, 1877-05-13
LITERATURE IN RUSSIA,

Letters were introduced into Russia shortly
after the adoption Of Christianity Us tho religion
Of the State, in the latter part Of the tenth cen
tury, jet the writings produced during the fol-
lowing seven centuries which have survived tn
the present day compose but an incorsiderable
body OF literature. As is the case with most
European countries, the nation is mainly in
debted to the studtous diligence OF the scribcs
| connected with the monasterics for the prcser-
Vation OF the historical records Of this eariy ne
ROD A series Of I" Chronicles " WIS begun BIZ a
monk in the Lavro, at Kief, then the Captta1
CITY, in the eleventh century, and was carried on
by successive conVentual writer's with little In
tcrruptton Tor SIX or seven hundred wears, In
addition to these annals, carefully collected and
treasured in the clofsters of the chief towns.
there exist various fragments of fiction and of
pocsy, with a few specimens OF didactic writing.
to testify to the intellectual life OF the Middle
Ages.
The prlnting-press did not find its way fnto
Russia until more than a century had passed
alter its invention in Germany. Tie first print
fng-office was established at Moscow bv IVAN
w., the Terrible, and the first book published
was copy OF the "Acts OF the Apostles and
Epistlcs OF PAUL." which bears the date Of 1894.
Alter rthis event tho literature Of Russia long con-
finued in alanguishing state and, aside from the
compilations Of the monks, various memorials of
jurisprudence, some examples OF the religious
drama. and the folk-songs which wcrc conveyed
orally from father to son through descending
generations, there was little evidence OF intel
1cctuaI actlvitv among the people before the ad
Ecnt OF PETER the Great.
WITH tho appearance Of this Wondcr-workfnp
magician there vas wrought the same mighty
transformation In the domain OF letter. as In all
the other fields In the range Of human activities.
hy the impulse OF this mental TITAN, whose en- |
orgy anu enthusiasm seized and drove forward |
IN Inc path OF progress whole nation, educs-
Ion was reformed. literature was rccreatcd, and |
itussta "as inspired With an aspiration for /
knowledge and culture which has never since |
lost It's ardor. Like the great CuARLEaAosE,
VINO, Thousand years before him, accomplished |
" Similar means similar work for France,
t'ETER was Obliged to borrow from other conn.,
'Fes the fruits OF their culture In art in science,
asd tn for the instruction Of his people
But whether BY buying OF borrowing, hare the
'hings craycd he would, in order that Russia
night be set in the way Of acquiring the learn
ng and the rednements already In the poases-
lion of Western Europe. Spirited, talented
'onths we're sent to study abroad, while at
lone the substructurc Of his grand scheme for
the people was laid by the
implication OF the Russian alphabet to render
more fit for typographical uses. This accom-
'!ished' the printing presses were employed in
multiplying trauslations aud limitations OF for.
Ign books.
10 manufacture Dationa1 literature bv sucb
Methods and IN brief period, was beyond even
'ETER's herculean bowers. but he succeeded in
ou'lng the Russian mind from It's apathy, stim-