THE RUSSIAN PEASANTRY.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RUSSIAN PEASANTRY.

A LITTLE SKETCH OF THEllt LIFE AND CUSTOMS. The life of the Russian peasant is the moat pitiful, most wretched that the reader can imagiue. At the time when the people of the western j countries of Europe are advancing towards a more favourable stage of life the Ru«sian peasant remains in his primitive state. I have lived among the Russian peasantry for over twelve years, during which time I had a favourable opportunity of studying their life in all its phases. The Russian peasant, although hardened by his circumstances, is uatunilly kind. No stranger has as yet met with a refusal of hospitality, be it to the extent of a dry piece of bread or a night's lodging in a little hut. "We must divide what we posses," says a simple Russian proverb, which, be it said to the credit of the majority of the population, is stiictly adhered to. The life of the Russian peasant is full of misery and wretchedness. The constant care and hard struggle for his daily existence, the heavy taxes that he is burdened with and which he ia bound to pay under any circumstances, all this is sufficient to deprive him of all the enterprise and ambition that are peculiar to the more civilised and consequently more happy nations. Total darkness and blind superstition are main features of his character. The belief in the evil spirit as a mighty power, having a great deal to do with the fate of every individual has taken deep root in his mind and no reason seems able to extricate it. Any tale of the supernatural is taken as a matter of fact, aud any matter of fact is looked upon rather sceptically. I can recall cases of shocking superstition that will to a certain extent illustrate the character of the peasant. One happened in a small village in the vicinity of I£ief. On one dark rainy autumn night a poverty-stricken old man threw an infant into tho river, or, as he said, handed ib over to the fiend in exchange for a purse of gild that he supposed was hidden in a certain secluded place, aud that could not be found unless some innocent human being was sacrificed. lv another village a sick woman was choked to death" by her kind neighbours in their efforts to squeeze the fiend out of her throat. Further more, an old j woman, a supposed witch, was beaten to death by the villagers for bringing a pestilence upon the cattle through the aid and influence of the evil one. These are a few of the incidents that occur daily in the peasant's life. The English reader can hardly imagine anything more miserable, more wretched than the little hut in which a family averaging six or seven members, i 3 often found living. Imagine a little cave of five by four, half of which is cut off by a large primitive Btove, dark and gloomy, and that will be the " sweet home " of the Russian peasant,. Every inch of space is inhabited, so that, as a matter of course, tho air ia made poisonous and intolerable, and this explains the frequent fatal diseases prevailing among the Russian peasantry. Their daily habits and methods of life are of the simplest character. Five o'clock in the morning, in al 1 seasons, is generally the hour at which a family rises. The woman begins immediately to prepare breakfast, which generally consists, of a mixture of sauerkrout, beets, and potatoes, called " borshtch," and coar3e rye bread. A large trunk, the only piece of furniture to been seen in a peasant's hut, which at the same time serves as a table, is spread with a coarse cover, and after saying prayers the head of the family, followed by the rest of the members occupies hia seat. After the ' borshtch ' pot is emptied everyone goes out to his work. ;, If it is winter time the men aie engaged in feeding the cattle and the women in spinning their flax. Everyone has his hands full. At twelve o'clock dinner is announced. Again " borshtch " on the trunk table, followed by a potful of boiled potatoes and plenty of coarse rye bread. Supper consists of the remnants of dinner. On Sunday, however, or days of festival, an epicurean piece of salt pork or mutton and fresh rye bread— which the peasant, and still more his better half, is very fond of — adorn the table. White bread, tea or coffee are looked upon as a luxury beyond the reach of the peasantry. It is only on very rare occasions — if, for example, anyone in the family is sick — that such a luxury finds place in the peasant's home. After the day's work is over the peasant goes out for recreation. The tavern, which id the only place of attraction for him, is generally crowded in the evenings. The most burning topics of the day are di&cussed there. What strikes a stranger who is present at one of such meetings is the absolute confusion which characterises its proceedings. All speak at once, no one listens, and the debates are scenes of wild disorder. But there is no rule without an exception ; an orator may sometimes command general attention. In such cases utter silence prevails, aud those who interrupt are ordered to " shut up." As a general thing, however, everybody is arguing at the top of his voice, and a wild uproar goes on, which oftentimes ends in a fight. Ballotting 13 uuknown in the Russian village assemblies. Every question, of whatever character, must be settled animously. The settlement of a question mostly depends on the starosta (village official) or any other important person of the village, whose influence conciliates all interests and wins the suflerage of the entire gromada (commuuity). To reach this cousumation, however, thorough debates and a good threshing of the subject discussed are indispensable. Everyone must freely express his opinion and shout at the top of his voice his arguments before any concessions are made. It is worth while to mention that despotism, the .characteristic feature

of the Russian Government, predominates also here. The strongest j and most influential, as a general thing, are sure of carrying out their schemes. With all the apparent freedom of speech and expression of opinion that everyone indulges in it is not the majority, but the strongest minority that is the ruler. There are cases on record of a gromada locking up their stubborn members if such were looked upon as obstacles to carrying out a certain scheme. What the influential part of the gromada decides upon everyone must consent to. In August 1874, on my return from Kief to Pereiaslof, I happened to be detained in a village for several hours. As it was on Sunday I went over to the tavern, where I was told j-I should fiud the groraada in its full assemblage. I was glad of the opportunity, and soon found myself face to face with a lively crowd, such as I had never seen before. As far as I can remember, the election of a convener, or town crier, waß going on. Arguments pro and con were freely and loudly expressed, and everyone seemed to be taking quite an active part in the general uproar. At first I was at a loss to know what was going on, but soon a communicative old peasaut explained everything tome. What interested me most was the Btarosta, a strong- and hearty fellow of forty. His philosophical calmness, deliberate, and explicit style of speech, that distinguished him from all tho other fellows, commanded for a while general attention, and I was right in concluding at once that the gromada would soon find itself on the starosta's side. The final scene consisted of a liberal partaking of vodki, which was furnished by the starosta from the reserve funds of the gromada Wishes for the prosperity of the living and eternal peace of the dead — a very popular wish among the peasantry — were expressed, and thus a day of joy aud excitement drew to its close.