WIVES IN RUSSIA.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2642, 27 June 1877, Page 2

WIVES IN RUSSIA.

A peasant in the Tillage of Zalova Baltia, having reason to doabt the fidelity of his spouse, deliberately harnessed her to a carl in com; any with a mare-<-a species of double harness for.which/the lady was probably unprepared when she took the nuptial tow. He then* got into the cart in company with a friend and drove the ill-assorted team some sixteen versts (nearly eleven English miles) without spr ing the whip-cord. When he returned from his excursion he shaved , tbo .unlucky Woman's' - head, tarred "and feathered her, and ..turned her out of doors. She naturally sought refuge and consolation from her parish priest; but he sent her back to her lord and master, prescribing farther flagellation. An appeal to justice by the poor woman and her relatives resulted in a nonsuit, and any recourse to a higher court will probably terminate in the same manner. The use of the whip is' almost universal in Russia; any magistrate can order the knout to be applied to a. malefactor, and a contemporary informs us that the fearful instrument consists of a lash of leather dipped in glue, and then thickly incrusted .with iron-filings - and powdered glass. It need hardly be said that death under this punishmant is not unfreqaent. Until quite recently the master or mistress of a household used to » horsewhip the domestic servants on New Year's Day, to remind them of their inferior position. The liberation of the serfs does not seem to have completed' Russian civilization. ' ' ■ :