The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-10-20

ants life. Weeks before the
corn is ripe enough for cutting
the bailiff goes around the villages on
the estate and collects the extra hands
needed for the work. Reaping ma
chimes are now used all over the coun-
try, but as there are many small woods
and clumps of trees interspersed
among wheatfields in the South, one
often sees women with sickles finish
ing off difficult corners, says writer
in Country Life. They make pretty
picture in their bright dresses against
the high golden wheat, with the dark
woods in the background.
Women predominant in agricultural
life in Russia and are great workers.
Their babies are kept in the village
creches, and looked after by others
till the mothers return at night. Some
times the mothers take them in the
| fields. The women usually begin work
about 5 a. m. and 60 on till twelve
o'clock without a stop, when the mid
day meal is served. This is taken sit
| ting on the ground. 1t generally con-
sists Of thick potato soup, or perhaps
borstock (soup made with beetroots),
'casha" Ca brown grain boiled in the
same way as rice), a raw herring,
and a huge piece of black bread. Each
peasant carries her own wooden spoon
In her pocket, or tucked away in one of
her high boots.
Water is served from barrel, which
goes from field to field, drawn by a
donkey. The oxen are magnificent
creatures, and it is nothing exceptional
to see between thirty and forty pairs
Of them at work the same day. Horses
| are rarely used in the fields.
Between p. m. and 8 p. m. an en-
ormous samovar, Ga special kind Of urn
heated by charcoaD is brought out,
| and boiling weak tea, with two Jumps
of sugar at least, is served to the work
ers in tin mugs. The men, of course,
used to drink vodka, but now it is
stopped, and happily so, for it Is just
about the strongest drink that exists.
The tea hour being only short re-
spite, work Is resumed with vigor and
continued up till six or nine o'clock,
according to the weather. But, ex-
cept for terrific thunderstorm occa-
sionally, it rarely rains at this time.
Fond of Fresh Fish.
Supper consists of practically the
same menu as that which is eaten at
midday, baked or boiled potatoes being
generally substituted for the "casha,"
opd cop,ofip,oS popd corp oroufich opd
perch, fried. All the meals are cooked
outside. An oven and fireplaces made
Of clay and bricks are built in sort
Of trench in a central spot, and here
you see only men cooking.
Fresh-water fish form a very impor
tant addition to the food supply in in
land Russia. AS there are hundreds
Of miles Of marshy ground, great ponds
are made everywhere. The chief fish
stocked are carp, tench and crayfish
The streams and rivers give excellent
trout, but cray-fishing also affords good
sport as well as being considerable
| Industry. A dark night is chosen, If
possible, since in the moonlight the fish
are easily scared and retire to the mid
lie of the pond, where 1t Is impossible
to catch them. The fishers are armed
with strong nets about the size of a
washing basin, but deeper and weight
ed, which are attached to long poles.
Approaching the pond as cautiously as
possible, the nets are dropped in and
| allowed to sink to the bottom. Then
everyone sits and waits in silence, but
smoking furiously to keep away the
mosquitoes, which are both large and
venomous. Then men appear on the
scene suddenly, fourishing large
torches over the surface Of the water,
and the crayfish, retreating, walk into
the nets, which have to be cleared and
dropped again very promptly.