Russia As Seen and Described by Famous Writers   By: Esther Singleton (-1930)

RUSSIA

As Seen and Described by Famous Writers

Edited and Translated by

ESTHER SINGLETON

Author of "Turrets, Towers and Temples," "Great Pictures," and "A Guide to the Opera," and translator of "The Music Dramas of Richard Wagner."

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS

New York

Dodd, Mead and Company

1909

PREFACE

This is intended to be a companion volume to Japan , and therefore follows the same general plan and arrangement. It aims to present in small compass a somewhat comprehensive view of the great Muscovite power. After a short description of the country and race, we pass to a brief review of the history and religion including ritual and ceremonial observances of the Greek Church. Next come descriptions of regions, cities and architectural marvels; and then follow articles on the various manners and customs of rural and town life. The arts of the nation are treated comprehensively; and a chapter of the latest statistics concludes the rapid survey. The material is all selected from the writings of those who speak with authority on the subjects with which they deal.

The Russian Empire is so vast that it would be impossible to give detailed descriptions of all its parts in a work of this size: therefore I have been forced to be content with more general descriptions of provinces with an occasional addition of a typical city.

E. S.

New York, April 21, 1904.

CONTENTS

PART I

THE COUNTRY AND RACE

The Russian Empire Prince Kropotkine.

Siberia Jean Jacques Élisée Reclus.

The Russian Races W. R. Morfill.

PART II

HISTORY AND RELIGION

The History of Russia W. R. Morfill.

Church Service Alfred Maskell.

The Creeds of Russia Ernest W. Lowry.

PART III

DESCRIPTIONS

St. Petersburg J. Beavington Atkinson.

Finland Harry De Windt.

Lapland Alexander Platonovich Engelhardt.

Moscow (The Kremlin and its treasuries The Ancient Regalia The Romanoff House) Alfred Maskell.

Vassili Blagennoi (St. Basil the Blessed) Théophile Gautier.

Poland Thomas Michell.

Kief, the City of Pilgrimage J. Beavington Atkinson.

Nijni Novgorod Antonio Gallenga.

The Volga Basin. (The Great River Kasan Tsaritzin Astrakhan) Antonio Gallenga.

Odessa Antonio Gallenga.

The Don Cossacks Thomas Michell.

In the Caucasus J. Buchan Teller.

Khiva Fred Burnaby.

The Trans Siberian Railway William Durban.

PART IV

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS

High Life in Russia The Countess of Galloway.

Rural Life in Russia Lady Verney

Food and Drink H. Sutherland Edwards.

Carnival Time and Easter A. Nicol Simpson.

Russian Tea and Tea Houses H. Sutherland Edwards.

How Russia Amuses Itself Fred Whishaw.

The Kirghiz and their Horses Fred Burnaby.

Winter in Moscow H. Sutherland Edwards.

A Journey by Sleigh Fred Burnaby.

PART V

ART AND LITERATURE

Russian Architecture Eugène Emmanuel Viollet le Duc.

Sculpture and Painting Philippe Berthelot.

Russian Music A. E. Keeton.

Russian Literature W. R. Morfill.

PART VI

STATISTICS

Present Conditions E. S.

ILLUSTRATIONS