SOME BENEFICENT RESULTS TO SLAVDOM

SET FORTH BY MADAME OLGA NOVIKOFF

TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN BY MADAME VINOGRADOFF

Dr. Paul Vinogradoff, the famous professor of jurisprudence at Oxford, writing to Madame Novikoff about this article, says: “The elimination of superfluous trimmings from the uniform of the gigantic Russian Army of many millions—really this is a great idea that has come to you, and I can only express to you my warmest and most sincere wish for the realisation of this important and at the same time most useful idea. Concerning the ways of communication and general education, this appears to be the great and most essential question of Russian life. If you add to this postal and custom-house reforms, then your article would be as a thunder-clap—as there is a good reason for the popular proverb, ‘Abroad a calf can be bought for a farthing, but the carriage of it would cost a rouble.’”

 

The present war must inevitably be followed in Russia by many reforms in every department of national life. Special attention must be directed to the question of expenditure, especially the expenditure now absolutely wasted in useless luxuries, and it will be necessary to exercise a very strict economy in all directions in Russia as in other countries. As a matter of self-defence, even when the thunder of war and the clash of swords shall have ceased, we shall be compelled to face many stupendous and serious problems, including a system of universal education and the development of the enormous mineral and other natural riches of the country. Upon the extension of railway communications and transport will depend the “daily bread” of the community, and this development cannot be delayed. Economy, well understood and wisely applied, will achieve the greatest results—so much at present is simply wasted on trivialities.

The subject recalls a conversation which I heard in Moscow many years ago, and which now and again comes involuntarily to my recollection. It was very trivial, something about the silly gold trimmings and buttons on uniforms, and their usual number and quality. I do not remember it exactly, but the gist of the matter lies in the remark of a Moscow friend of mine to my joke that we represented in ourselves the heroines of Gogol— “those who were beautiful in all respects and those who were simply beautiful.” “You are mistaken,” he said. “it is the question itself that is serious; it is a very important question and demands careful consideration. The elimination of a very small piece of trimming on each uniform will develop into the saving of a huge sum when it is a question of equipping an army and navy of millions.” And he was right—each thread represents a fortune, it is clear that it will be necessary to take every detail into consideration, no matter how trivial they may appear to us. The heroines of Gogol quarrelled as to the respective attractions of  “little eyes” and “tiny hands”— but the question for us will be to save our farthings, earned by much labour and hitherto squandered so freely.

Those who have been at Easter-time at St. Isaak’s or the Kasansky Cathedral in Petrograd, and have seen that there is not room enough for half the crowd that is literally thirsting for the prayers of the church, will realise the urgent necessity of increasing the accommodation and usefulness of the churches. At times I have been obliged to stand for two hours in a queue outside the church before I could enter. Then must be considered the burning and urgent question of universal education: elementary schools, public libraries and universities. This will not be a question of the quarrels of the heroines as to “little eyes” and “tiny hands”—it is not a question of trifles, but of stupendous benefits for the whole of the Russian people. The suppression of a little gold trimming or ornamental accoutrement, or, still better, the replacing of the splendid and magnificent, but pompous, military uniforms by plain ones, would greatly curtail senseless extravagance, and would bring a mighty influence for good upon the budget of the Empire. In the discussion of these questions it is well to have the best people thinking how a real benefit may be obtained for Russia.

There were those who looked forward to beneficial reforms while we were still at peace, but their expressed opinions were quickly forgotten except by a few of their auditors. If a good fairy could appear before me and ask me what I would wish at the present moment. I should not hesitate to reply in the spirit of the remark of my Moscow friend: “I should like to abolish entirely the senseless gorgeous pomposity of the military officer, and never more see his over-elaborated uniforms. Let them be replaced by a plain, sensible khaki uniform as supplied to the brave men now at the front. Such uniforms remind us of events that thrill our souls, of the brilliant victories of our warriors on which the world has gazed in amazement. The brave deeds, the magnificent self-sacrifices—these are our triumphs, our national trophies. Let the nation realise the importance of these simple uniforms and the benefit they will prove not only to our pockets, but in the development of our moral and ethical progress.

Strange arguments are sometimes to be heard in defence of gorgeous uniforms. In order to attract our youths to enter military service it will be said that we must allure them with attractive uniforms. I cannot understand how such an absurd opinion could be seriously received and accepted. Those who are about to give themselves to the service of the Motherland are not convinced by such hollow arguments, but are prompted by far higher ideals. From official simplicity in dress will develop other good examples tending to abolish trivial display in all shapes and forms, among women as well as men. The quicker this is brought about so much the better and more beneficial it will be. Money is a great force certainly, but only when devoted to some desirable object, such as education or the development of the national resources.

This war will awaken all our activity, will direct all our energy just where it may best be applied, and Russia, with God’s help, will become stronger than ever, will be enabled to overcome the remorseless enemy at her gates, and will be able to free herself from the grip of dangerous and undesirable German elements.

О. K.