The midland journal., 1915-10-22
IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA
MOST ADVANCED REGION or THE
MuscoVlTE EMPIRE.
characteristics Of the People Are In
Strong Contrast to Those Of the
Central Districts-Are More
Like the Westerners.

The South Russians, or the people
of Little Russia, from among whom
the colossal Muscovite empire draws
some of its bravest, steadiest lighting
men, are people distinguished for
their contradictory characteristics in
a land that is a puzzle Of contradic-
tions. The South Russians, the tough
est fiber of the Russian armies, are a
people full Of interest, of quaint phi
losophies, and of pleasant ways, ac-
cording to bulletin issued by the Ma
tional Geographic society. The sketch
reads:
Between Central and South Rus
SLAMS the contrast is as strong as be-
tween the Prussian an dthe Bavarian.
As in Germany, the vigor of the cars
mighty empire is more sharply ex-
pressed in the north than in the south,
and yet. in the case of both empires,
much of the national strength and en-
ergy are furnished by the south
Russian life is sprightly in the
south. In the north, it is sullen, mo-
notonous, oppressive. In the south
land. too. there is far greater display
of well-being and comfort. The north
eTn peasant lives in colorless villages,
in grayish-brown thatched houses
built of logs, which are stretched
along unsanitary streets, redolent with
the accumulations Of carelessness.
Around these houses there are almost
never any signs that their occupants
are making homes, there are no eff
forts toward improvements. The roads
are mostly just ground left between
two rows Of houses; the yards are
just ground left bare around them.
sThe South Russian builds his home
and orders his village, in the rule,
picturesque and inviting. There are
gardens before the door, and orchards
round about, and the houses of the
village are painted white or pale
green. Porches, balconies, glass and
vine-covered verandas relieve the ar
chitectural uniformity. There is more
cleanliness. gayety, and softer man
ners in the south to tempt the friendly
Judgment of the stranger.
The people OF Central Russia con
fess that they are often more harsh
and more neglectful Of appearances
than they of the south, but, also, they
claim that the northern Russians are
more, faithful, consistent. sturdy and
more tender than their brothers in Lit
tie Russia. North and south, east and
west, all agree that in South Russia
true laziness may be found in unsur-
passed expression. It is said that the
indolent South Russian will say to his
wife: Little wife, say 'swoa" to my
horse; have a pain in my tongue.
Otherwise, the South Russian has
become more like the Westerners. He
dresses as the German. or the Eng
lishman, and he more often takes an
interest in the world without than the
peasant of the north. He is better
nourished, better educated, and, pos
sibly, a trifie less religious. He is also
of purer Slavonic stock, less melan-
choly Finnish is in his blood, and his
dialect is strongly marked.
He runs more to ornament, more
to bright colors, to. singing and to
storytelling than does his northern
compatriot., He is an unabashed and
all-inquisitive questioner, asking the
entire stranger whether the stone in
his scarfpin is genuine or not, how
much his neckwear cost, what his re-
iigion is, and other things somewhat
personal and unexpected. But he is
generally willing to be as free and
frank himself. as he demands. Lazy,
the Little Russian is vigorous and sue
cessful; of elastic, friendly tempera-
ment, he is an unpeered fighter; argu-
mentative at all times, about all
things; he is clannish and patriot,
and stay-at-home he is, yet burning
with interest for all that goes on In
the world"