Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-06-30
From the Boston Times
DIR. EAiID'S LECTURE on RUSSIA

The extent of the Russian Empire is I'M
mensc-covering a territory OF 100000
square miles in Asia, and 2,025 600 in Eu-
rope--in all, over 100000 square miles.
The population OF Russia in Europe is Oh
100000, and Of ASiatic Russia in Siberia
l2,0OO,000, making the entire population
66, 100000. Russia is the most level coun-
try i'll the world, as lis average level above
the sea is but $50 feet. Spain is the high
est country in Europe, and the average
level of Europe is $50 feet above the sea.
Many things in Russia remind the Ameri-
can traveller of his own country. The
Western part appears newly settled, like
our Western States; the middle part of the
Empire is well cultivated, and the wooden
fences peculiar to Russia, Norway, and
Sweden, nave quite an American air. The
villages, too, are built of wood-moStly of
round logs-and there are some very hand
some log cottages. The use of this mate
rial in building is the cause of the many
destructive fires which are so frequent in
Russian villages. The horribly bad roads
in Russia also remind the American of the
Western settlements, where corduroy roads
are only known, and in the spring and Au-
tumn they are almost impossible.
The winters in Russia, although intensely
cold, are not subject to such frequent storms
as in other countries. In November and
December there is usually fall of three
or four feet of snow, which remains with
out drifting for four or five months. After
these months storms are rare, and the WIN
ter remains uniform.
Russia is eminently hospitable country.
The noble and rich landed proprietors are
very fond of strangers, and nothing can ex-
coed their kindly treatment OF visiters.-
Everything throughout Russia is peculiarly
Asiatic. The houses are all built in oren-
tai style, with no front door. You enter at
the side through the enclosure. The roof
projects three or tour feet and the house is
surrounded by porch. The streets are
built intolerably wide, through fear of fires.
The dress of the common people is also
Asatic in appearance. The mobiles, how
ever, have their French tailors, and dress
like gentlemen of France or England
The merchants of the first class, or guild,
as it is there termed, also dress in European
style. The merchants OF the second or
third guilds, the clergy and serfS, are strictly
ASiatic in their dress. No men shave their
boards, except rich merchants and mobiles.
Peter the Great was much opposed to
boards, and made law that no one should
appear at Court with a beard and an old
noble who ventured TO trangress the edict,
was unceremoniously seized and slain in
the presence of the Emperor. Nine out of
ten men in Russia now wear boards. The
seyfs in the country wear overcoatS Of
sheepskins, made with the wool inside, and
the serfS in the cities usually dress in blue
surtouts to their heels, and a girdle around
their waists. The dress OF the Russian
women is also Asiatic. BonnetS are not
are unusually loose. Modern appliances
for altering the female form find little favor
in Russia.
The religion of the Russian is that of the
Greek Church. The services are almost
entirely liturgical, consisting of responses,
obeisances, and proslrallonS. Gut OF oU,-
900 or 10000 clergymen, few preach SER
mons. The service on Sunday commences
at II O'Clock, and lasts an hour and a half.
Neither musical instruments or stoves are
to be found in either Russia, Norway, Swe-
den, or Denmark. In Russia the people
stand throughout the service, and on the
elevation of the Host they commence bow
ing with great vehemence. As the hair is
worn long and flies in all directions during
the obeisances, the effect is like the waving
of small forest. The Russian mode oI
managing horses is also oriental. -Four
horses are usually driven abreast, and none
but mobiles, ambassadors, or members of the
royal family, are allowed to drive four hor'
ses, two abreast, as we do in America
The mail couriers drive with great rapi.
dity and distance of 200 miles is ac.
complshed in five days. In Poland
J where the roads are better, the courier viii