The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-19

in Russia. The idea carried away by the
average visitor that Russian life is much
like that in other European countries l.
based on a misconception, a failure TO grasp
salient features of tho Russian national
character.
A visit 20 the country home of Russian
landowner reveals the immense contrast
presented by the life Of the Russian noble
in town and his more nearly normal existence
on his country estate. Nothing shows
more clearly the versatility of the Slayonic
nature than this ready adaptabiity to either
mode Of life. The man seems Transformed
Once back in the country the mask OF the
cosmopolitan dweller in one of the gayest
capitals in the world, ST. Petersburg. falls
away like a WORKOUT garment and lie Is
again Boyar, like his forefathers.
group Of peasants, large or small ac-
cording to the size OF his estate. WIN DE
waiting to greet him on his arrival there
Their warm welcome TO the khazyaeen
(rnaster of the housed il evidently sincere
and a. they bend reverently TO kiss his hands,
or possibly his feet in the case OF the older
ones. lust IA they would have done in the
days of serfdom. you begin to see that the
real relations between landowner and
peasant are much more friendly than Is
generally supposed
Wood is the material employed in the
construction of all buildings in the rural
districts, with the possible exception OF
the churches. In the climate OF Russia
where the average life OF these wooden
buildings will not exceed seventy years,
there are no castles like those of the old
feudal mobiles of England or OF the CONT
nent to connect past and present
1t is not possible 10 estimate the loss
20 Russia caused by the absence Of such
local centres OF cultivation and retinemen,
as would be supplied by castles OF stone
Such castles would, no doubt, have checked
the drain of national wealth to the capital
or to foreign countries. To collect works
Of art or any articles OF intrinsic value and
place them in dwelling which might at
any time become a prey to fire. that great
Russian terror both in town and country
and which would, in any case, scarcely
last more than one lifetime, would surely
be tho height OF folly. Other even stronger
reasons 70 prevent the forming OF such
collections will be found in the difficulties
Of transportation and the fact that where
the treasure il there will the heart be also
The heart OF the average Russian land
owner Is not, and never has been. in ms
country estate. Thus his personal influence
in his own locality. which would, no doubt,
have led 70 the development Of healthier
national life than Is possible under present
conditions. is almost entirely lacking,
Tho timber built dwellings of even the
richest landowners in Russia lack the pict-
uresuue construction familiar 10 travellers
in Norway and Sweden. Tie walls are
generally formed Of square beams, from
one foot to eighteen inches in thickness
laid one on the other and neatly joined at
the corners. They are fastened together
by wooden bolts sometimes three feet in
length. driven at short intervals.
The interstices are made alright with
dried moss, saturated with pitch, then
dried in the sun and the whole is covered
With a shcathing of thin planks, on the
inside as we'll as the outside of the walls.
When these walls are covered with paint
on the outside and plaster within, they
are as impenetrabe 10 the winter blasts as
tho hull Of a ship. and far warmer than the
same thickness cf stone or brick would be-
Tho old houses have matched roofs, like
those of the peasants iXha (cottage). but
more modern dwellings are shingled. The
rooms are slrnnst always |ofiy and some
of them, not1bythe drawing room and the
dining room. are o large dimensions.
Tho plaster walls are tinted with wash
Of some light shad, for the drawing and
he'd rooms. and darker one. possibly
brown. for the dining room. The furni-
ture is simple. very likely home made. or,
as is frequently the case Of late years.
ono OF the cheaper varieties Of American
and English manufacture.
The life Of the Russian landowner is not
all beer and skittlcs by any means Those
who know him merely rs a CAV social
butterfly in St Petersburg or Moscow
would be amazed could they behold the
harecn QorH on his country estate, labor
ing TO make both ends meet
What does he do? Let us see. Let Is
try to get an inside glimpse of Russian
life during the winter months, notwith-
standing the fact that it would be the
last thing a Russian would expect US 70
be interested in.
The average Russian of education and
culture. especially those who have travelled
in other countries, while they fully appreci-
ate and feel just pride in the strides made
by their country during the last decade
still feel ashamed Of the great Russia still
behind the veil 10 use the English equiva-
Ihnl OF a common tusNl1n expression.
To him the whole subject Of country life il
something sordid and vulgar, something TO
be avoided in conversation as far as possible
and he would be unwilling to confess to the
foreign friends who know him only in the
CAV round OF life at st Petersburg that
he was even remotely interested in things.
10 him. 80 common a : the planting Of crops
or breeding Of cattle.
There seems 10 be a popular idea among
Americans TO the effect that the majority
OF the rural jewellers in Russia pass the
winter months in a state Of Information. not
unlike that Of the bear. While il is true that
Russians as nation have little taste for the
out -of-door sports that give such charm to
a Canadian winter, for instance, there are
none the less. many and varied occupations
alike for noble and peasant.
II is true that should his means permit
our Russian friend has ghdly shaken the
dust, or to be more accurate, the snow OF
his country home from his feet and hied
him TO the capital. But suppose he is one
Of the numerous class OF odnodvortsy
(small landed proprietors) and is obliged
to be his own overseer. How will he pass
the long winter months2
BE assured not in idleness. The unaold
pigs and cattle that cannot be kept during
the winter must be killed and sailed for
future use. 1t is quite possible that on
this estate the system Of profit sharing
may obtain.
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