The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-30
MISERY OF THE CARS PEOPLE.
Poverty OF the Georgian P~easant-n the
siums ef Moscow.

Poverty OF he Georgian Peasant-In the
slums ef Moscow.
ALAZAN VALLEY, Nov. 26.-Within mans
memory the peasants just around here have
always owned their lands. Across the
valley the villages Of the same Georgian
race form feudal communities. their only
payment to the State in the old days Of
Georgian freedom being a supply Of men
to fight the Persians or the wild Islam
tribes in the mountains above them.
But further up the valley the old Georgian
mobiles or princes own nearly all the land.
except the best parts, which have been
seized by the Russian Government. The
princes let to the peasants for what rent
they can get. and in the last two years
certainly that has not been much.
I believe a good deal has been written
lately against the Georgian princes, and
that by writer's who, knowing them
only by second hand report and gossip
in Tinis, have been able TO form al I'M
biased opinion. This advantage is not
mine, for l ave known ONE OF them in
timately and ave lived in their country
houses, so that perhaps l am p~rejudiced
by their extraordinary hospitality and
politeness.
Some, no doubt. have insisted on rent
from their peasants, even during the trou-
bles OF the last few months. SOM have
appealed for Cossacks TO assist them, even
though they knew the denominations to
which the villagers would be exposed.
For such there is no defence, any more
than there is defence for evicting land
lords anywhere who call in troops and
constabulary to drive out peasants and
destroy their homes. But i know Geor-
gian princes who, rather b be guilty
OF such atrocities toward their own people,
have given up all thought Of rent and
are working their own bits OF vineyard or
maize to keep themselves. / nave known
others who have gone into Tifis and are
living in genuine poverty pom teaching
or journalism.
More conspicuous, though not more
praiseworthy. is the behavior OF the society
called the Noblemen's Bank. II is COM
posed entirely Of the princes, and by care
full business the directors have increased a
small subscribed capital to the sum of
81 900 GOO. The interest on this amount is
entirely devoted TO the good Of the Georgian
people, especially in educstionl
But lately the princes have voted a large
sim for the relief of the districts OF Koutais
and Guria, which, az is now we'll known,
were cruelty devastated by Russian troops
last spring and are still in the utmost dis
tress. Yet the movement in those prov
iuces was originally directed against the
princes and began by a refusal Of rent.
So / have found it generally among the
nobility. They are landlords. it is true, but
they are Georgians first, and. coming OF a
good fighting stock, many OF them stand
among the leaders OF revolt.
But to return to the peasant; he is one
Of the poorest OF the class that owns any
land at all. After some difficulty l have
calculated that the average income OF a
peasant family in this valley is from $50
TO e35 a year, including the value OF food
and clothing, but not house rent, which
hardly exists. OF this amount an average
OF e. has to be paid in local and imperial
taxes-paid in cash, not including the in
direct taxation on such Injuries as vodka.
But mere money value il never a trust
worthy guide to the standard OF life. One
peasants home consisted OF one largish
room, with a few sheds foy tools, and an open
loft under the roof for drying maize and
tobacco leaves. IL was built OF great round
stones from the torrent bed, cemented
together, and the roof was wood.
There was no whitewash or other covering
on the inside walls. but the stones showed
through and were blackened with the
smoke OF a fire in the middle OF the floor.
An iron chimney went through a side wall
and took on part OF the smoke.
The floor was earth, but nearly half OF
IL was covered by a raised boarding. which
was the family salon, dining room aud
bed. Two rugs were on it n two holsters.
The only other furniture was a chest for
clothes and q cupboard for provisions. The
wife was busy with dinner A cat, two dogs,
a few chickens and a few children played
on the floor.
Seated cross legged opposite me on the
boarding the peasant showed ms hospi-
tally. Drinking a glass first TO prove there
was no poison, he gave me wine from his
own bit OF vineyard, bread from his own
maize and scrspSof his own sheep toasted on
a wooden skewer. There we're walnuts n
salt besides; no knives or forks, but one
wooden spoon, W perhaps two.
The wife had wine in the same way,
l think as a special treat, but did not
eat with US. and kept her mouth covered
in her headdress, as is the mountain way.
In manners and national courtesy no prince
OF Georgia could possibly nave surpassed
the peasant, and be led me down again 20
the sunshiny path with an easy sense OF
equality in all honor and good will.
IL 10 only a few weeks since / was among
the poor in Moscow. Twice I was in a lodg-
ing which a locksmith and ironworker kept
a. part wages for his hands, which Is the
usual Russian custom, or was till last year.
/ found nineteen men and boys living in
one small room. The beds were arranged
all over the floor. being wooden tables with
a slight slant for comfort. Two men slept
each table, and each man had a narrow
strip OF canvas nailed 10 the board as a
There we're no bedclothes, and no one
undressed. But the room was heated by az
stove, at which q woman cooked broth.
Next time I went / found q great change.
The room was divided into two by q rough
partition about seven feet high. and the
woman told mo the police had been there