Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-23
SOCIAL CLASSESFOR
STUDY FOR VISITORS

Social classes in Russia form among
the most interesting studies for the
visiting foreigner, provided he stays
long enough in the realm of the ear
in order to learn the details of the vast
empires organization and to get some |
understanding therefor" begins a bull
letin issued today by the National Geo
graphic Society, which deals with one
of the proudest boasts of the Russians.
their boast that fixed castles do not ex-
list in Muscovy. The enthusiastic Rus
sian denies that there is any such thing
as social class in Russia, and enlarges
upon this statement with the predic-
ton that Russia is destined to become
the foremost civilization in the world,
because 1t Is not hampered by class
prejudices and class hatreds. The Rus
sian noble mixes with the Russian
merchant, and has no feeling. as a no
Bile. of the insuperable gulf between.
him and the peasant In theory, at
least, opportunities for advancement
and honors in the service of the gov
eminent are equal for all, as are the
opportunities for education and social
intercourse. In the sense accepted in
western Europe, Russia. in reality, has
proletariat.
True Only in Part.
However. the Russophirs insistence
that Russia has no social classes Is not
strictly correct 1t is true, as incon-
gruous as it seems. that Russians, the
supporters of autocracy. are among the
most democratic of all peoples In their
local organizations, the village COM
munes. the Russian peasants possess
an almost perfect organization from
the social democrats point of view,
nile their MOBILES, once freehoiders,
reLaade INTO servants OF the state by
refer The Great ana mod.ned ny succeed
ing sovereigns, have developed no
strong class CONSCIOUSNESS. no irou-
ciau traditions and no isoiating esprit
de corps. 1ney comprise ricn ana poor
RUSSIAN citizens. citlzens o. h.sn and
low uegrec, citizens of culture ana il
llterate citizens.
Nevertneless. position. wealth and
culture in Russia, everywhere else,
DO constitute class advantages, wniie
until Just recently. the ciefsy OF the
Church nave formed the most
exclusive of fixed castles. The nobiesi
mostly large landed proprIeIors. ana
the Tchinovniks, or the innumeraple /
government officials. also form special
and as in western Europe
there are circlek within circles. More
over. these various classes are recog-
nized by a mass of legislation in the
RUSSIAN code. Nevertheless, Russians
can claim one advantage. This is that
their country is almost free from class
and that the existing classes
are. generally speaking. very fluid. A
nrmly esta bllshed autocracy leaves lit
tie room for a bitter struggle between
class and class: country where more
than two-thiras of the people are en-
saged In agricultural pursuits has still
less occasion for class animosities, and
when it is further considered that the
true Russian is social democrat by
nature 1t is no longer an object for
that the catchwords of the
west. used in the political and economic
Of the classes. have but little
substance and meaning for the Rus
sian.
Distinction Largely Superficial,
The distinctions between man and
man. and family and family in Russia
are largely superficial The law reco,:-
nizes-as the Russophil explains
merely by way of administrative fic-
tons, four general divisions of the
nobility. the clergy. the
town jewellers and the peasantry.
Peter the Great, a passionate organic
er, who spent his energetic life in the
endeavor to centralize the state and
give it an efficient scheme of governt
nent, made class distinctions in the
and much more definite than they had
been before. and, also. added to them.
His successors Travelled in the paths
which he had pointed out. Catherine
the Great, German princess, endeay-
pred to create a west-European aris-
.ocracy and bourgeoisie in her EN-
Dire, and, with these objects in view,
as. also, probably. that of her own
tame, she was untiring in her efforts
o found towns. Peter the Great made
the road to rank, and among
he counts whom he cheated some ha 4
begun life peasants. BARRIERS. but
ers, etc Catherine IL took the or
of the French monarchy as
Ter model.
THE great landowners and the high
n government officials form the first
society of the realm, the wealthy mer-
chants, smaller landowners and the
great part of the professional people
mall tradespeople. the artisans and the
,easantry constitute a third class.
There is practically no proletariat-
hough such class is in the making in
Moscow and in some other Of the
,reater cities. Decorations are very
common, as are titles. There are more
han 700, 900 members of the nobility.
Lmong whom there are hundreds OF
Princes and princesses. Russia's plen-
iful supply Of nobilities has kept them
rom becoming objects of awe to Ru0A
ian folk in general. The Russian payh
most honor to the government omciais.
he tcninovnika or the rank holders in