Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-11-17
AMONG THE DoUKHoBoRs.
Something About the Russian Eyiles
in Their Canadian Home.


lished church and condemned war and
military service. But it was not until
about thirteen years ago. when uni
versal conscription became the rule
that their troubles became unbearable.
These inoffensive people. who have
charmed all who have met them by
their simple piety and kindliness.
We're banished from their homes and
exposed to all kinds Of hardships. At
last, some influential Russians stirred
themselves on behalf of these op-
pressed peasants and obtained as a
great favor from the Car permission
for them to leave the country at their
own expense. They had but little of
their savings left after these years of
sorrow. and it was necessary for the
Quakers of England and America to
come to their aid. and largely through
their assistance some seven thousand
of these peaceable people have been
transported to northwestern Canada.
six or seven hundred miles beyond
Winnipeg. Here they were placed in an
unsettled country upon the open
prairie some two and half years
ago. with the necessity upon them of
selves before the long cold winter set
in. They set to work with determina-
ton. and already they are beginning
to feel at home in their new fields and
houses.
The few settlers who had occupied
these regions before the Doukhobors
came did not know what kind of peo-
pie they Were. and thought they might
prove TO be lawless and dangerous
One ranchman. who was about to
make journey and leave his Wife
alone in his house. just at the time of
their arrival. went TO the Doukhobors
and by signs with his gun threatened
them with death if they came near his
ranch. The morning after his depar-
ture his wife heard 4 knock at the
door. and went with trepidation to the
door, expecting to he assaulted.
There she found DOukhObor woman
who smiled at her. for they could not
understand each others language
pushed her way in, took the milk pail
went to the barn and insisted upon
milking the COW for her hostess and
doing other housewOrk for her. She
had taken this practical method of
showing their good will. This lady and
her husband are now among the
strongest friends of the Doukhobors
They have no children of their own
and would be glad to adopt n Doukho-
tO- child, bur these Russians love their
children so that Notwithstanding their
poverty. not one child in all the settle
ElentS can be secured.
These people are anxious to become
Canadians and to be able to communi-
cate with the Anglo-Sayon settlers
around them. Knowing this. two la
dies of Kingston. Ontario, Mrs. Var
ney. i Quaker. and her young cousin
Miss Nellie Baker. determined to es-
tabliSh little summer school at one
of the new DOukhobor villages on
Good Spirit Lake. They arrived at
their destination after Il long journey.
early in July of this year. Mrs. Var
ney had already passed the summer of
1889 there, conducting diSpensary
for the Doukhobors. who have no ply
sicians among them. They pitched
their tents near three of the Doukho-
Dor villages, a small tent for their
residence, another for the dispensary
which vas under Mrs. Narney's
charge, and third. a0X20 feet for the
school, over which Miss Baker presid
ed. and for which work her studies at
Queens University had fitted her. Mrs.
Varney had Won the affections OF the
villagers last year, and they We're not
slow to send their children to the new
school. some of them arriving before
the ladies had unpacked their luggage.
Miss Bakers report of her expert
ment. which has just been made to the
Canadian Commissioner Of Immigra-
ton, shows what difficulties she encoun-
tered. She found herself confronted
by q tentful OF boys and girls with
none Of whom did she have single
known word in common. BY signs
and notions" she says, Il got them
seated in rows on the prairie grass of
the tsns floor. and holding up a pencil
said. One l could not detect any ap-
parent comprehension. Then taking
up another pencil ! said. TWO. and
added a third, Three Still no re-
sDonse, and my heart sank somewhat
However, decided to repeat the
method. and as | said One, l noticed
look on G boys face that told me he
knew { was coubting, and l saw MN
turn and speak to the others. Almost
instantly they understood, and soon, re-
paating after me, counted up to ten."
From this beginning the course Of
teaching proceeded. Some of the pupils
v.o,,,ed FIVE miles tG school and five
miles hack every day. s!.ss Baker car
ried on this school for six ana q half
hours a day and for five and half days
a week, and as almost the entire time
was occupied with oral teaching, some
idea may be. formed Of the arduous
character of her work. She was hath-
rally tired when the hour TO close
came. but the children were never
tired. The favorite method was object
teaching. They learned the divisions
of time from a watch. to count money
srom coins, and Sc on. The children
had q natural taste fOf igures, and at
the end of the two months, during
which the school was open. lhs oiaar
children had succeeded in getting
through one-half Of the multiplication
table, and some Of the more advanced
punils were in the second reader
(Canadian). In writing. she declares
that some of them equaIled or sur
passed the teacher. The children were
anxious to have tasks assigned 10
and never