The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-15
RUSSIA AND ITS PEOPLE.
A Native Tells Some Interesting Things
About the Country in Lecture.

Rev. Emil Venianoinovitch Bari, q native
Russian, now a minister in the Baptist Church,
entertained very large audience at tt Q North
Baptist Church. last night, with lecture on
Russia and the Russians" The lecture was
full of interest from the fact that the speaker
was reared in St. Petersburg and his father was
q Russian Nihilist, who comnelled to fee to
this country in order to save his life. Rev. Bari
appeared before the audience in the peasant
costume of Russia He is not eloquent, but is
very entertaining talker.
He began his lecture by describing the city of
St Petersburg, his home. The city, he said
had changed a great deal In the last quarter of
century, and he believed that in the course of
time it would become thoroughly American in
its appearance. A stranger, he said, could not
find much pleasure in visiting st. Petersburg.
The first man met after alighting from the train
was the hack driver He was fully as devoid of
conscience as his brethren in America and all
other countries. The hack in which he would
haul you to the hotel was q miserable wagon,
with narrow seat and high
springs, and as the horses were al
ways driven in run. many travellers
found it impossible TO hang on to the vehicle
No other city in the world could boast of such
magnificent hotels as St Petersburg Az soon
a stranger registered he was required to
show his passport 10 the clerk. The clerk would
then call the police. The strangers baggage
would be inspected, and, if everything was
found satisfactory he was permitted to remain
the hotel. Meals not served to guests
in dining-room. ont each guest was served in
his room. The police were constantly
about the hotel. and every movement of the
stranger was noted.
Another thing ST Petersburg could boast of
was lis streets. The streets of no other city in
the world could compare with them. The favor
lite thoroughfAre six hundred feet wide,
with two kinds of pavement, two car-lines, and
with fiagstone# side walks sixty feet wide.
Americans. the speaker thought would do we'll
to initiate Russians in the manner of making
side walks. There we're great many ceebra-
tion days IN st. Petersburg, and strangers were
amazed when they saw every house in the city
decorated. They at concluded that the
natives were wonderfully patriotic. They were
misled, though. All the celebrations were or
dered by the authorities. Whenever one was
announced every inhahitant was notified
through the chief of police TO decorate his
premises, and none refused comply with the
order, for TO do so meant death, perhaps.
The speaker next dwelt uDon the many sights
of St Petersburg, and spoke especially of its
grand buildings, including the great Cathedral,
the fortress of Peter and Paul and the Winter
Palace. All these historic places, he sald con-
tanned curiosites that people travelled from all
paris of the world to see The churches, he
said. were all magnificent structures. and they
were always throneed with worshipers botn
dav and night A special feature of their
ship the music The church music was not
eQualed in any other country The best singers
from ali over the empire found their way to the
great churches OF st. Petersburg.
The village of the Emperor. he said was situ
atAd few miles from ST. Petersburg. 1t
sacred place. and surely the most elegantly ar
ranged IN the world The EmpAror's
seventy five feet square. and every inch OF tna
floor aDsi walls was laid with amber. Adjoining
the Emperors room was a garden, in which Is
located metallic tree. A simple touch sends
forth from each twig a spray of watsr.
The educational facilities for the noblemen.
the speaker said We're good. The University of
St Petersburg compared favorably with any IN