CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN RUSSIA.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12754, 29 March 1910, Page 4

CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN RUSSIA.

Somo light is- thrown on the internal condition of Itussia by the cablegram whioh states that some boys and girls havo been sent to Siberia ior political offences committed in iH'Ji . Many young people of both sexes have been consigned to exile during the last few years, and the conditions under which thoy have to liv© in their mew surroundings are often appalling. A few weeks ago the "Daily Chronicle" published a letter received -in Europe from a girl, who, with some of her youthful friends, was sent to Siberia last year. "A week ago we settled in the free cantonment,'' she wrote. "F. went out three weeks beforehand"to prepare the mud-hut for us- 'It is such a funny little hut, built of boughs and clay. The floor is of earth as well, and when we first came water streamed in at every conner. • The ceiling is made of boughs covered with earth. And, what do you think? On tho first morning when we woke up we saw the ceiling above the stove all covered with tender little green shoots 1 Our household is as yet rather badly organised., and we get into a good many difficulties. We divided the work amongst vs — cleaning, washing and cooking. ■ But we don't manage things quite well as yet* the cooking especially is deplorable. And our money seems to fly like water. There is no work to be, found here. ; The whole settlement consists of. a few huts, occupied by ordinary criminals, and one or two officials. It is dreadful. Everybody cheats^ us, and we cannot resist them. Their trickery makes us ashamed, and we are silent and glad to drop the matter as soon as possible. This has given us the reputation of being 'very learned but rather block-headed.'" The girl tells that she and her two companions were overwhelmed with joy when they were allowed to leave the cell which they had shared with twelvo or fifteen other prisoners, and she asks for clothing and necessary furniture-, which are not supplied to the exiles in sufficient quantities.' "I like tlie cold beauty. of the landscape," she adds. "Tho mountains crowd all around us; they combine and divergeand little valleys are formed among them. Here and there are masses of rock. I cannot take my eyes off the wild and gloomy picture. . 7 . If each of us had ten shillings a monvli, we should be safe from starvation." It is hardly conceivable that a civilised Government should send mere -■hildren to live amidst such surroundings.