The sun., 1891-06-01

Nike models. Here, for instance, are types
Of the tribes OF Turkomans whose chief oc-
cupation few years ago was stealing Per-
Sian slaves to sell 10 Bokhara and other
states along the big rivers. They knew
nothing OF settled government, winged war
almost necessarily one upon the other. and
lived BY crime. To-day they no longer 20
on slave raids the wild .horsemen have
turned TO peaceful pursuits, order reigns,
and slave markets are no more; for slavery
has been abolished. In 1885 Bokhara, the
richest, most enlightened, and most holy OF
the Mohammedan nations OF Central Asia,
declared the complete abolition OF slavery;
and the 10000 Persian slaves who were found
In Khiva were long ago restored to the land
Of their fathers.
It is worth white to obtain clear concep-
tion Of the agencies that have wrought this
wonderful social revolution. Foremost
among them is Gen. ANNENKoFf's railroad,
which the Russians mistakenly coll the
longest railroad In the world" At the Mos
COW exhibition there is series OF models
which tall the story Of this great work.
showing how 1t was carried ocross the desert,
the struggle with the encroaching sands.
the surmountng Of engineering difficulties.
and the building OF great bridge with tim.
ber brought from Europe. ,.'s,
This fair would not be a representative
exhibition II there were not q fine collection
OF the manufactures for which Central Asia
has been famous for centuries. Visitors to
tho Moscow fair will 500 models Of Box
hayan houses fitted with tho heaviest and
softest Of hangings, fabrics OF beautiful de-
sign In woollen, cotton, and silk, delicate
and artistic products Of the gold and silver
smith, and carpets that have been admired
for ages for softness Of texture, beauty OF
design and coloring. and the great slzo OF
the single woven picco; and beside these
products OF Oriental art are others showing
the assimilation OF Western ideas. Poets
who have sung the praises .: the vine
ripened in Asian valleys will perhaps de-
rive no poetic inspiration from the fact that
Central Asian wine is now served 10 the
wealthy native and his harem from bottles
with cork shoppers. The exhibition also
shows that Western ideas concerning house,
hold furniture, toilet articles, and many
other products have put their mark unrnis-
taksbly upon Asian manufactures.
The Gar is turning the Jews out Of Russia
and keeping the world out Of Central Asia.
In tho old days Of canal traffic large guam
tity Of English wares passed from India and
Persia to the marts OF Central Asia, where
the goods were none the less welcome be-
cause they were made by the hated inacel.
To-day, with q railroad to Samarcand, Brit
ish trade practically has been suppressed.
The American company. which In 1887 ap-
piled for an allotment Of land in the neigh
borhood OF Merv. for cotton cultivation, was
not permitted 10 establish itself in the
Trans-Caspian. It is almost impossible for
solitary tourists to get permission from st.
Petersburg to travel over the railroad be-
yond the Caspian. though French tourist
agency has had the good fortune to lead two
small parties Of sightseers to Bokhara and
Samarcand. 1t is evident that Russia in
tends to monopollze about all the good that
is to come out OF Central Asia. But none
the less the world admires the remarkable
work that Russia Is doing, and wonders at
the political, social. and industrial changes
she has wrought in fifteen years, revolu-
tionizing great region that was welded to
the thoughts. the prejudices, the manner Of
Life revealed in Its history for ages past.
The transformation Russia Is working in
Central Asia is far greater wonder than
anything yet accomplished by the rivalry Of
the European nations on African soil.