Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-22
Hoods Say.Sawas.iLks
WoMAN,s TIEW OF SIBERIA.

Anna N. Benjamin in Ainsees.
~ think that there is a great deal
of misconception concerning the Rus
sian peasant. He does not present the
listlees. down trodden, hopeless picture
which So many people have drawn.
Physically he seems almost peerless.
do not refer alone to his health and
strength, for the massive blond type is
pleasant to look at, and. as whole,
presents more claim to personal beauty
amorg the men than any other, except
perhaps, the Italian. One element Of
tho more or less latent power of the
Russian peasant is his ability 10 live
In the utmost simplicity. His Drawn
is produced by the consumption of
black bread and sour milk. He re.
he is stoid, but not dull. In Siberia,
he ia devoted to his family, and shows
never failing tenderness for his chill
dren. Ii he lacks in enterprise and In
business ability, 1t must be remem-
bered that he has encountered nothing
to develop those qualities. He makes
up for this to certain extent by his
thrift and frugality. His greatest curse
Is drink, which is the besetting sin Of
the Russians, but If any race can stand
excuses, they can. ~
~ have spoken entirely OF the
peasant. the moujik, as he is called,
yet no description Of the growing
population Of Siberia would be COM
| plete without reference to the Co.'S
| sacks, whom we met at every turn.
The Cossacks are the arms and legs Of
| Russia, while the moujik is the back
| bone. The Cossaoks won Siberia for
| Russia when they were the daring
| fringe OF her population, grown adj
| venturous and warlike by their fire.
\ quent conflicts with the Ta.tars who
crowded Russia's borders. In them is
concentrated the enterprise and the
| aggressiveness which the mouiik lacks.
They out the path and the moujiks fol-
lowed, and the descendants Of these
hardy pioneers live throughout Siberia
today, 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
| of the Cossaok, while his sons are
dressed 10 miniature uniform of the
same kind. The military governor at
Vladivostok is Cossaok, and several
Cossaok officers Travelled for some dis
lance oil our steamer. Their regiment
was scattered among the different vii
lagos along the bank. Sinon the
trouble in the East it has probably
been muster ed In and gone to the
front. So strict are the laws Of
herediry among the Cossacts that 1t is
almost impossible for an officer who
was not bonn one to obtain a com.
mand in Cossaok regiment. saw
no greater evidence OF Russia's ad-
ministratiSe ability than the present.
results Of turning an almost Ia ess
force into loyal and powerful arm of
her service.
1.-THE people themselves form the
most picturesque element Of tie
Siberian village. The men wear tie
Russian cap, ana the blouse, most
they know comes to the knee, or above
it, in manifold wrinkles. The women,
IN bright print gowns, are INST are
footed, except 10 winter, and Near
gay kerchief over the head. But even
before you see the people you are i'm
pressed with the dual spires of tho
II small Greek church which rise ahove
each small place, bringing TO this dis
tant land the Russian mes aga of
Christ and faint echo of Byzan 'ium.
In the group on the bank is the village
Il pope in long cassock. his fair hair
falling in silken waves about his
shoulders ! found it imp ssible 10
withhold my admiration fol the
thoroughness and the consistency #
the Greek church. Though we my
object TO Its exclusive system, We must
admit that there is nothing of the dog.
in-the manager attitude alto IL.
Wherever Russia sends her muujik fhe
sends also her Pope, whose lii" must
often DO dreary exile; the m S j sig
pificant Siberian village is no, thout
the same religious privileges that are
to be obtained in Russia.