, 1877-05-27

When PETER TIE GREAT lag dying at Peters
hof, amid the agonfcs of q cruel disease whcl
extorted cries from the brave mans lips tha
resounded through the palace, he turned t.
CATHERINE, whom he had appointed to succcct
him in the Imperial line, and bcsought hel
to cherish his favorite institution, the Academ,
Of Sciences, and to invite to its support all til.
learned men Of Europe. On his first visit tt
England iu 1905, PETER had engaged Mr.
FERGUSON, a Scotch gentleman, accompanied
by couplc Of young mathematlcians from
Christ's Church College, London, to return
with him to Russia aud there Introduce the
+ >scicnce Of arithmetic. Up to this period the
Tartar method Of reckoning accounts, By means
Of balls strung on wire, was the only one known
to the ignorant Muscoyitcs. The so-calic{]
Arabic numerals, which had reached Western
Europe in the ninth century, had not penetrated
into the dominions OF the Gar until be in.
ported them along with the othor arts and tu-
yentlons OF civilization.
PETER TIE GREAT himself pursued the study
of astronomy with Mr.. FERGUSON, acquiring q
knowledge Of the motion Of the heavenly bodies,
and making observations and calculating ec1ipscs
under the direction OF his teacher. The laws
OF gravitation were also mastered By him, and
thus, ns historian has remarked: "Thts force
was already familiar to sovereign of Russia,
when other nations amused themselves with
chfmcricM vorticcs; and when GAL11Eos 8 fe-
norant countrynen were commanded by teach
ers as ignorant Is themselves to believe the
earth 1mmovable." One Of the measures which
resulted from these studies in astronomy was
reform in the calendar, which was Instituted at
the beginning Of the year 1700 with imposing
nnr3n $hn lad
been regarded by the Russians as the first dav of
the year. but thenccforth PETER commanded
that, according to the customs of the other
nations Of Europe, the year should begin on the
LIST OF January. The Grcgorian calendar had
NOT az This time been accepted By English
matnematlcians, hence it was not adopted BY
tae Gar, who followed their teachings, nor has
it since been by any Of his SUCCESSORS.
When, after nineteen years OF gigantic labor
IN the execution Of projects for the extension
and elevation Of his Empire, PETER again made
tour through Europe, he had impressed the
monarchs OF the various States with a sense of
his great genius, and Of the tremendous energy
with which be had employed it in carving ont
his colossal schemes Of reform. The Court of
Paris, which had declined luis visit in 16os. re-
ceiyed him in 1717 with distinction, rs one whom
It "ns an honor to entertain with the most elab-
oFato ceremonies But PETER, although now
master OF an enormous amount OF practical
knowledge, still chose to act the part Of student
rather than OF potentate during his travels, and,
refusing the apartments In the house assigned
him, avoided as far as possible the pomp and adj
ulation With which the French sought to sur
round him.
Instead ofe wasting bis time In witnessing
pagcants and ceremonies, be visited the roYal
and museums, and institutions
Of learning. During his inspection of the
collectfons In the Academy OF Sciences be cor
rected with his own hand several geographical
eErors tn 4s q! eaps Of his country, especially In