Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-24

principaIlty OF Kien by the widow OF
Duke Igor. Olga of Pskof, the daugh-
ter of a Russian ferryman.
In the 18th century Ivan, the third.
the liberator of Russia from the Tartar
yoke married Sophia, the daughter OF
the last Byzantine emperor.S She was
In reality the ruler of Muscovy as well
as ruler of her husband and imprinted
the Byzantine traditions, law. taste ano
views of life on everything. Sophia,
the sister OF Peter the Great was at
tracted by European customs and taste
even before her illustrious brother whc
liberated Russian vomanhood from
semi-slavery and the Oriental seclusion
OF the Terema-
During the greater part of the 18th
century Russia was ruled by women.
and you know that IL was the genius
and bravery Of Catherine the second
which carried on the. mighty work be-
gun by Peter the Great Seeing the
wonderful energy and endurance Of the
Russian women is il any wonder than
they often overrule the nenI
The amount of philanthropic interest
taken by many Russian women in their
less favored sisters is striking. From.
the very highest in the land down to
the overworked school teachers there is
a wonderful spirit of helpfulness, or
real service. in the hearts of the Rus.
sian women.
The highest class of Russian women
have our sympathy. and should have
our prayer, for a tremendous RESPONSE
bility rests on them. A Russian noble,
his wife and children can influence for
good, or evil, to an enormous degree
The womez students of Russia num-
Der many thousands. and in 1920 the
compulsory law goes into effect you
can imagine the increase and the need
Of Christian teaching Already the edu-
Gated women Of Russia. whether as
doctors or teachers, form very inn
portant class 10 the community.
A contributor to the Worlds Y. W.
C. A. Quarterly wrote in April. 1907.
MANY women reach the metropolis
with exaggerated hopes Of finding
means of existence by giving lessons.
or obtaining Office work. the number
is enormous. The fee for their lessons
is screwed down to the utmost; half
starved girls are only too willing to
accept about 10 cents an hour. and 50
or 81 a month for three hours daily
teaching is considered quftefa fortune
How are books. board. lodging,
clothing and college fees to be met by
girls whose parents are too poor to
help themT'
The women. working women, of Rus
STA have a hard time. Let us pray
that they may learn to Trust In God,
and find the ideal life by coming under
the sway of the Holy Spirit. the Com.
forter.
The American women. in the cities,
on the farms or villages think life
hard, but the Russian working women
have long hours poor accommodations
and are ill-paid. They take a regular
share Of the field work. not occasional
", but all the time. There are few
modern methods there and less ma
chinery. The men sow the barley and
other crops. but the women gather by
hand, simply with the old-fashioned
sickles. The men cut the hay but the
women make" IL. and. a working day
is as long as one can see.
This winter we must set apart a pO-
ton of our time to study and to pray
for the women in these lands beyond
the seas. Thes:e sistess of ours who
may or may not have wealth and cul-
ture. but surely lack the zone thins
needfur'-a saving knowledge of Jesus,
the crucifed Savior.
Faithfully yours,
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.