East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-11-26
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RUSSIAN VERSUS Z
ENGLISH CUSTOMS Z


An entertaining Cnapter, "Sllnou-
eileos OF Everyday Life" is in Mad
anne Jarintzofrs recent book. Rus
sla. the Country OF Extremes" In 1t
the author. who has visited much in
England. tells OF the diSsimilarity be-
tween certain Russian and English
customs.
Very frankly she eriticises the care
lessness OF Russian parents in not
teaching children how TO behave at
the table. and she considers that
English writer's who have visited Rus
sta have been generous in mot hav-
ing mentioned our manners at the
table"
Although the Russians learn good
manners with the natural growth OF
rollteness and good taste, there exists
nothing like the English code Of man
ners - the table which children are
So carefully taught.
Fer instance the rea.ier Is surpris-
&C g. learn that mo Russian has eve-I
neard that drinking from a spoon
Ir leaving the spoon in the cup isl
bad manners. and he does not pay the
slightest attention to the relative po-
sition Of his cup and his plate at the
table" Furthermore. II is startling
to be told that "he uses the butter
knife for buttering his own slice OF
bread. after which he puts 1t back
as innocent OF his crime as an an
gei.'
The author says that she can we'll
imagine that English readers VIII be
shocked at these descriptions OF con-
duct at the table and OF other things.
which. she very delightfully."- acknowl-
edges. Jar upon the nerves Of even
Us Russians when We have lived in
England for some time"
Although she hopes that her book
makes It clear that universal respect
10 wcmen is expressed in many ways /,
In Russia, she observes that boys and I
men have not learned TO get up and |
open ! door for lady simply because
she Is a woman, nor are children /
taught 10 stand aside TO let ladies or
visitors pass through a doorway first
Our customs are. as a rule, the
same as in England. and it strikes
us as peculiar that among Russians,
when at dinner. the men. when they
have finished a course, often get up
AMI take a walk up and down the
room" Another thing is that when
dinner Is over il is not customary in
Russia for the women 10 return TO
the drawing room and leave the men.
hut sll stay and talk as much as they
wish.
Madame Jarintzoff tells OF some Of
the Polite customs among Russians
which mean much to them by way
OF Considerate feeling and good taste.
They never finish a meal without
saving Thank YOU" to the hostess,
or when meeting them first in the
course Of the day. and when saying
goodbye or leaving a room they do
not ignore anyone OF those present.
While she admits that politeness in
this Is perhaps overdone. il is better
than cOliness or discourtesy.
AS a final summing up Of contrasts
in manners the author cannot resist
a playful little thrust when she writes,
we never touch Jam Win knlIe-lI
sets our teeth on edge!" And she is
positive that indigestion" as a top
ic OF conversation. is relegated from
Russian dining or drawing rooms
When she first came to England she
admits that she blushed each time
81 the sound Of that word.
Russian boys and girls. she tells US,
are gifted and clever. but often lazy.
off hand and noisy TO an
extent that would upset an English
Even at the risk OF Of
Tending her own compatriots she
states that their children are spoiled.
While English children seem born
with perfect manners"
The things which strike the atten-
tion OF a visitor TO Russia-that is.
before the sudden war brought its
the gayety. the pleas
the chic OF smart society;
the open-hearted hospitality. the gen.
cral interest in education. art sci
ance. dancing and talking-talking
OF everything under the
- v-anfhar