St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-05-01

into his fathers house, thus adding an
other worker to the staff. When there
are many SONS life in the family becomes
more complicated as each new sister-in-
law adds another element. Aud-unless
all these young women happen to be
particularly sweet for the
household is not an unmixed pleasure.
The rule OF precedence is strictly upheld,
occasioning instances of wounded pride.
The mother-in law is much feared, and
many are the folk songs depicting the
hesitation oil the girl in leaving her home
for her husbands, her dread of his moth
er and sisters.
But it is the father who is the real head
OF the family and settles all difficulties.
His word is listened to with respect and
the right OF his decisions is never doubted.
In certain cases, however, the younger
generation have emancipated themselves.
Thus you see some villages where the
sons have lett the fathers house and each
has built himself an izba Cottage, gener-
ally a thatch.roofed log house, just
across the stream. This is the newer,
more modern part of the village, inhab-
tied only by young menages.
There has always been complete sub
ordination of the wife to the husband.
She works quite as much and as hard as
be does, even blowing when one happens
to be short OF hands. Until very recently
she could not even change her place OF
residence without her husbands consent,
and he has always the right to recall
her. Now, however, the ministry OF the
,H,ta h. EaI hot 81
is needed only in cases whtre husband
and wife live on friendly terms and he
supports her. In all other cases his per-
mission for separate passport tor tray
cling or living wherever she will may be
dispensed with.
Spring, summer and autumn are spent
in about the same manner as they are III
other countries by peasants or small
farmers hard work in the field and
home, with churchgoing-no matter how
tar off the nearest church may be-on
Sunday morning, and dancing and sing
ing in the village street on Sunday even
ing to the accompaniment of a concer-
tina or a balalaika, very primitive
instrument OF three strings. The Greek
Church Sabbath day begins on Saturday
evening, ending Sunday evening. The
church services are Saturday evening
and Sunday morning. In winter the
men 20 to the nearest town, sometimes
as workmen in factories, but oftener
they take their horse and sleigh with
them and earn their living as cabmen.
This is slow work, for sleighs are many
and fares are cheap in winter. A ride OF
ten to fifteen minutes is paid ten to
twenty kopek five to ten cents). Mos
boasts OF $4,000 to 10000 cab sleighs,
and as many private sleighs and fash
ionable livery stable turnouts.
Here is a characteristic little incident.
| had taken sleigh one day to 60 to a
friends house. On one of the larger
streets my cabby turns round to me,
takes off his big fur cap and says "Ma
touchka, (ittle mother), wilt thou not
allow me to stop my horse and speak to
that moujik (peasant)? He is from my
village"
Certainly"
"Gavrilo." yells my man.
Gavrilo starts, smiles and crosses over
to our sleigh.
Going home soon?" asks cabby.
Tomorrow"
"Well, that's lucky Here, give. this
to Martha, and my salutations to all
friends" And he takes from under his
cap lining dirty three -rouble bill
($1.5O) and hands it to Gavrilo, who
places it inside his own cap lining and
walks off.
We start, and my cabby says, "Many
thanks, matouchka, that was a lucky
chance. have not been home since the
snow came and am not going back till
spring. And God only knows whether
could have withstood the temptation of
a drink now and then this cold weather
with that money in my cap!"
When l asked whether it was safer in
Gavrilo's, and if he felt sure it would
reach its destination, he answered, in a
tone of deep conviction, God be with
thee, matouchka, he is man from our
own village"
Cabby does not like being away from
home so long, but What can man
do" he SAYS. THE women do the
weaving in winter; the children go to
school; a man can do nothing there;
NAV as we'll earn few rubles in town."
And precious few they are, too, these
rubles. But, in spite OF this, the Russian
peasant will continue doing the very
things his fathers have done before him
for generations, for he is not enterprising
or ambitious, as a rule. He is subimely
satisfied with the existing order OF
things, and this satisfaction, or apathy,
is naturally greater the lower the degree
OF his development.
Besides the weaving (whilst listening
to fairy tales or ghost stories told by
some old grandmother) the peasant
women employ the short winter days tor
doing exquisite needework, which they
sell at ridiculously low prices, not know
ing the value OF money. The children 60
to school in winter in summer they are
usually wanted at home for light work
or looking after the babies, and in the
early evenings it is not unusual to see
child read aloud to room tul OF
"grown-ups," who regard 1t as some
thing higher than themselves. For,
although the number of schools in Rus
STA grows daily, education is not yet
compulsory. Hence child who can read
is wonder in a company OF lliterate
peasant women.
Almost always child is looked upon
as something holy, and never are found
linUe or Orphnua neUlected Cases OF