RUSSIAX WOMEN. 3 J 7 



tobacco and paper and roll their own " papyros," but 

 mostly they buy the ready-made Russian cigarettes 

 with the paper mouthpieces. 



The great want of the Russian lady seems to be 

 something congenial to occupy her time. She finds 

 no pleasure in needlework, nor in walking abroad, lawn 

 tennis, or any active pursuit whatever. She is not per- 

 mitted by the paternal government under which she 

 happens to have been born to take any active interest 

 in politics or to promote societies for the advocacy of 

 women's rights. Clubs and societies of any kind are 

 looked upon with suspicion, and it is only by special 

 permission of the authorities that she may even form 

 a society in her native town for the distribution of rye 

 bread and cabbage soup in winter to the poor, or a S. 

 P. C. A. 



Novels and cigarettes and sunflower seeds are well- 

 nigh all the legitimate occupations that come within 

 her reach ; especially at her country residence, away 

 from theaters and balls. She feels within her an in- 

 spiration to a wider sphere of usefulness than readings 

 smoking, and nibbling, — but what can she do ? She 

 would teach the poor children of the neighborhood, 

 but the government won't allow it. She has an idea 

 that the ritual and ceremony of the Orthodox Church 

 is the merest mummery, and would seek information 

 in other directions ; but the government won't grant 

 that privilege either. 



She eventually finds diversion in the attentions of a 

 lover. By a curious coincidence, my information on 

 this score seemed to be verified by an incident that 

 came under my notice before I had been a week in 



