The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1903-05-23
A REMARKABLE SECT
Russians in Manitoba Who Are Pos
sessed of Strange Craze.
Refuse to Use Lower Animals for ANY
Purpose and Place All the BUR-
dens of Labor Upon Their
Men and Women.

Strange fancies sometimes take pos
'ession of religious sects, but the
'trangest of all is probably the dis
'resslng mania that has enthralled
1000 Russian Doukhoborsti, who have
coated in western Manitoba, says u
special to the New York Times from
Yorktown, Manitoba. In the Swan
liver district the government is appre-
aensive for the remarkable craze that
has taken possession of those colon
lists. "A visit to the community showed
that the sights, scenes and the horror
depicted were almost beyond concep-
ton.
1t is we'll known that the Doukhobor-
sti are adverse to shedding blood. This
is the reason why they emigrated
from Russia, and it is also the reason
why tile Canadian government exempt
ed them from military duty as induce
lnent for their location on the prairie
lanes OF the west. AS to what they
should eat, this was purely a personal
matter. but, as it appears, it was one
Of the features that was overlooked by
the government that will cause i'm
= 1nense trouble.
III this country man may eat what
he chooses, and if Lis religion dictates
that he shall conform to a vegetable
diet, such beliefs are respected. All
might have been we'll had this state
OF affairs been confined to vegetarian
ism, but the Doukhoborsti religion
Goes not appear t. be a finished prod
uct. 1t has been constantly undergo
ing changes. From the belief that it
was a sin to eat meat, it seems a long
jump to reach the conclusion that it is
wrong to 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-
ton, it was but step to another and,
more ridiculous one. If were wrono
to eat the flesh of animals the same
line OF reasoning made it comparative
~ 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 sheen.
which also belonged to the Lord. The
next step was still more sweeping in
It's effect on their economic condition.
1t was to make servants of any of
the lower animals, to use them for
beasts of burden or for any other pur-
pose.
They had the courage of their con-
victions, and at once turned out their
horses, cattle and sheep, driving them
to Goods HILL" to forage for them
selves, placing all the burdens of farm
life on their own shoulders. For all
drawing purposes, such as hauling
heavy loads on wagons, men take Me
place OF horses and oxen. Twelve or
ID men hitched to a plow suffice for
this purpose. and it is the only meth OF.
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 neces-
stiles. r mi &
The Doukhoborsti are clad exclu-
siyely in cotton clothes and wear -nl,-