The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-09-07
THE RUSSIAN 5 HOME LIFE
Nine Tenths of the Population
Live in Villages.
HOUSEKEEPING IS SIMPLE
Russian Peasant at Home Not Much
Given to Apprenticeship Wears
Red Flannel Shirt Outside Of
Trousers.-BeIieves in Thorough
Cleanliness for Sunday.

Red Flannel Shirt Outside OF
Trousers.-Beleves in Thorough
Cleanliness for Sunday.
Probably nine out of ten persons
who have travelled in Russia, If asked
to describe the Russian home would
speak first of the log-house of the
Russian village. Nine-tenths of Rus
sia's population live in villages. The
log house is the most truly represen-
tative habitation in Russia
Sunk a few feet below the level OF
the ground, It faces the village street.
Even in the newly settled agricultural
communities in Siberia-now land OF
promise to the Russians-the isolated
farmhouse, a mile perhaps, from
neighbors, Is unknown. The farmers
houses are all in a village facing a
single village street. The houses are
rough and unpainted. Even the pros.
porous farmer does not abandon his
log house His door and window
frames may be painted In white, or
green, II he is wel-to-do, but that Is
the only outward display he makes.
The logs that compose the house are
always peeled. and generally hewn;
and the chinks are filled in winter
with plaster or moss. The street in
front is unpaved, and often in spring
very muddy. Behind the house Is a
garden, where flowers and vegetables
are raised In the hot Russian sum-
mer, which Is very much like the sum-
mer In New England.
The Russian housewife is generally
fond OF flowers, and fills the windows
of her dwelling with them. As the
Russian house is always kept warm.
the plants afford in winter fresh
and delightful contrast to the white
cold OF the snow-covered country and
the Icy village street.
The poorer Russian log house has
but one room, as a rule, which con-
tains bed. a bench running half
way round the room, cupboard and
shelves, and by far the most impor-
tant article Of furniture, a great brick
stove, surmounted by a capaclous
oven.
matter how meager the other furnish
ings. In the long winter the Rus.
sian keeps his house very warm, and
all the year round he uses the oven
once week for taking a bath.
The Russian bath Is familiar In
principle to all the world. Steam Is
its base. The Russian at home gets
up good fire in his stove on Satur-
day, and gets into the oven for his
weekly steaming. The heat would
SURROGATE any other man, but he finds
1t very comforting. When dripping
and as red as a lobster, he gets out
and rubs down with snow, or IL he Is
robust rolls In snowbank.
This process purifies him for Sun
day. as he believes he should be very
clean when he goes to church. Even
the most graceless citizens among
the Russians are good churchmen.
They attend to their religious duties
In way that sets an example for
some Of their critics Many Of their
everyday customs have a religious
significance The wearing OF a beard
Is in strict accordance with the teach
ings Of the church.
The Russian peasant at home Is not
much given to studying appearances.
He still wears his red flannel shirt
outside his trousers. There is a pro-
verb In Russia that the man who tucks
In his shirt ceases to be honest Be
that as 1t may. the shirt outside the
trousers is not always a talisman
against sins Of both omission and COM
mission. notably those Of Ananias.
The peasant costume Is simple. The
trousers. often Of cotton. are tucked
into high boots. The kaftan, or over.
coat, is Of brown cloth. home made.
In winter a sheepskin jacket Is worn
under 1t.
The wife Of peasant wears print
gowns. and so does his little girls, the
latter In summer being innocent of
other garment. The chubby and rosy
checked. fiaxen-haired children play
around the farm In red tunics, ever
with plous medal of ST. Vladimir or
81. Paul around their necks.
Housekeeping among the peasants
Is simple, though the women are hard
workers, often helping In the fields
In addition to doing their housework.
The most important, domestic arti-
Gle in Russian house Is the samovar
literally "self-boiler"-,in which the
family tea Is made. All Russians are
great tea drinkers, and all tea Is made
In samovars. The samovar is a big
brass vessel with a tube down the
center, In which live Goals are placed
TO heat water for making the tea.
Russian cookery is wholesome, and
In the main palatable. Beef pork,
fowls and fish are staples, as with
US. Bread is made from rye, and is
dark brown. being known as "black"
bread. Soup Is much eaten The
most distinctly national soup, which is
eaten by all classes, especially by the
peasants. is called "shchee." II is
made from beef, cabbage, parsley and
carrots, and seasoned with salt and