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CHAPTER VII.
A POLICY OF DEATH.
Ignorance and Superstition Due to the Government—Repression of Schools—
Schools Under tbe Priests—An Extensive Curriculum—Attitude to
Private Schools—An Educated Mushik—The Story of Semjanoff—
Educational Statistics—A Battle of Circulars—Ignorance and Disease—
Superstition—Officinl Folly—Practical Consequences—A Sister of the
People—The Hospital—Ravages of Disease—Responsibilities of the
Church and Government
The ignorance and superstition of the Russian peasants,
which, strikes a visitor so forcibly, may be unhesitatingly
attributed to the deliberate policy of the Government, and not,
to the character of the peasants themselves. It is true that
during the short reform period under Alexander II., in the
•early sixties, a considerable number of well-equipped schools
were established in connection with the zemstvos, or district
governments. When, however, the wave of Liberal policy was
followed by the backwash of reaction, these schools were
gradually crippled, and under Alexander III. the nadir of
education was reached. His attitude may be accurately
gauged from his speech to the people 011 the occasion of his
-coronation—" Peasants you have been, and peasants you will
remain!" This sentiment was embodied soon after in a
ukase, according to which only a small section of the people
were to share in educational advantages, and even for these
favoured few " the measure of instruction shall be in
proportion to the status of the person having children to be
educated." In pursuit of this policy the boards of education
in Saratov and other places have resolved that " the instruction
in schools shall be so limited as to protect the children of
the upper classes from the intrusion of those of the poor
•and middle class."
A further ukase of May 15, 1891, dealt the finishing blow
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