Russian Empire 5 Antique photos of Jewish Cantonists, Caucasus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Pre 1917

Russian Empire 5 Antique photos of Jewish Cantonists, Caucasus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Pre 1917
11 x 6.5 and 8.5 x 4.5 cm.
3 of photos cut off to edges. Some wear, rubbing
Cantonists (Russian language: кантонисты; more properly: военные кантонисты, "military cantonists") were underage sons of conscripts in the Russian Empire. From 1721 on they were educated in special "canton schools" (Кантонистские школы) for future military service (the schools were called garrison schools in the 18th century). The canton schools and the cantonist system were eventually abolished in 1857, following public and international criticism and the Russian defeat in the Crimean War. (Wikipedia)