Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-10-16

\ correspondent OF the CHT2S1lGU 11dCO-
cute under date OF August 9th, writes
from Moscow as follows
Outside Of cities, this country has no
beauty Its nearly level surface presents
some cultivated fields, more meadow and
still more forest Few and far between
are the rough log-hut villages of the peas
antrv. irregularly placed, mixed up with
log barns and stables, without one mark Of
taste or culture In the cities we find the
latter St Petersburgh and Moscow will
compare tavorabIy with the finest cities of
Europe, and, indeed, the view of the latter
from the tower Of Ivan Neleki is the finest
city view | ever saw. No dingy slate nor
tile is used in roofing, but tin, painted with
malachite The novelty and agreeabeness
Of this color are very striking. This paint
Is durable, and does not, like arr green
paints, poison the rain-water. But the
most striking of all features Of the view
are the four hundred and sixty churches
with their green or gilt domes, and their
Offering crosses surmounting the domes.
Moscow has population of 300, 900, and
i by far the best provided city in respect
to churches | ever saw Moreover shrines
and cbapels containing the pictures of Ma
ry and the infant Jesus. abound in the
streets, shops houses. steamboats,, city
gates, and even railroad cars. Many are
Illuminated BY lamps and candles day aud
night. Idolatry abounds. The constant
bowling, crossing, kneeling, prostration,
and image-kissing practiced in their servi-
ccs, leave Romani~m quite behind. My
power Of face was sorely taxed at first 10
maintinng the outward semblance Of gray
ity \ coach and six passed me ye>ter-
day. Within was 4 priest with a large
Madonna, Fastening TO some sick bed, to
carry grace, perhaps healing power, for
twenty-five rubIes. Some of these old Ma
donas have high repute, over the Re
deemer'S Gate. an entrance to the krem
lin Is one 50 sacred that a soldier entorces
the removal Of every hat. whether Of Jew
or Gentle, ear q beggar, when passing
beneath. | ask myself with wonder how
the Church Of England can hold out one
hand toward the Church of Rome, and the
other toward the Greek Church, both gross
II idolatrous Ii these Churches ever
unite, woe to all dissenters
Moscow Is a better place to study the
people than - Petersburgh- The latter
is modern. and in contact with the outside
world Moscow i old, central, and was
long the capital. Here the middle class
about disappears. The streets abound in
coarsely-clad dingy, hairy rough men
The common dress material Of all inclu-
ding soldiers, j q coarse grayish-brown
woIIen stuff, looking dirty when new, and
never getting over It. Black bread and
brandy seem TO be the staples Of their Ii
Ct. At the bazar yesterday [ saw man
dining on raw carrot and glass OF
b~andv. and boy on Il cucumber and
brandy. Yet the only drunken men [ have
seen in Russia were two Of Admiral Far
ragut's American scamen in the winter
palace Beggars Of the sturdiest frames
abound even more than in ireland, but not
% ragged Probably the climate yetoes
the rags. Ii the cost of the splendors Of
churches and palaces. of shrines. lamps,
candles. incense Of bells and chimes and
beil-rineers, Of swarming priests and nuns,
and Of brandy, could be devoted 10 the ed
ucation and profitable employment Of the
masses. beggary would cease.
The middle class in our favored land,
educated, intelligent, self-respecting, taste
full. moral. have no representatives worth
naming here.