The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-10-26
films
ARE EDUCATED
BY. GREAT WAR
Sketch is Given Of Taciturn
Hunters, Trappers and
Fishermen.
ss,EelAl 10 &c rElssnAs,

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-sTheae
stirring military times will prove q
liberal education to one Of the most
1 conservative of peoples Russia's
northern Fnns-those Of the prov
fnces Of the lake and forest district
netghboring Finland proper-who
who have persisted in a stubborn
doubling of civilization since Peter
the Great built Russia'B European
window, Pctrograd, to let its light In
upon them says a war primer Just
msued by the National Geographic So
cfety, which gives sketch Of the re-
ligious beliefs Of these taciturn hunt
ers, trappers and fishermen. The
statemen continues:
The forest scepticism Of these Wild
erness-dwellers is that Of Christianity,
which came to them through the RUS
SLAMS. Not that they are everse to the
doctrines Of the Orthodox church, but,
being an unimaginative, practical peo-
-ple, one bad harvest or meagre hunt
Ing season works more disastronsly
upon their faith than all the writings
Of the philosophers would ever do.
Nominally, these northern Firms are
Christians and Orthodox. In reality,
most OF them are practical opportun-
lists in matters Of belief.
Thoroughly Practical.
1.-THE old religion OF the Firms, like
she people themselves. was thorougfiiy
practical, prosaic, frankly unitarian.
The superior powers In the world
existed merely so that their people,
the Firms, might convince them with
argument or cajolefie to make harvest
plentiful and hunting good.
Although Russian civilization has
spread Its influence through their
lands, the old Finnist belief survives
! on in the fold Of the Orthodox church
in its ancient characteristic Of blount,
unyarnished utilitarianism. The Finn
prays for good haryests, large catches,
plentiful game, Increase for his herds.
He tells God in straightforward, un.
adorned, childlike phrases when he
wants his grain to ripen or that his
herd is about to increase and, there
fore, needs special attention. He COM
plains to God in the same confding
way when his taxes seem too heavy
or when his property is stolen. He is
not given to the transports OF mystic
ism, nor to the tenacious or precise
about articles of creed.
He is concerned about averting the
attentions of evil spirits and about
discouraging unwelcome visits from
his dead. So. although Christian. he
places food upon the new-made grave
and exhorts its occupant to stay away.
Apply to New God.
"These northern. films made no
difficulty about accepting Christianity.
When harvests failed, or other misfor.
tunes overlook them. they naturally
applied to the God of the Russians fol
assistance and If convinced that He
was the most potent, abandoned The
old gods without regret. The follow
ing specimen prayer of a northern
Christian Finn, addressed to the favor
ito Russian saint, st Nicholas, Illus
trates his position:
Look here. Nicholas-god.' Per-
haps my neighbor, little Michael, has
been slandering me to you, or per-
haps he will do so. II he does. don't
believe him. / have done him no i'll.
and wish him none. He is a worthless
boaster and a babbler. He does not
really honor you, and merely plays
the hypocrtte. But honor you from
my heart ;and. behold, place taper
before YOU"