Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-05
THE CABMAN IN RUSSIA
HE DIFFERS IN MANY WAYS FROM
OUR OWN JEHu.
now One Vehicle Is Made to Answer
for Two Men-Absence of
Fixity of Taria.


From the London Field
The cab driver of Russian towns differs
| In many ways from our own Jehu al
though in the matter Of having a ready
answer, which does not turn away wrath
Tor both friend and foe, he seems 10 no
closely related There are no large cab
owners. and. IL those of the tram comma
mes De excepted. no large stables In either
MOSCOW or st, Petersburg, and aImos,
every driver owns or has at least a shara
IN the lot he drives. Although at first sight
cab driving in the capitals of tho ar,r,r,
can hardly be considered as a VILLAGE in
dustry, Yet in Russia II is considered az
such- The 'isvoshtchiks" as the avrn.,
are called, are nearly always members M
ar Instant village communes who spend
nc Mtioie or part OF the year al town work
aa, io remit the greater portion OF thefr
eainii'Ss 10 their native place and fhcrr-
serves return to 1t when Agricultural work
OF nshlhg Is at premium. and when ritv
Mork or health gives out. This connection,
pet"eeh ihrmer and factory hand towns
man and tller of soil, Is chara cferistic e
an Russian industry: ii is no l1ncnmnnor
sisnl 70 see cotton or linen factory EMMY
uur1flS harvest The coachman Of Tho 81
~ generally a member of a pea SAINT fam
n.y. whose males outnumber the females
so tiat some OF the former are forced 10
~, sahe the allotment, which proves in
suiicient 10 provide support or labor for
mem all, and turn to the town for a living
de comes to the busy center learns bls
way about It, buys "droshky," small
ana Ho' uilcorni orta6le vehicle on runners.
ana four-wheeled chaise of about the
same size for summer use takes ONT a
license from the police and makes a start
m ms noIse Tor. unlike the London brother,
ne seldom has more than onel he brinrs
with MIN from the farm or perhaps 10 Ia
Ltefai' 1t brings him; and often the nos
session OF The animal is the reason OF the
urIper $ change of fortunes and of scene
This fsvOshtchik is a strange object 40
ne SITS on the narrow board which serves
liifn as a seat at the front of his droshky
Clothed In long blue gown which raarhss
the ground, is heavily quilted with down
and tied In at the waist with a srrap or
ornamental cord, and a heavy sheepslln
up over ms ears He lives nomadic life
S"ldom having any fixed residence or sta hla
IN the town, and is thus often to be scrn
asleep IN ms oroshky, while his horse feeds
~ me public troughs. which the local au-
tilorlues pun up in almost every side street
one may see him. when ne has nur down a
passenger and earned his fare. go to- the
nearest corn merchant. buy just sufficient
ny ny , ahu corn Tor one meal for his horse
ana place II in the manager. Then he gets
FODDER Tor himself from the arnhulent ven
aerS OF black bread. traSca tadorIf.rnrts r,J
iitSh', ana weak, miikless tea, who stand at
the corner of most Russian streets and az
ter%ard he sleeps peaneahly in his sIed.-e
until his horse be rested and tit for another
Journey. Then on he goes again, until
some hours later, he repeats the process ar
the other end of the town. Al ri.-bt he
plays Box and Cox" with his Mariner
with whom he forms a limited Hsbllitv
company AT a fixed time he must meet
MN IN some tavern yard, take out his own
lred horse, and surrender tn. droshky
ne second man. whose horse is fresh now
taxes his twelve hours, and at the gpnoint-
9c l4iile IN the morning must meet in the
same tavern. After a week they change
over, the night man takes the day work
ana vice versa" thus one vehicle. with no
lodgings or stable-for the men rest In the
pothouse, the horses in the yard or sheds
adjoining it-supports TWO mon vbnse sofa
object in life Is 10 earn and save sno,,eb
70 enable them to leave the city and return
10 the land, the mistress of every Muilk's
affections.
The isvoshtchik is an excellent exan,nIa
81 that absence of fiXity of tariff which L so
prevalent throughout Russia for in the mat
Ter OF charges he is a law unto himself
When you show signs of wanting droshkv
al me df!yers Within hail assemble and bid
one against the other for the custom: this ona
VIII take you for so much that one for IesS
ana so on. One takes ones choice a good
last horse and smart sleigh at a good price
OF pad one for a fraction Of il. Should
one however, select a poor-Iooking beast
the drivers left behind will make encours -
ing remarks as one drives away ,Hs 81
lame. He stumbles" The driver 70
drunk they will shout in chorus until one
Is out or earshot One natural result az
this elastic system is that the old Isw -
supply and demand makes itself felt. 10,
Whlie fares are low during slack hours thew
are apt at close of play or commencement
u r Storm m 70 AT once rise several points"
me isVoshtchik is not a bad cuachman
generally driving with a very tight rein. and
somewhat fUriously. He shouts al eyery-
thins IN his way, and constantly encour-
ages ms not unwilling little steed with such
remarks as Now, Vanka Qittle John, earn
your dinner. 1T is not far" The day is
cold" AT the end are food and rest {" eS..,S
is good Uoo