The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-06-24
The Capital Of Eastern Siberia.

Much has been written in praise of Irkutsk,
the capital of eastern Siberia. Every ira.
veler who has visited these regions seems
to have considered it his duty to 60 into
ecstasies about the city and the river An
CARA, which washes its outskirts on two
sides. You are cautioned to be prepared to
see something wonderful suddenly revealed
to your gaze--streets Of villa.like houses
belonging to wealthy merchants and the
owners of gold mines, and of Greek
churches perfect gloy. Jules Verne, in
his narrative of the wonderful adventures
of Michael Strogof, has, of course, tome
thing to say about the city. He follows
Nine. de Bourboulon's lead, as usual,
and describes it as being wonder.
full revelation to the wearied traveller
who has just crossed the thou.
sands Of versts of steppes and forests and
marshel, extending from Ekaterinburg to
the Angara. Nine. de Bourboulon is re-
sponsbie, indeed, for much OF this extrav-
agant praise of Siberian cities. She it was
who burdened the very one horse town
Of Kransnoyarsk with the proud title of
the Athens of Siberia, and her description
of 1rkutsk leaves the impression that the
capital of Eastern Siberia is kind of Paris
in miniature. Thus she speaks of it:--"In
entering the city, after forty days in the
deserts of Mongolia, we were surprised to
find the animation and movement of a
large city. There was q grand circulation
Of voitures, tarantasses, telegas dorschkies
and little coupes by Partisan makers. Many
Of the houses are two and three stories high.
The grand street contains number of fine
stores, with plate glass windows and signs
in Russian and French" 1t is true that
lrkutsk was much more presentable place
before the great fire Of 1870 than II is to-
day; but it must be admitted even now,
that the city in its external appearance,
and especially seen from o distance, is
quite handsome, having broad streets,
many fine houses, a palace in which
the governor general dwells, some large
public and military institutions, aud about
10000 inhabitants. But the glory of
lrkutsk and all its reputation come from
its churches-some twenty or twenty-five
in number. These give the city an
ar of responsibility and piety that
is prepossessing. 1t is perfect
Brooklyn of churches, and as each
structure has four or five spiral domes the
general effect is quite striking. And these
religious editices are at once symbol of
of lrkutskian wealth and Of q regeneration
ti'es hhust pioucV tiiS icuits VI WI IASUI-
thinking people. As soon as wicked
Siberian merchant has grown rich, either
in gold.mining, in selling bad groceries and
sweet, sparkling wines under the name of
champagne, at seven rubles bottle,
or III trading brass buttons and fin.
ger rings to the innocent Yakuts and
Tongus up the river, he finds, when
he has retired from business and has
repented OF his former wicked ways, that
the best way to perpetuate the story of his
penitence, to gain social distinction, the
order OF 81. Anna or the Cross Of the Via
dimir, Is to devote portion Of his wealth
to the Hiding Of church. Indeed, this
is about the only way that enables him to
reap the coveted reward of temporal glory
and spiritual profit. Thus 1t is that Irkutsk
has been crowded with really beautiful
monumental structures, and the city has
thereby obtained an enviable reputation
for its very presentable appearance, to say
nothing Of the late-in-life repentance of its
wealthy citizens.