The broad ax., 1902-11-22
4 REMARKABLE SECT
Ruusians IN lrsnitOba Who Are Pos
Sssssd ia Strange crass,


Strange fancies sometimes take pos
session Of religious sects, but the
strangsst Of all Is probably the dis
treasing mania that has enthralled
5000 Russian DoukhoborEti, who have
located an western Manitoba, says a
special 70 the New York Times from
Yorktown, Hsnitoba. In the Swan
river district the government il aPpre-
henEive for the remarkable craze that
has taken possession Of those colon
ists. A visit 70 the community showed
that the sights, scenes and the horror
depicted were almost beyond oOncep-
ton
Il is wen known that the Doukhobor-
std are adverse TO shedding blood. This
IL the reason why they emigrated
from Russia, and it Il also the reason
why the Canadian government exempt
cd them from military duty az induce
msnt for their location on the prairie
lands Of the west AZ TO what they
should eat, this was purely a personal
matter, but, a. Il appears, IL was one
Of the features that was overlooked by
the government that win cause i'm
mense trouble.
In this country a man may eat what
he chooses, and ~ his religion dictates
that he shall conform TO q vegetable
diet, such beliefs are respected. All
might have been well had this state
of affairs been confined TO vegetarian
ism, but the Doukhoborsti religion
does not appear &C be q finished prod
net. It has been constantly undergo
ing changes. From the belief that IL
was q sin TO eat meat, Il seems q long
Jump TO reach the conclusion that IL is
wrong 70 eat animal products, but
these 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-
tiOn, It was but q step to snOther and
more ridiculous one. Ifitwere wrong
10 eat the flesh Of animals the same
line of reasoning made IL comparative
IL easy to 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 TO the Lord. The
next step was still more weeping in
its effect on their economic condition.
Il wss 20 make servants Of any Of
the lower animals, 70 use them for
beasts Of burden or for any other pur-
pose.
They had the courage OF their con-
vietSonA and 1t once turned out their
horses, cattle and sheep, driving them
70 "God's HILL" 10 forage for them
selves, placing all the burdens Of farm
life on their own shoulders. For all
drawing purposes, such as hauling
heavy Ioads on wagons, men take the
place of horses and oxen. Twelve or
"a men hitchSd toe pillow Euffice for
EhiEpurpose, and It IL 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 buggies. 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 T.
their farms -four and other nsceS-
EitieI.
The DOukkoborsH are clad sxclu-
sively IN cotton clothes and wear rub
Der boots or shoes knit or woven with
binder Irvine, which they buy for the
purpose. Their food consists Of bread
and water, and such vegetables as they
grow, and wild berries and herbs which
thew gather. Their farms are neglect
ed and their stock, Of which they have
much, Il running wild in the hills,
where II viii all die during the winter,
OF be appropriated By those who are
not OF their religious faith, and who
win at least give the stock shelter.
With the advent of cold weather
starvation and disease mnEt certainly
follow, and they appear TO know this,
for they have been in correspondence
with authorities IN southern Cali
fornia, Nevada, Arisona and Australia
with q view 10 emigration 70 q warmer
climate where the conditions would
enable them 20 subEiSt on the soil
without trespaIing on the possessions
Of the animal kingdom. II is needless
70 say that no one wsnts them, as they
are EtiII IN Manitoba, an elephant on
the handle Of the government that
brought them from Russia q few years
aQo 70 develop he prairie land Of the
WeSS