Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-19
Mr.. Park ON Russia.

Rev. A. l.. Park of Gardiner. gave the second
lecture of the popular course at the Free Baptist
church. last evening, to large audience bis sub
ject being Russia" o very timely one py the
way.
This lecture, together with several others, was
prepared al the request OF his own congregation,
and delivered to them the winter after bis return
, from spending ell, ven months abroad. 1t embod-
les much curious information about the great em-
pire Of the North, its government, customs and
peculisrities. Few of our countrymen who visit
Europe find their wav to Russia, because of the
long distance that separates it from the rest of
Europe, and also the strictness with hch travel
lers and their luggage are inspected at the from
tiers. Nowhere in Europe are passports so muc b
used, even the inhabitants being compelled to
obtain them when gong on business from one
Russian CITY to another.
Tie imperial palaces were described as very
numerous and splendid beyond belief. The dis
play OF jewels and gem, solid silver carriages
and iooms mace in ulalachie and ambe', were
represented az fairly hewilderiDg, and equalled
only in the Arabian Nights" The richness of
the church seiv ce and The dress aud appearance
of the clergy, corr responded wnh the mag Dhcence
OF the court. The revenues are derived largely
from the government monopoly of the liquor
traffic and the rich mines of Siberia.
some renarksbls churches 10 Russia were de-
scrbed, one of them costing s,veDteen million
| dollars and rooted with hammered gold. The great
bell of Moscow was alluded to, and other bells OF
g:est size, only heavier than any else here in
the world, but also more precious beng made OF
silver aud gold, well IL the ordinsiy copper aud
tin, nd worth a dollar pound for old metal.
A ske CHI gwen of the iomanac career of
Peter the Greal and Of the liberation Of the serfs
by the present Gar. The lecturer praised the
pei sonsl character of Alexander l though he
denounced the despouc, autocIatic form of gov
| ernment of which he is at the present day the
ouly European representative. As to the war in
| the East, the speaker sympathzed with Russia,
| as surerior in her civilization to Turkey. The
| lecture closed with humorous account Of the
reasons why Russian chronology is "old style"
Twelve days behind all the rest of the world.
The lecture was deeply interesting from begin
ming to its close, and showed that much thought
had been bestowed in its preparation,-fully ju,ti-
fying all the good words that have been said about
it iu the localiIes where il had been delivered.
Bank Examiners Report.
According to the forthcoming report of the
Bank Examiner Of Main-, Hon. W. w. Bolster,
the number of saving banks now organized 10 this
State ia sixfyfour, tae same As li.t year. Those
| " bch hsv, been placed in the hands of receivers
are the W inthrop, Scion, Bucksoon and Lewiston
Inst tuition for Savings, paying respectively, 40,
s., 40 and 80 cents on the dollar.
The deposits aud profits of the sixty banks now
doing business, on the 9Th of November last,
S26 S9S 1926. The assets, 81 compared with
1876, are as follows: