely of the peasant,
the moujik, as he is called, yet no descrip-
ton OF the growing population of Siberia
would be complete without reference to the
Cossacks, whom we met at every turn. The
Cossacks are the arms and legs of Russia
while the moujik is the backbone. The Cos
sacks won Siberia for Russia when they
were the daring fringe Of her population.
frequent conflicts with the Tartars who
crowded Russia's borders In them is con-
centrated the enterprise and the aggressive
ness which the mouji1 lacks. They cut the
path and the moujik followed, and the
descendants of these hardy pio-
neers live throughout Siberia to-
day. forming an hereditary military
caste. In every group of people
who crowded to welcome our steamer on
the shore shone the white blouse and kept
or the Cossack, while his sons are dressed
min aft1nn r.snff rf tl.e lii
The military governor at vladivostok is a
Cossack, and several Cossack officers trav-
e.ed for some distance on our steamer.
Their regiment was scattered among the
dinerent villages along the bank. Since
the trouble in the East il has probably been
mustered in and gone to the front. So strict
are the laws of heredity among the Cos
sacks that ii is almost impossible for an Of
fcer who was not born one to obtain a
command in Cossack regiment. i saw
no greater evidence OF Russias admin
istrative ability than the present results
OF turning an almost lawless force into a
loyal and powerful arm of her service.
THE people themselves form the most
Picturesque element OF the Siberian village.
The men wear the Russian cap, and the
blouse, most often of red, while the only
boot that they know comes to the knee,
or above IL. in maniford wrinkles. The
women, In bright print gowns, are mostly
bare-footed. except in winter, and wear a
gay kerchief over the head. But even be-
fore you see the people you are impressed
with the dual spires o. the small Greek
church which rise above each small place,
bringing to this distant land the Russian
message Of Christ and a faint echo OF
Byzantium. In the group on the bank Is
the village pope in a long cassock, his fair
hair falling in silken waves about his
shoulders. / found II impossible to with
hold my admiration for the thoroughness
and the consistency of the Greek Church
Though We may object TO its exclusive
| system, we must admit that there is moth
| ing of the dog-in-the-manger attitude about
| sends also her pope whose life must often
| be dreary exile: the most insignificant
| Siberian village is not without the same re-
| ligious privileges that are TO be obtained
| I'm Russia"