RUSSIA. 



809 



31. Education. Ignorance is nowhere more profound than in Russia ; yet much has been 

 done to spread the means of education. Steps have been taken, and at vast expense, that 

 must hereafter diffuse knowledge over the empire. Every parish, or two parishes, united, must 

 have a school, and, besides these, there are 503 general establishments, with 1,505 teachers, 

 besides 51 gymnasia, one in the capital of each government. In the latter, the students are 

 prepared for the universities, of which there are seven, viz. one at Moscow, St. Petersburg, 

 Wilna, Dorpat, Charkov, Kasan, and Helsingfors. There are several schools for the educa- 

 tion of instructers, and upwards of 150 schools attended by students in theology. The Jews 



have a celebrated national institution, and 

 -jT there are besides, medical, mineral, mining, 



marine, and other schools. 



32. Jlmusements . Many of the amuse- 

 ments in Russia are those of the children in 

 other countries. A large assembly will often 

 entertain themselves with forfeits and other 

 similar games. In the cities, ice mountains 

 form a favorite recreation. These are in- 

 clined planes, high and steep, covered with 

 ice, down which the people descend in cars, 

 or on skates, and with the greatest velocity. 

 Swings are also used of various sorts, some 

 turning in a perpendicular, and others in a 

 horizontal manner. On certain festivals, all 

 Artificial Ice Mountain. these are placed in the public squares, and 



the people mingle in the amusements, with much animation, and without distinction of rank. 



It may be remarked, that in despotic countries the extreme ranks are on more familiar terms 

 than under free governments. There is no jealousy between them. At some masquerades all 

 persons have free admittance, who can pay a small sum for a ticket, and the laborer comes in 

 contact with the emperor. This kind of familiarity is exemplified in the national mode of salu- 

 tation, which is by kissing. Peasants kiss each other, and the rank of a princess does not 

 shield her from a salute on the cheek, by the lowest boor, that presents Iier an egg at Easter. 

 Boxing and wrestling are not uncommon, and billiards and cards are general amusements. The 

 chief game, as in Sweden, is a kind of whist called boston. All classes frequent the baths, 

 which are numerous. Some of them are similar to those of Finland. The bathing is also 

 nearly as promiscuous. 



33. State of the Jlrls., Sciences., and Literature. No native Russian has produced great 

 works of art ; but many have successfully imitated them. The embellishments of cities and 

 palaces, are chiefly executed by foreigners. There is some taste for music ; and the national 

 instruments are the balalaika, a guitar with two strings, the gussla, a kind of harp, flutes, and 

 bagpipes. The national ballads are from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Vladimer and his 

 knights, are celebrated in them, as much as Charlemagne and his peers were celebrated by 

 iiouthern minstrels. Nestor, a monk, wrote the annals of Russia, at the close of the 10th 

 century. Russia has, however, little national literature ; what there is, is principally poetry 

 and history. The mathematics are favorite studies. A recent traveller relates, that he was 

 present at a party, where the conversation of the ladies was chiefly upon the "polarity of the 

 rays of light." It is probable, that there was more affectation than knowledge in this, though 

 the female studies are not well selected. 



34. Laws. The laws are voluminous ; but the Emperor Nicholas has promulgated a digest 

 in 16 volumes. Torture is abolished, and the common punishment is fine, the knout, and ban- 

 ishment to Siberia. The punishment of death is nominally abolished. But torture may be 

 inflicted without the rack, and death witliout the scaflbld. Justice is in Russia more uncertain 

 than fortune. It is a common saying, founded on suffering, " God is high, and the emperor is 

 far away." When the emperor is near, it is not always as the minister of justice, or the angel 

 of mercy. The trial of those who have enemies in power may be long delayed, or it may be 

 suddenly or unjustly held. Dr. Morton relates, that in the prison visited by him, among several 

 prisoners, whose trial had been delayed, one had waited 12 years. An order of the emperor 

 is stronger, and more sudden in its operation, than a sentence of court ; for the delays of testi- 

 mony are avoided. The victim, who has offended the emperor or his informers, is taken, if in 



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