Ukraine, the land and its people : $b an introduction to its geographyRudnytskyi, Stepan
Science
Ukraine, the land and its people : $b an introduction to its geography
Rudnytskyi, Stepan
Ukraine; Ukrainians
The family relations reflect the peculiarity of the Ukrainian people very clearly.
The comparatively high ancient culture, coupled with individualism and a love of liberty,
does not permit the development of absolute power in the head of the family (as is
the case among the Poles and Russians). Likewise the position of woman is much higher
in the Ukrainian people than in the Polish or Russian. In innumerable cases the woman
is the real head of the household. Far less often does this state of affairs occur
among the Poles, and only by exception among the Russians. A daughter is never married
off against her will among the Ukrainians; she has human rights in the matter. Among
the Russians, this business is in the hands of the father, who takes the so-called
kladka for his daughter, that is, he sells her to whomever he pleases. Grown sons among
the Ukrainians, as soon as they are married, are presented by their fathers with a
house and an independent farm. The dwelling under one roof of a composite family (a
family clan), as is usual among the Russians, is almost impossible among the Ukrainians,
and is of exceedingly rare occurrence. The father has no absolute power in this case
(as among the Russians) to prevent discord in the family.
[198]
It is part of the peculiarity of the Ukrainians that they seldom form friendships,
but these are all the more lasting, altho reserved and rarely intimate. The Russians
make friends among one another very easily, but they separate very easily, too, and
become violent enemies. The Poles form close friendships easily and are true friends,
too. Enmity is terrible among the Russians; among the Poles and Ukrainians it is less
bitter, and is, moreover, less lasting. The capacity for association is very considerable
in the Ukrainians. All such association is based on complete equality in the division
of labor and profit. A foreman is elected and his orders are obeyed, but he receives
an equal share of the profits and works together with the rest. Among the Russians,
the bolshak selects his workmen himself, does not work, and is simply an overseer. Still he receives
the greatest part of the profits, Among the Poles the capacity for association is
but slightly developed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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