The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-03
their NIOklEN
lNCO.N'||.T||'.'RAI!||,.S;';'i'l
Some Interesting Observations.
on characteristics of5Thosc OF
Russia and Japan,


Russia and Japan,
THE EFFECT or CLIMATE
Airssaof Melancholy Broods
tOver8tllcs Russian Woman III
S.5 Hcr Cold Hons.
LISA Strusm to say that Climatic condi-
tons affect tho character Of nations IN
spite Of Doverty and hardship, tho ltn'ia 8D1
Is misunderstanding The sun NETS ms
misery Into ripping mirtll, and NE rs
gay even under the most difficult contli-
lions. Iii like manner we could snow
| how, IN England, tho grayer climate pro-
dttces, soberor thought. and how, the
| furlher$We travel North, the gravity ana
| sombroness Increase. sse
What wonder, therefore, that between
tho women of Japan and the women OF
Russia. tho women Of the land OF the sun
and Of the land Of the ice and snow,
there should be Il strong contrast!
Tho tragedy Of life comes c0uallytto the
japanese and. TO the Russian; but ny the
orlental5it is9not anticipated. not brooded
over; 1t comes as tho result of circum-
stance, aud is 50 accepted, not 70 pc
nourned' or reststed. but to be met with
u Tranquil and serene spirit; but over the
| Russian there broods m atmosphere OF
melancholy which amounts almost TO
morbtdness, as though their whole be-
Ing stmpotcntly resisted the gloom Under
which too often they are called to liyc.
This characteristic, however, iseGertain-
| IL not met with in those ladies of .ednca-
ton and wide cosmopolitan knowledge
| WHO represent the Russian nation +: n
Europe. az ~, FL L
For at least thirty years after the Cri-
| mea the Russian woman IN England was
enveloped in an atmosphere Of mystery,
often darkly alluded to as a political SPY,
| and If Jshc was fortunate to surround her.
i self with men of talent and of political
i power she was supposed to WELD extra
1 ordinary influence ind to pervert the
4 minds of statesmen in favor Of Russian
policy.
Princess Lieden was said to exercise
such q power in days gone by with q
i Grey. and Nine Olga Novikof, whom -
l we'll remember as one Of the most bfil-
4 liant women in English political circles.
i was supposed to hold Mr.. Gladstone ny
i her fascination and to guide his policy
! III favor Of Russian despotisn. al3ut Whcn
i the relations between Russia ana Eng
u land became less strained tho charms OF
Russian women were recognized as pol,
4 ticaly Hinnocuous and a delightful social
i acquisition.
In order to understand the conditions
y under which the Russian woman OF the
pcople lives in her own home, we have to
i think for a. moment as to what q Russian
i winters day really means.
The charm of such a day Is unQucstlon-
ed Tho skyis blue, and over the snowy
7 road the sledges glide. with Nicholas or
the box seat, dressed in his long blue
n cartan, with a flaming colored belt a annAc
a fur-crowncd cap upon his head. III.
\ on the sidewalk figures are moving
Il cautiously upon the ice muffled IRON
head TO foot, some of the poorer witt
perhaps only 4 WOODEN wrap about ths
head: but as you grope your way VIII
uncertain steps nlons the streets you SCI
silent professions making their way 70
ward tho church, and you will hear OF
! Young man who Is about to be laid t
rest 1.who has succumbed to the winter
Peasants are warming themselves D!
, tho fires that have been made ut w
5 street corners; men and women, VINO haV'
CONC In with their carts from the com
t try hasten to join the group; but whei
t the sun Is set that which startles IN
| stranger is the extraordinary silence tina
prevails None dare venture out. NOV
J and then an electric tram passes, Wit
! its whizzing sound, or the slelShpeli
!, break the CHASTITY and oppressive stu
! ness for n moment. for the hand OF a
iron monarch is upon the world. ana III
q Russian winter rules the people
It is not by temperament that the RVS
!, sian is sad but centuries of deDriYatlo
: have cast his countenancc In a melan
: choly mould But little brightness come
: into his life save that which shines I
3 him from the Holy Of Holes. for the Illus
:. sian is essentially a religious, man, an
= the Russian woman possesses the rare gll
= of unquestioning' faith. The lkon corne
y Is the center OF a Russian hut. Here
= with a little lamp burning dimly, is til
: picture. of some saint held by the tu
!, sian in a reverence amounting to low
!, for that attitude of reverence is one
), tho marked characteristics OF tho Sla
y race. Tho peasant believes in God, an
% herein lies probably the strongest wea
=. pon with which tho Car preserves n
. power. For a belief in the Father
a Heaven is interviewer in his mind wit
p d faith in the father Of his people TT
- Russian peasant woman walks throug
10 life hand in hand with poverty, nght,r
| famine as she goes. ft}
Is imperial commissions have exposed Il
y reasons fort poverty Of the Moulik
~ hundred times, Dut the iact tct''''t's -
- same. a system Of protection has mac
II it impossible for the Russian to obta
~ proper implements for his farming II
disposition OF the land is another barrl
ct 10 the possibility of his making Twin
N and many are the tragic tales that cou
id be told by the strong, fair-hared vi
or Of the DAYS when hunger has invaded Y
MI cabin, when there is no credit exec
3. from tho userer no hay for the catt
ls no food for the baby.
is In no country has tho temperance eau
q. Russia. The empire. with the relentle
: hard Of dcspotism. monopolized the dril
-, tlaillc. In some ways that monopoly h
be done goods In other ways 1t has DO
harm. The law. which Is intended
~ prevent drinking among the peasant
nd too often falls but on the other ha
,Iv the strenuous efforts made ny the 80