The broad ax., 1902-11-29
A REMARKABLE SECT
Rusuaan. IN Manitoba Who Are Pos
Sssd Strange crszs.
aseuss 20 Use Lovssr AnlzaIs Ter Any
PurgosS aAd Flass An tie BuF-
e@s 90 Labog UDOa TAstF
usa aaa woa@

BSa 80 Wo3a8
etrango fsnciss somotimss take pos
session Of religious sects, but the
strangest Of AL is probably the dis
treaSing mania that has enthralled
5000 Russian Doukhoborsti, who have
located IN western Manitoba, says q
special 20 the New York Times from
Yorktown, Manitoba. In the Swan
river district the government 10 aPpre-
henaive for the remarkable craze that
has taken possession Of those colon
ists. A visit TO the community showed
that the Eightl, scenes and the horror
depicted were almost beyond ooncep-
ton.
Its wen known that the Doukhobor-
sti are adEerBs 20 shedding blood. This
y the reason why they emigrated
from Russia, and IL is also the reason
why the Canadian government exempt
Cd them from military duty as induce
mont for their location on the prairie
lAnda Of the west Az to what they
should eat, this Wsa purely a personal
matter, but, aG Il appears, Il was one
Of the features that was overlooked by
the ROv0rumsut that win 0ausS i'm
mense trouble.
In this country = man may eat what
he chooses, and II HIS religion dictates
that he GhaH conform 70 a vegetable
diet, such belefs are respected. All
might have been well had this state
Of Affairs been confined to vegetarian
Ism, but the Uioukhobors6 religion
does not appear &C be finished prod
net. Il has been constantly Undergo
ing changes. From the belief that IL
was q ain TO eat meat, Il seems long
Jump 70 reach the conclusion that Il Is
wrong 20 eat animal products, but
thsss people have now given up drink
ing milk, eating butter, Cheese, eggs,
etc, and the cows, oxen, goats and fowl
are increasing and multiplying, and
waxing fat, while the people are on
the verge Of starvation.
Having reached this absurd posi-
ton, Il was but . step 20 another and
more ridiculous one. Hitwere wrong
70 eat the flesh Of animals the same
line of reasoning made Il comparative
" easy 70 condemn the use Of leather
harness made from the hides of Gods
creatures, and then followed the con-
demnation OF wooden clothing, because
wool grown on the bodies of sheep,
which also belonged 20 the Lord. The
next step was Etin more weeping in
iAs effect on their economic condition.
Il was TO make servants Of any Of
the lower animals, 20 use them for
beasts Of burden or Tor any other pur-
pose.
They had the courage Of their con
vistions, and st once turned out thei=
horses, cattle and sheep, driving them
70 "God's hill" 20 forage for them
sslvss, placing all the burdens Of farm
Hfs on their own shoulders. Fer all
drawing purposes, such as hauling
heavy loads on wagons, men take the
place Of horses and o1en. Twelve or
IL men hitehsd 70 . pillow EufBce for
TIA purpose, and It 81 the only method
employed BY them in the cultivation Of
the soil. Women, even, are employed
in this manner, though when coming
into town men only are Seen hauling
? the wagons and bugRies. Every day
IN The streets Of Yorktown dozens of
men may be seen drawing wagons,
hauling what little produce they may
have for sale, and carrying back e.
their farms -four and othSF necss-
Eftio1.
The DoukhoborSti are clad exelu-
sivsly IN cotton clothes and wear nh
Der boots or hoes knit or woven with
binder Irvine, which they buy for the
purpose. Their food consists Of bread
and water, and such vegetables as they
Rrovv, and wild berries and herbs which
fhey Gather. Their farms are neglect
cd and their stock. Of which they have
much, b running Wild in the hills,
where Il win an die during the winter.
or Be appropriated by those who are
not OF their religious faith, and who
VIII ct Ieast give the stock shelter.
With the advent lof cold weather
starvation and disease must certainly
follow, and they appear TO know this,
for they have been IN correspondence
With authorities in southern Cali
soruia. Nevada, Arisona and Australia,
with q view 70 emigration 70 a warmer
climate where the conditions would
enable them 20 subEist on the soil
without trespasing on the possessions
Of the animal kingdom. II Is needless
70 ssy that no one wants them, az they
are EtiIi IN Manitoba, an elephant on
Ehe hands Of The government that
brought them from Russia few years
ago % develop he prairie land Of the
WssA