The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-06-06
THE RUSSIAN FAIR-CITY.
THE EFHEM BRAL COMMERCIAL
MART OF NIzHNI NovGoRoD.
A Temporary Caravansary Where
100000 Merchants Assemble
OnPa Xpap

A Temporary Caravansary Where
100000 Merchants Assemble
Once Year.
To traveller visiting Nizhni NOvgo-
rod for the first time there is something
surprising, and almost startling, in the
appearance of what he supposes to be
the city, and in the scene resented to
him as he emerges from the railway sta
tion and walks away from the low bank
OF the Okla River in the direction of the
NolEa. The clean, we'll paved streets;
the long rows of substantial buildings;
the spacious boulevard, shaded by
leafy birches and poplars the
canal, spanned at intervals by grace
full bridges the picturesque tower of the
watcr-works; the enormous cathedral of
Alexander Nevski; the Bourse the
theatres; the hotels the market places
all seem to indicate n great pop
ulous centre of life and commercial
activity; but of living inhabitants there
is nota sign. Grass and weeds arc grow
ing in the middle of the empty streets
and in the chinks of the travcl-worn
sidewalks; birds arc singing fearlessly
in the trees that shade the lonely and
deserted boulevard; the countless shops
and warehouses are all closed, barred and
padlocked the bells are silent in the
gilded belfries of the churches; and the
astonished stranger may perhaps wander
for mile between the solid blocks of
buildings without seeing an open door,
vehicle or a single human being. The
city seems to have been stricken
by pestilence and deserted. If
the new conner remembers for what
Mimi Novgorod is celebrated, he is
not long, of course in coming to the
conclusion that he is on the site of the
famous fair; but the first realization of
the fact that the fair is in itself sepa-
rate and Independent city, and n city
which during nine months of every year
stands empty and deserted, comes to
him with the shock of great sur
/ prise.
The fair city Of Mimi Novgorod is
situated on low peninsula between the
rivers Okla ana Nolga, just above their
! junction, very much as New York City
is situated on Manhattan Island between
East River and the Hudson. In geo.
graphical position it bears the same re-
lation to the old town of Nizhui Nov
| gorod that New York would bear to
Jersey City if the latter were elevated
on steep terraced bluff four hundred
feet above the level of the Hudson. The
Russian fair city, however, differs from
New York City in that t is mere tenn
porary market "A huge commercial cara
vansary where 500, 900 traders assemble
every year to buy and to sell commodi.
ties. In September it has frequently q
population of more than 100, 0O0 souls,
and contains merchandise valued at 81 >,
900, 900; while in January, February
and March all of its inhabitants might
be fed and sheltered in the smallest oI
its hotels, and al of its goods might bC
put into a single one of its innumerable
shops. Its life, therefore, is a sort of in
termittent commercial fever, in which al
annual paroXysm of intense and un
natural activity is followed by a long in
terval Of torpor and stagnation.
1t seems almost incredible at first that
a city of such magnitude-a city which
contains churches, mosques, theatres
markets, banks, hote's, a merchants eX
change, and nearly seven thousand
shops and inhabitable buildings, should
have so ephemeral a life, and shou'C
be so completely abandoned every
year after it has served the purpose fol
which it was created. When saw this
unique city for the first time, ofi'a Aeleai
frosty night in January, 1868, it pre-
sented an traordrnary picture of lone
illness and. desoation. The moonlight
strcamed down into its long empty
streets where the unbroken snow lay two
feet deep upon the sidewalks; it touched
with silver the white walls and swelling
domes of the cd. fair cathedral, from
whose towers there came no claugor ot
bells; it sparkled on great snowdfift'
heapcd up against the doors of tht
empty houses, and poured a flood o
pale light over thousands of snow GOV
cred roofs; but it not reveal any
where a sign of human being. The city
seemed TO be not only uninhabited, bu
wholly abandoned to the arctic spirits o
solitude and frost When saw it neNt, a
height of the annual fair in the autumn
OF 1870, it was so changed as to c al
most unacceptable. 1t was then sur
rounded by great forest of shipping
its hot, dusty atmosphere thrilled will
the incessant whistling of steamers; mcr
Chandise to the value of 125, 000 00t
| IuDlcs lay on llS SnOTeS OF was packet
into its GO00 shops; every building within
its limits was crowded 60. 900 peoplt
were crossing every day the pontooI
bridge which connected it with the ole
town; military band was playing air
from OfTenbach's operas on the grea
boulevard in front Of the Governor
house; and through all the streets of tn
terminated and reawakened city poured
a great tumultuous flood of human life
- Ecnrne hcnunu in (ln,lLrl