The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
TYPICAL RUSSIAN HOUSE
BY NO MEANS ATTRACTIVE, EITHER
INSIDE OR OUT.
Privacy Is Something Its Inmates
Neither Know Nor Desire-The
Sacred Bathroom.

of the most famous roads in Russia, for
ii is trodden every year by thousands OF
pilgrims, who are on their way 10 the
neighbOring monastery. The roof is OF
sheet iron and is painted green: IL slopes
somewhat, but not so much as TO prevent
the eldest son OF the family. from dancing
on ii in moments OF madness. with noise
that can be imagined better than IL can be
described. Stabling forms one side of the
square; another is used as an Office where
a number of clerks in uniform and one or
two young women typewriters toil-to be
quite accurate. remain from morn till eve,
from eve to close upon midnight. slipping
tea. smoking cigarettes. and no doubt also
making up accounts. Near the entrance an
aged man sits during the summer on a
bench outside. against the wall. He is the
porter of the business part of the establish
ment, but his seat is close 10 the back
gate, so that he can see all who enter the
yard. And a strange, picturesque number
of visitors there are who find their way in
by habit OF by chance. Perhaps IL is a
gypsy girl. in the brightly colored costume
of the little Russian peasants. but more
frequently ii is a beggar. who. with thick
stick, braves the ferocious dogs that race
forth and back at him with an energy and
ferocity that sometimes upsets even a beg
past the stables TO the kitchens do 1van Sss
in hand, asking aims OF every one he meets
One ruble. or two shillings and twopence,
a week is allowed TO the housekeeper for
distribution among beggars. and IL Is rare
that they call without receiving food.
IN THE DINING ROOM
Let us return to the front door and ring
the electric bell. IL haply We obtain per-
mission to enter the town house of a
wealthy tchinovik Admittance Is given
by clumsy-looking peasant. TO whom q
livery imparts neither elegance nor dig
nifty. To right and left open the reception
rooms. which spacious, we'll lighted,
but somewhat low, and elegantly furnished
in the style OF western Europe. The din
ing room possesses a fireplace and two
monumental stoves, reaching almost TO the
ceiling, and so placed in the wall that they
warm two rooms at the same time. 1t
adtoins the buffet and as the door OF IL Ia
almost almost always open the discussions Of the
sitting In the dining room. The saloon has
no furniture. but mirrors with gilded
frames, chairs upholstered with blue silk.
a grand piano In one corner, and a gigantic
Candida bra, with oil lamps that fling their
light upon the parqueted floor, There is a
cardroom, too and the boudoir of the lady
of the house, which is crowded, as such
rooms wont. to be. with pictures and
knicknacks and furniture Scarcely a book
in any of these apartments; scarcely a
newspaper; the pictures are Italian, or are
paintings OF local artists and represent
Russian scenes.
What strikes a stranger after a short
visit TO this house is the utter want of pri-
| vacy. For as the building is only one story
high, IL is obvious that TO go from one end
to the other IL will be necessary to pass
along corridor, or TO go through various
rooms. Where the corridor exists IL In
fairly wide. and in order TO accommodate
all the members OF this very numerous
household. certain portions have been sepa-
rated by means of curtains.
signed bed rooms to the maid servants.
Here. of course, there Is the minimum OF
privacy, especially for those who wish to
retire at 10 o'clock In land where little
account is taken of the hours, and where
it not infrequently happens that night Is
| turned into day by jewellers and card play
| ers. But, except for the father and mother
| of the family no one is really much bet
| ter off.
The bedrooms are all at one corner of
the building; the boys sleep in one, the
daughters in the other. and IN one of them
| a third of the room mas been shut OF by
| a screen for the governess. There are no
| keys in the locks. that any one in the
| family who is given to sleep walking may
| stroll into any room and leave the door
omen behind him when he goes. AS for
the Englishman's maxim that his house.
or at least his bedroom, is his castle, the
notion is one that has never been heard
| of. AT any moment of the day night
| he Is exposed to the visits of a valet who
| is looking for matches or of a maid, who
| wishes to take away mis- boots or to bor-
row a chair for a minute. knocking at
the door is unknown. And IL he protests
at an intrusion on his privacy. when he
marks will be received with astcnishment.
and the peasant girl who does duty for
| housemaid will toss her head and refuse
10 argue with one who is so unreason-
able.
THE BATHROOM
Perhaps the most sacred place in the
house is the bathroom. 1t is a small apart
ment. formed in the corridor by means of
a wooden partition, and certainly contain
ing nothing in the way Of accommodation
or furniture to justify the almost religious
awe in which ii is regarded by the family.
No one but members Of the family and
guests is allowed to splash about in the
steaming waters OF the bath, which is con-
tinually being got ready by a servant with
the aid of thermometer. At the hotels
in the town the same exaggerated respect
is paid to the bath. IL prices go for any
thing for the charge for the use of one of
them is four shillings, and four-pence.
such as this, and unable TO do without a
| morning tub, sometimes travel In Rus
STA with an India ruboer bath.
The garden, which forms the square
around which the house is built. is Of
course. Useless in winter, but I'm summer
IL IS pleasant 10 SIT unQer It's nigh tower
| ing acacias. white with bloom and TO lis
ten TO the sound OF water as IL fails into
the pool OF the fountain. where goldfish
are at play. Here, too. in the wooden
veranda. the family dine during the sum-
mer heat. The change Is not necessarily
an agreeable one. for the gnats are SO
numerous that IL Is only possible TO get
relief from them by burning feathers on
q tray, somewhere near the table, but this.
as often as not, drives the diners away
as well. A lamp overhangs the table and
sometimes on summer evenings IL is black
with insects that cling 10 the globe in
such numbers TO obscure the light.
Here, too. the wondering stranger will be
| able TO note how little the idea of caste
seems in some ways TO have taken root
| in Russia. A beggar will appear at the
| table during luncheon. and pour out his
| piteous tale. the little son of one OF
/ the innumerabe male servants will ap-
preach and play. and the members OF the
/ family. instead OF sending him away. will
/ call out to him. AS for the Wallets. they
| take part In the conversation at times.
! laugh at the jokes. and even make jokes
| themselves. Governesses and tutors are
welcome. and in some Russian houses there
| are three or four Of them. for the Russians
| like strangers. respect education I'm them.
and pay for IL on a scale that would excite
| establishment In England But the house,
keeper Is not allowed 10 dine with the fam
| lily. The Wallets hate her because she has
stopped them lighting for the food as soon
/ as il has been taken from the table. and.
/ of course, she does not dine with the serv-