Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-08-05
RUSSIAN PILG-2IMs.y
HOW AGED PEASANTS ATTAIN CASTE
IN THEIR VILLAGES.

They Travel Far Away 60 Pray NJ
Dfstsnt shrfnes and Monnsterses.
The Holy Places They visit asa M
Which They Are FED aud Loaxed.
When the SHOWS OF winter melt I'm
Russia and the woods are fragrant
with violets and the ice In great masses
floats down the rivers 10 the sea the
peasant who Is on the threshold OF old
ayr. tired OF long inaction, comes forth
from his izba and looks abroad.
Strange thoughts have been stirring IN
him for several months, recollectlons OF
VOW that he once made that, II heav-
en- wiiied, he would one day worship In
a certain monastery and there venerate
the relics OF its saints. For many a
long year IL seemed as IL this VOW
would never be fulfilled. for there was
work to do I'm the village or which he
could In no way rid himself. and still
more pressing was the burden of n
numerous family that could not be left.
But now the children have grown up
and can fend for themselves and the
father and mother are no longer OF the
same value TO the community as labor
ers. Indeed were they TO quit the VII
lage they would not be much missed.
One way. however. remains for them
to redeem their lost position and to en-
title themselves for the rest OF their
lives to the respect Of all their neigh
bOrs. 1t Is to go on far distant Dill
grimage.
~ral Ill
Russia and out OF Russia which the
pilgrims visit. On the sterile tundras
that end in the lonely strand where the
waves OF the White sea ding their foam
upon the walls OF the Solovctsky mon
astery; on the quays OF Odessa. await
ing the steamer that will carry them TO
Jaffa. or on the monotonous straight
roads that for verst upon verst lead by
forests OF white stemmed birch or SOM
Der pine TO the resting place OF St.
Serge. near Moscow. or OF the saints
who sleep in the catacombs OF Pet
chersk NJ kiev. there NAV oe seen
bands OF pilgrims. STAFF In land. Jour
neynS on foot. through poverty or in
accordance with vow. & heir far
OF goal The men often v...r clumsy
but comfortable shoes or plsited bark.
stockings fastened round tie leg with
string. brecches reaching to she knees
and wide. baggy. flowing coats attach
ed TO the waist with n colorcd belt.
The women have colored umderskirt.
short dress and bodice all In oneand
bright hued handkerchief wrapped
round the head. n knapsack on the
back and IA gourd or kettle fastened
TO girdle But the costumes are
very various. and II would be imDossi
bic 10 describe them all.
These pilgrims beg for money COM
paratively rarely. They have tile self
respect and independence which befit
people presumably 40 pious. Perhaps
they have saved for this pilgrimage for
many years; they are hardy up 10 the
last degree. At night they sleep where
they can. In n monastery or perhaps i'm
sheds that have been erected for them
10y the road, and when they wish TO
drink they stop and ask for water at "A
peasants hut. where they are respect
fully received. II they are short OF
bread the poor moujik will give them
some. II he has any. for the charitable
instinct OF the people In Russia Is mex
tinguishable. And perhaps. too. they
will render some service 60 the homes
that they visit Tolstoi has described
pilgrim 10 the Holy Land who found
whole family dying OF starvation and
set them up again. And when Satur-
day arrives. and all Agood people are
bound by their religion 20 take bath.
then men and women will plunge into
the river regardless or the want OF
bathing machines and careless OF all
bathing regulations.
Glad. after this interminable march
OF many weeks. Is the Russian pilgrim
when he sees far of. flashing against
the azure sky. the domes OF the church
es OF the holy places where he is 10
worship. and especially is he glad II IL
be a town, like Kiev, that stands on a
range or wooded hills. breaking the
monotony OF the endless plain Sing.
ing a more Joyous hymn. he approach
es eagerly. for he knows that there are
food and lodging assured him at his
destination. At Jerusalem there il an
immense convent built. supported by
the Russian government, which il well
aware OF what the pilgrims do 10 in
crease Russian influence and her repu-
tation in the Holy Land At Solovet-
sky there Is hotel with sloping coun-
tiers that serve as n resting place At
the lavra OF Petchersl, the oldest Of the
Russian monasteries, there has been
house for the poor since the eleventh
century. Some OF the pilgrims are &C
cOmmodated in rooms that resemble
well kept haylofts, and each one has
locker. where he may sit during the
day and sleep at night. There Is hos
pital there. too. with eighty beds. and
a special wing for those whose all
ments are not OF serious description.
And for three days pilgrims are lodged
and boarded free, and many are allow
ed 20 come and go just rs they will.
LanE's Literary Output.
Andrew Lang held at one time what