| Show PHASES OP LIFE fata gives us our relatives thank heaven we can choose our friends ie the way the russians regard their siberian half brother any one familiar with the overdressed over dressed much uniformed society of the large russian cities hardly wonders at the air of patronizing tolerance the russian accords his rela the caucasus bays a trav eler who has recently returned from a tran through siberia t the traveler in siberia searching for tho and unconventional is satiated the scenery isun erent from any other in the bleak desolate depressing to the native of the swept pains it Is restful in the extreme tor nature has given the siberian no nerves he Is an odd mixture of dishonesty and friendliness the upper classes are much like veil fed tame animals lacking in ail the savagery and ot the peasant and therefore very unsatisfactory is to the curiosity seeker any one acquainted with the customs t this country knows exactly to what class of society a siberian belongs by alg toot and headwear only an arts socrat la permitted to don a hat and kid boots a middle class woman wears a scarf or face mantilla and calfskin shoes the peasants handkerchiefs on their heads and coarse heavy boots the homes of the wealthy and middle classes are pretty and attractive in the front but filthy in the rear of housekeeping they know nothing and are forced to hire a force of industrious chinese or peasants to do the work they will not do for themselves their habits ire irregular and disorderly in the from 8 to 10 Is the time to rise and partake of tea and bread 12 sees the real breakfast served any time from 7 to midnight Is the proper hour for a heavy repast of soup meats vegetables alno and vodka the national beverage distilled from wheat A meal always ends with glasses of tea brewed in the samovar instead of the black coffee of more conventional countries the hour for social calls is from 10 to 11 in the morning friends meeting in the street shake hands continually until pacing no matter how many times a day they may see each other men always bow to the women farst and on the more important holidays easter christmas and new year they are permitted to exchange kisses of sanitary laws they have never heard a bath is an unnecessary trouble one might gain unlimited wealth by exhibiting in siberia the curiosity known as a bathtub he would have a constant flow of wondering spectators in the peasants or iks the traveler finds more condensed oddity than his wildest dreams ever pictured they are the most ignorant the dirtiest and faulest people on earth |
