RUSSIAN PROVERBS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 183, 16 June 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

RUSSIAN PROVERBS.

The cynical humour of the Russians is admirably illustrated by their proverbs, a selection of which we give from the "National Proverbs of Russia," published by Frank Palmer : When money speaks, truth keeps silence. The German may be a good fellow, but it is better to hang him. Even in hell the peasant will have to f-erw the landlord, for, while the latter is boiling in a cauldron, the fornvT will have to put the wood under it. A woman's hair is long, but her sense is short. The spoken word cannot iw -wallowed. The greatest king must at Inst be put to bed with a shovel. Dues bark and the wind esrries it away. A dog is wiser than a woman : he does nnt bark at I.is mast,er. Where (Jiid build-- a church Wore t d'-vi! has his chapel. A woman laugh* when she can and I'l'irs when she wishe-. If vou go to war. pray; if you go on a sea journey, pray twice; but pray thre.» times when you are go ,\g to be married. If yon are not caught, you are no thiol. It is a stupid mouse that knows only one hole. It's a bad soldier who does not aspire to lie a general. What "is good for the Rns'ian <s death, for the (lormnn. l>>waro of a bull when yo'i are in front of hiill. of a donkey when you are behind, and of a monk wherever you are. Von c.ninnt sew buttons on your neighbour's mouth. The Czar is generous, but his generosity passes through tho Ministerial sieve. Twice the wife is dear to the husband—when he marries her and when he buries her.