New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-13

-t-t,.,ae+ Peasants constitute four-fffhs
= .,,e population Of European Russia Peas
~, s5OO00O 900 acres OF land, an area Tar
.s,rg that ln the possession of the otheF
.,~s..e-tbe nobility. the clergy, the mer-
,.-+s and the burEhers.
-,...sv+s form the bulk q the army which the
= a now crovding into eastbound siberian
- ,s-s Although aristoc-ats IN the COR
r.. uniforms Of officers VIII map out the
-.,,-s and issue the commands, = IS the
Co. Who VIII GO the fighting. II is the
-. ,,l,o viii have 10 endure the fatigues Of
- who win dig the trench and man me
u'' - who win load and fire the guns.
-, she character Of the Russian peasant
-. e-,,av him IN his own home. To fore
v mai he win DO IN war, one shoul1 kho"
y. - .,-,es Of. peace. In his humble 'lzha or
-, b,,rt Of logs hewn from the nearby
-. 5v-er,s the man who VIII decide the la'e
- the empire
q -e-rre the Russian peasant Is trained 70
- hardship one OF the chief qualities or a
- Colder. Because OF the stern climate or his
- 10 must fight al HIS life long merely
-. ..v,e+ence. Now and then even his hard
-.,.,o- fafs. and he IS stricken with famine
- months OF the year IN most parts OF Rus
90 land IS buried IN snow. The ground j.
- .trse feet Ceep or more. Then within
-, q, she latter part OF April the sun rapidly
=. .,,s See and floods the lowlands The roaos
-. ~ mud. For ten days or FORT
-. ..,.s Francis II. 7 Palmer in Russian
-s. 4, rovn and Country published by @. I.
,e....-,'s sons. AL communication ceases Win
-. o,.s,5e world. and ~ that time empires
-, viss and fan but no news OF The event
,. - - t-olble the mind OF noble or
peasant" 49,. ,o,,,,-,-,,,an
= ,s.r 5esperation. He has only four or
g.. ,,or+hs IN which 70 raise the harvest WHICH
-, su,nly BIS needs through the next long uAl
=. ,,,,,,er. Every man. woman and child Is
,,,t 70 work. and whole families toll IN the helos
go, 6avbrealy untn the long Russian t"iAght
80 sv-sv within q couple OF hours OF MD
80. Each family has q strip OF land o. US
own. which Il culuvates. and BESIDES Il IloS'
,u,slv works a portion OF the estate OF neigh
bo-snc nobleman taking half the crop Tor JUS
share.
The etouach OF the Russian peasant is a mill
&c., stomach. II IS not fastdious Il IS content
with the ooarsest fare one OF It's CHEZ ioods
A times OF peace is Bauerkraut made OF Ter
rneuted cabbage. With the hrst arrival OF spring
sne pessauts plant large tracts with cabbages
Tor winter use II there is a large estate near.
the women folk can always obtain more cab
bage leaves by working Tor their wealthy neigh
Dor They sit al day. stripping on the leaves.
throwing the hearts OF the cabbages into sacks
FOR the nobleman. and bringing home the out
side leaves for themselves.
AS the result OF long centuries OF Eerfdom
the Russian peasant is instinctly servie. He
would rather be ruled than rule. L Is this char
scteristic which makes him most loyal soldier
When he hears the command OF his officer his
frst impulse is 70 obey. Els Btolid nature does
not think OF future consequences.
Although liberated from serfdom forty years
ago. the Russian villager shows many evidences
o. his former servftude IN his everyday life
When reprinanded by an employer who IS a
nobleman peasant win seek forgiveness by
kissing his masters hand, or ne viii crouch on
bis knees end embrace the nobleman's boots.
BE n also wont 20 obey with much the same
bervile obedience the most subordinate officers
d the Gar. The smallest Representative OF
The governing bureaurscy. for instance. IS the
TtanvOe prstaf1. or village policeman. who car
res himself with al the dignity becoming such
mighty man ana generally appears in fun
uniform. Should he arrest a man he fastens
pair o. leg irons 10 his ankles and tells him
20 60 10 jail HIS prisoner obeys. lie knows Il
Is no use to disobey. IN his irons he cannot
escape
"A Russian friend OF mine" says Mr.. Palmer.
was driving along a road IN a remote district
q which was then staying. when he observed
single peasant walking 81 a rather peculiar
Kramer. On approaching nearer he saw that
The man was in irons. which were. however,
very loosely attached. Soon after. on reaching
rOadside kabak, he found the village police
nan busly engaged with bottle OF vodka
And where IS your prisoner inquired my
Friend Are you not afraid he viii give YOU
the sllpT
What" was The answer 'Stefanovitch give
Us the slip? Why. he is "a neighbor OF ours.
he would never play rs such q trick de goes
along So slowly that We were Obliged 10 leave
hin behind"
hubserviency 10 official authority may De seen
h the humble manner with which the peasants
pTepare for the coming Of bureaucrat AT
certain times for example. each Governor makes
tour OF his administrative district The whole
performance is q tremendous farce. according
'o Mr. Palmer. The object OF the trip IS not
g detect any errors IN government but 10 OBJ
tain data Tor a report 10 81. Petersburg which
W. be most nattering 10 the Governor.
As Tor any disagreeable facts" rays Mr..
FIlner, the Governor himself has no desire TO
see them A few years ago, IN a district OF Rus
u which know wei. for some DAYS before the
H"ernor and his suite started upon their off,
N-iour OF inspection a little army OF peasants
Employed al along the roads over which
- would have TO drive. These roads for over
ny miles were IN their normal condftion-little
e. Than tracks OF shifting sand. In a few DAVIS
az irregularities were removed, and for miles
harrows were passed over the sand. 80 as "a
render It as smooth as a garden path. An trae7c
was Of course. suspended. and men were
stationed 10 warn travellers to keep on ,bs
newly made road"
ar. Palmer also speaks OF a certain district
Inhabited by a non-Muscovite population. which
ne government IS trying 10 "Russianize" Her,
- II l.