New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
THE DOUKHOBORS.
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS OF THE COLO
NIsTs IN NORTHWESTERN CANADA.


The Doukhobors are Russian Quakers. vino be
| cause they refused TO do military service or
form 10 the doctrines of the Orthodox Church.
We're subjected severe persecution. The
originated in Southern Russia century and a half
and early in the present century il exiled
TO the Caucasus. which was then outlying por-
/ ton OF the Cars domains. When. about twenty
years ago. that region brought into closer re-
/ lations with the central power a demand to
serve In the army made upon them. and being
met with refusal was followed by savage punish
ment.
Count Tolstoi and ether Russians who were inter
ested in them finally secured permission for the
remnant that survived persecution to seek homes
! elsewhere, and Canada having offered them shell
/ ter the funds necessary TO bring them here
raised by English and American Qua1ers and last
spring they brought this country and settled
/ IN colonies in the Northwest. These Doukhobors
! number 1851 souls, mostly women. There not
more than 100 men many OF the heads of the
families being exes in Siberia with little likelihood
Of ever again seeing their wives and children Aged
people are not numerous few having survived the
! hardships of recent years; and there Is also
! mark2ble absence CT children. This is due to
/ resolution made by the and during the
height OF the persecution not to bring babies into
/ the world until a better future for them
! assured
These people all came originally from the neigh
! borhood Of Batoum, though some mad gone first
/ Cyprus. where unsuccessful attempts made to
! found colony. The climate found to be too
unhealthy. and the settlers joined their brethren IN
/ tdnaCar ErlnSlng with them low mal2rial fever
tha1 has spread throughout the settlements and
casiOned some loss Of life They taken 10 the
Yorkton district in Assiniboia, two hundred
/ miles northwest of Winnipeg. and there were 10
Gated in a series Of eight colonies. covering
! OF about eighteen square miles. The country is
prairie. broken by numerous bluffs. covered with
popars and stunted trees: the soil is Of the
best and, being far north the climate is subject
great extremes of heat and cold. Each colony has
been subdvided into number Of communal vii
lagos Altogether there in the Yorkton district
fftyseven villages with a population OF ZOO
Another lot Of Doukhobors who came in during the
summer are settled further TO the west. They came
from the Kars district of the Caucasus, and in
much better condition than the Others having been
treated with more humanity by the Russian author
tiles. They number about seventeen hundred souls
There still remain in Russia 1S7 families, but they
are 10 be brought out during the coming summer.
The entire Doukhobor sect will then have been
brought from Russia 70 Canada.
INITIAL. DIFFICULTIES
Their first twelve months nearly past
and most Of the initial difficulties in a fair way
of being overcome AS the families were
settled in their new homes the men sought employ
ment with the English farmers and with lumber
men and railway contractors. They are excellent
workers being industrious by nature and of very
staIwart physique, IN spite OF their habits.
and plenty of employment forthcoming. A few
stayed home to help the women break the
stubborn soil and put IN first crop OF vegetables.
There was great shortage of horses and oxen, a
single being called upon IN 10 do
the work for a entire community. In one village
where neither horses oxen could be had for
agricultural purposes. they being engaged in the
vitality important work OF hauling supplies from
Yorkton the hitched themselves 10 the
plough and IN that way considerable area of land
was placed under cultivation
Much apprehension felt TO how they
would stand the rigors of the Northwestern win
ter. but a letter from the Government Conmis-
sioner Of Immigration says that, barring a few
cases OF Cyprus fever everything is going well
ayad falin n- rha
men has tided them the winter, with the as
sistance Of friends in Eastern Canada and the
United States. The Quakers Of Philadelphia sent
TWO delegates in the fall investigate the settle
rnents. and their report have forwarded money
to buy a large OF horned stock and great
quantities of wool 10 be woven into cloth spin
ming wheels and looms that have been donated by
the women Of Eastern Canada The Doukhobor
women very skilful in the manufacture OF
homespun. but they obliged TO leave their
wheels behind in Russia Under the auspices of
taken up in Toronto and AiontreaI with the result
thar carload OF wheels and looms has been
shipped TO YOTktOn. carload of box stoves has /
also been sent up the eartheE ovens OF the Doak
the low temperatures OF the prairie country.
NEW CONDITIONS NET
Although shielded 10 some extent from the innu-
ences OF their environment by their custom of Iiv-
ing in communities, the Doukhobors are adjusting
themselves with good deal OF rapdity to the con-
ditions Of life in he Northwest The men who have
been working in the English settlements and the /
young who have been engaged as servants /
by the farmers wives have learned the English /
tongue in Of fashion The young men and
women pick it Up with great facility During the |
winter Two youHg men from each settlement have
been attending English schools in the neghborhood.
soon English Will be in common They are /
rapidly discarding their distinctive dress the prin-
cpal feature Of which was the karass long sheep
skin coat These being replaced by ordinary /
oYercoais Many OF iheTn are also abandoning their
vegetarian tablts, Wfllch is not 10 De wondered
in view of the need Of warmth giving food for the
winter aorzoveF vesetaTlaillsIa has oeen tenet
OF sect TOT d rev years tIlyr ana not having
behind II the weight of traditional usage is the
more Ieaully gwen up Fl5h are very plentiful IN
the rivers running through the settlements, and /
they caught and consumed in large quantities. (
Il is not thought that large proportion OF the
DoukhoboTs will persist in their refusal partake
OF animal food.
The Doukhobors are communists. Originally the
whole sect was regarded as one huge family. but /
il found Inpra cttcable TO administer affairs
of many people from a common centre and
eacn village constitutes separate commune All /
the earnings into common purse, and
tngs OF the contributors the details Of expendi- /
lures arranged. To is given the task (
buying supplies. another is ntrusted the care OF
that break the land. $ IN. q
minute subdivision labor and responsibility be- /
bakehOuse, with immense ovens of earth. in /
which is baked The hard sour bread which is their
cooked wild cherries and berries being mixed in |
the dough 10 flavor them. While in most cases |
the villages large buildings occupied by number /
Of families Such building consists of a large /
centre. while around the walls immense hunks. |
each supplying sleeping accommodations for a
The communal system will be persisted in no /
doubt. during the early days Of the settlement, In
be : readily met but as has been the case with /
the kindred people. the Menn0nites. individual own /
Already the Swan River settlement four OF the !
younger have applied 10 the Government |
agent for individual locations on land some ais |
from the COmmunes. and others are expected /
to follow their example