116 NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



With the disposition of a traveller to watch for national 

 characteristics, I was inclined to "book" this fact aa 

 peculiar to drivers in America. But I thought it best, 

 before doing so, to inquire into the cause of this unusual 

 phenomenon. 



" Pray, why do you sit on that side ? " I inquired. 



" 'Cause, stranger, I guess I 'm left-handed 1 ' 



I gained some experience by this reply, and resolved, 

 accordingly, never to generalize too hastily, lest I should 

 make mere exceptions prove the rule of manners and 

 customs. 



I don't wish to forget this principle in presuming to 

 speak about the Russians. But, just as a Parliamentary 

 committee, which itself knows little of a subject, never- 

 theless obtains information by examining competent 

 witnesses, so may a traveller have opportunities abroad of 

 examining those who ought to possess information from 

 long residence, and whose evidence he has the means of 

 constantly sifting, and in some degree of testing, by his 

 own limited observation. Accordingly, I naturally em- 

 braced every opportunity given me of ascertaining what 

 those long resident in Russia knew about its people. 

 Circumstances enabled me to come into contact with 

 several well-informed persons, whose character for truth 

 was above suspicion. 



Well, then, let me give my readers a specimen of one 

 conversation of several I had with such witnesses. I 

 do not pretend to give the very words, nor the exact 

 sequence of the remarks. 



