The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1903-12-19
A REMARKABLE SECT
Russians In Manitoba Who Are Pos-
sessed Of a Strange Craze.
Hs8use to Use Lower Animals for Any
PoFDose and Place All the Bur-
Asos OF Labor Upon Their
Men and Wom0A

Strange fancies sometimes take pos
'ession OF religious sects, but the
'trapgest of all is probably the dis
ressing mania that has enthralled
1000 Russian Doukhoborsti, who have
coated in western Manitoba, says Il
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 well 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 the Canadian government exempt
ed them from military duty as induce
4nent for their location on the prairie
lands of the west. AS to what they
should eat, this was purely personal
matter, but, AS it 'appears, it was one
OF the features that was overlooked by
the government that will cause i'm
lnense trouble.
In this country man may eat what
ne chooses, and it his 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
does not appear t. be finished prod
uct. 1t has been constantly undergo.
ing changes. From the belief that it
was a sin to eat meat, it seems 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
w"xing fat, while the people are on
the verge Of starvation.
Having reached this absurd posi-
ton, it was but a step to another and
more ridiculous one. If it were wrong
to eat the flesh of animals the same
line of reasoning made it compa ra tive
~ easy to condemn the use of lea Their
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 sweeping in
its effect on their economic condition.
It 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 the
place of horses and oxen. Twelve or
IA men hitched to a pillow suffice for
this purpose, and it is 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 neces-
stiles.
The Doukhoborsti are clad exclu-
sively in cotton clothes and wear rub