Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-25
THE RUSSIA OF TO-DAY.
What a Millionaire American Noticed
in the Realm Of the Gar.

Andrew Carnegie's European Diary.
The better class Of Russians now dress as we
do. Very soon we shall be at a loss 10 find any
striking difference in costume or habits
throughout the world. One consolation. how
ever, draw from this great movement. which
is becoming more and more evident-humanity
Is making wise selections. The world, as En-
erson said, aims to be English. Certainly il
does as to dress; fortunately there is a tendency
to the French in its cookery and to the Ameri-
can example in political institutions
One hundred and seven millions Of people
now acknowledge the sway of the car; we
shall soon have this number and more. under
the stars and stripes, so that the number is not
of itself startling; but the conditions are SO
different Our millions will be educated
trained to self-government, jealous of officials,
thinking for themselves, the tools of no man
and no party; Russia's population, upon the
other hand, ignorant beyond exception, only
i've in a hundred being able TO sign their
names, intensely superstitious and fanatical.
Seventy-seven millions are homogeneous, bona
fide Russians; thirty millions composed Of con-
quered peoples, who are, however now patri-
otto and can be depended upon by the central
power at ST. Petersburg, with the exception of
seven millions of Poles, who are disaffected.
Imagine this huge mass of humanity thor
oughly saturated with the belief that the word
Of the car is to them the real word of God
and consider what power for good or evil rests
upon this one whimsical despot. He may set
the greater part of Europe to the work OF de-
struction any morning.
RUSSIAN POPE AS WELL AS EMPEROR.
The American will with difficulty understand
the power possessed by the car until he visits
Russia and see how craftily the religious SUPER
stitions of an ignorant people have been inter-
woven into the political structure. The car
is not only the head of the state; he is Russian
pope as well, and the gorgeous ritual of the
Greek church, its wondrous chants and all its
offices, lead up TO the alteration Of the car.
The former spiritual head the patriarch, rests
at Jerusalem. The car was told by God that
the spiritual head should guard the sepulchre.
Surely, this commends itself to all as the most
spiritual and most exalted Office. Conse-
quently, the holy father was sent upon this
vital mission and the emperor was deputed TO
act as manager Of affairs in the less sacred
Office in Russia. A beautiful arrangement
And 30 we see that upon the emperor's BIRTH
day, upon his going and returning, upon every
the imperial family, the grand masses are said
in all the churches. It is the car who not
only holds the key to preferment and honor in
this world, but who binds and loosens for the
next. The church with all its consultations
and its terrors and the sword with all its power
are concentrated in this man. Here is the
secret Of what we call the Russian problem in
Europe. Solve it for the future who can.
GRAND RUSSIAN oHoIRs.
For the sake Of our musical friends the pres
ident Of the 0ratorio society must not forget
to tell them that the choral singing in Russian
churches is beyond description. New York had
some idea of choral singing in the Grell mass
given last winter, but no voices are known like
the phenomenal voices of some Of these Rus
sian peasants. Truly they are ''organs," and
the effect produced by the choir in great
vaulted churches is more thrilling 10 US than
any music we have ever heard.
asked one of the officials in st. Petersburg
if it would not be possible for an enterprising
American manager to contract for choir TO
perform in our country, and he said that one Of
these had gone 30 far as TO do so. Papers were
ready to sing, but the bishop forbade the
signers to sign except in churches. II they
ever did otherwise they must never sing in
Russia again, for even the choir is considered
part of the church staff and partake of a holy
character. The idea had 10 be abandoned, but
il any one can get q Russian choir for an
American tour he has q fortune. We could
clear the cost Of the new music hall in New
York, thought, il could only get st. Isaac's
choir for three months. From what is known
of Russia il might be possible for Mr.. Dam.
rosch Ito see" che bishop. The singers are all
willing.