The Harvester World: Volume 2, number 7, April 1911

              The Harvester World

15

governing these jehus. In winter, when there is plenty of snow, swift sleighs take their places. This is the time, when my friend, the bridge "gorodskovoi" or policeman, dons his great bearskin cap, which is about the size of a half bushel basket, and places, an extra bottle of vodka in his pocket. This immense cap is the very model from which our latest style ladies' hats are copied. It is quite interesting to watch the boats arrive at the foot of the bridge, bringing cargoes of sunflower seeds, which are sold in large quantities, to be eaten by the natives, the same as we eat pea¬ nuts. Then there are boat loads of green, unripe water¬ melons about the size of large cocoanuts, and cucum¬ bers, both of which form exquisite table luxuries. The "cukes" are eaten raw like apples, by small children as well as grown people and it has always been a conun¬ drum to me how such food can be stomached without any serious results. A stroll over the bazaar or market, which is located in the upper part of the town, is also quite interesting. This upper part of Omsk is about twenty feet higher than the older part and is reached by a gradu¬ ally rising road or by a stone stairway from the sidewalk. In the booths, which make the market square look like a little town for itself, are found various new and second¬ hand articles, furniture, kitchen utensils, boots, and pro¬ ducts of the Khirgiz in the shape of embroideries and other fancywork. Vegetables are not very plentiful, scarcely any potatoes, all the vegetables on sale would not stock a one-horse grocery here in Chicago. Yet, considering all these deprivations and shortcomings from Mother Nature, the native "Siberiak" is quite jolly and very optimistic, and as long as he has a piece of his coarse, black bread, his "romky vino" (vodka) or his "stachan tshai" (glass of tea) he is perfectly satisfied with his life. The accordion is the principal and most popular instrument in the Siberian villages and young and old can play on it more or less artistic¬ ally. In the evening after their work in the fields is finished they return home, arm in arm, one playing the accordion, singing and enjoying themselves. While sojourning in Omsk for some time, 1 accepted invita¬ tions to visit some of the better class of inhabitants and quite enjoyed a number of pleasant evenings. I can speak only with the highest respect of their hospi¬ tality and their refined treatment of a stranger. There is nothing so homelike and comfortable as a Russian
obi.>}ireika at work in the fields near Omsk, Siberia
family gathered around their tea table with the steam¬ ing samovar at one end presided over by the hostess, who will pour the delicious tea and pass it around with kind and pleasant words.
We will now proceed to the docks of the steamship line and take passage on one of the modern sidewheel-
ers to "ancient Semipalatinsk, ' the old Tartar capital. Finally, after a four days ride our destination is reached and we immediately notice the oriental char¬ acter of the town by hundreds of slender minarets or church steeples with a small gallery near the top, from which the muezzin or Mohammedan priest calls in the evening hours his "Allah il Allah,'.' gathering his
Types of the Native Russian Peasantry who   are fast becoming familiar with IHC Machines
flock to the mosque. Strolling through the Tartar quarter one hears very little Russian, but mostly Tartar or Turkish; you are greeted with a solemn " Salaam aleikum.'' The Tartars dress quite oriental and wear little black or fancy embroidered tasseled Turkish caps; the fair sex goes about heavily veiled. There are few Russian officials in town, and when I stepped from the gang-plank of the steamer, I was respectfully saluted by half a dozen gens d'armes.
Down in this part of the country most generally oxen are used as draft animals and machines so eijuipped will sell more readily than the horse-hitch. The bazaar, which is quite oriental, most merchants being Tartars, offer for sale handsome embroideries and wonderful silk shawls, which are so delicately woven that when folded, they can easily be accommodated in your waistpocket. I bought one, which I carried home in a Swedish match box. The city park near the river is quite a nice place, with a clubhouse, small theatre, and good restaurant. A band sometimes offers a "guliani" or promenade concert, on which occasion the young people throw much confetti. In the absence of a regular hotel in this town, I was obliged to rent a room, where I generally prepared my own break¬ fasts and suppers with the aid of an alcohol lamp, the daily menu generally consisting of eggs, either boiled or fried. I will now close the last of my articles and earnestly wish to appeal to the other experts and trav¬ elers, requesting them to relate some of their expe¬ riences in foreign lands for the benefit of all readers of our Harvester World.
A DEAD SHOT ON  LIVERS
"I hear, doctor, that my friend Brown, whom you have been treating so long for liver trouble, has died of stomach trouble," said one of the physician's patients.
" Don't you beheve all you hear," replied the doctor. "When I treat a man for liver trouble, he dies of liver trouble."