The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-13

st. Petersburg.-There could be no
better way Of making the American
labOring man appreciate the fortunate
conditions that surround him, than to
bring to his notice the cherries state
of the bread-winner in Russia. It re-
quires only the comparison of the
hampered and famIshed life of the one.
with the privileged and prosperous eX-
istence of the other, to show that the
Yankee tOiler is extremely favored. Il
gentleman living in Moscow told me
about having a dress suit made in that
place. He gave the order to q tailor
ing firm. who furnished the material
and sent it out TO be made in a Jewish
family. AfterWard the tailor who
made the suit told the owner that all
he got for the work was 70 cents. lie
said further that by utilizing the
whole time Of his entire family he
could earn only two or three dollars
week.
chop. because he cannot afford to pay
shop, because he cannot affard to pay
rent. The people think so little of
having their footwear repaired that
the artisan must get out where people
can see him or he viii attract no
customers. So he wanders about the
streets. carrying his tools with him.
The photographer has no difficulty in
getting a snapshot of a wayfarer sit
ting barefooted on the sidewalk. with
necessary repairs. A few cents a day
is the best return the itinerant may
expect for his exposure in tramping
endlessly through the dismal streets /
in all kinds of weather
Clever With the Ak.
The Russian carpenter IS a peculiar
genius whose principal tool is the
ak Although his skill is confined
mostly to this one implement. he is
h A. Fa
back as the Philadelphia exposition
the carpenters from the land Of the
car created IA sensation among other
craftsmen. when they reported at the
site where the Russian building was
TO be constructed. with no tools
other than axes. To the surprise of
the onlookers they not only con-
structed the house in first-Class style,
but made beautiful decorations which
were almost lacelike in their hneness-
Yet skilled carpenters in Russia earn
only IS cents 4 day
Electrical workers are not very ex-
pert because their industry was slow
in getting a start in the country.
When it was proposed to light the
streets of the various cities in Russia
the officials objected 70 the innovation.
The mayor of Moscow opposed it by
saying that those who wished to go
about at night should carry lanterns
It is only recently that lights were
pIaced in the great St. Isaac's cathe-
dral at St Petersburg. Formerly each
Worshiper was supposed to bring his
own candle to light him in and out of
the holy edifce.
BoiIernakers Unreliable.
It is commonly remarked that the
employer of boiler makers who would
make any Roadway with his contracts
must have two sets Of wOrknen, one
to be on duty while the other gets
drunk. The fact that the Russian is
so frequently incapacltated by drink
IS not so much due TO heavy cOnsump-
ton, as 10 his inability to stand even
moderate Indulgence. The common
drink is vodka, a white LIQUOR much
weaker than whisky. Though the av-
erage American could drink ten or
twelve glasses Of il. the Russian is so
poorly fed that even little of it
makes him drunk.
The manner in which the Russian
firenen conduct themselves when
there is a confagration is a good sam
pie Of the incapacity which is general
throughout the country. Their equip
r.7al7t is little better than that of a
I,ucket brigade. and they wear heavy
metal caps which are sure TO become
heated If the wearers get near the fire.
They seldom get near the flames. how
ever but endeavor to prevent their
spread by pulling away timbers. They
put in the most of their time standing
around smoking cigarettes. while the
small boys of the neighbOrhOod do the
work.
One of the best proofs of the debased
condition of labor in Russia is afford
ed by the swarms of hungry hack
drivers in all the cities. In St Peters
burg alone there are over 1900 public
hacks which are used during the sum-
mer months while during the winter
over 20, 900 sledges are at the disposal
of the public. The drivers Of these are
farmers who have to supplement their
labor in the country by working a
portion of each year in the city 1t
seems a pity that the honorable and
independent calling of the agricultur-
list should be so depressed that its
members cannot make livelihood
from 1t, and are forced TO leave their
homes for portion of each year to do