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Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2137, 1 May 1914, Page 9

There is no civilised nation in the world that lives the semi-nomadic and semi-military life of a Russian Cossack to-day. As compared with an, average Russian peasant a Cossack is a born nobleman and enjos's the privileges, of nobility. He is not rich enough to maintain luxury and great comfort, but ho has leisure, which ho and his family care- for principally. Most of the Cossacks are'fairly well educated and have a. passionate fondness for music . and drama. Their towns of fivo or ten thousand, inhabitants-havo two municipal theatres' and a permanent comic opera company. Unlike tho real Russians, tho Cossacks aro extremely fond of light opera,i which somehow resembles the romantic West European grand operas. Their folk songs are mostly romantic and hilarious, with lugubrious touches hero'and there, and their passionato temperament is revealed in both songs and danco. music. Many Russian composers havo used tho passionate styla ( of expression of tho Cossacks in their works and have adopted their themes. A modern Cossack song is a miniature musical drama in itself, and is called a "romance" in. Russian. Like tho Spaniards , , tbe Cossacks, therefore have a class of troubadours, who, instead of walking from village to village, ride on horseback with their "gusly" and give performances of music and song in front of houses. They are treated with respect and rewarded generously according to their talents. There aro aieo worcen troubadours among tho Cossacks, and their performances in tho pleasant surroundings of' a garden or in a street sceno aro truly impressive. Tho-trouba-dours have an interesting appearance, tho men looking military and the women picturesque in their ' bright-coloured dresses lavishly embroidered with flowers and leaves, and draped with presents of beads, chains; and ribbons. —Ivan Nar.odny, "Musical America."