The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-21
SIBERIA A SOCIAL CENTER.
An English Newspaper Writer Gives
Some Facts Concerning the
Home of tho Exiles.
Charming, Refined People, With
Telegraph Facilities Giving
#fs8 the Latest News.
He Did Not Visit the Mines, but Spent His
Time Among the Banished and
Their Descendants.

Julius M. Price, artist n special cor
respondents for the Illustrated London
News, has arrived in New York from San
Francisco, says the New York Times. He
is on his way home after completing a trip
through Siberia in the interests of his
paper.
Mr.. Price left London in July. 1890, with
q commercial expedition fitted out by an
English syndicate for the purpose of open
ing up a new trade route with siberia along
the Yenisei river. The expedition gave
Russia proper q wide berth, and sailed
through the Arctic ocean and Kara sea.
Barring a weeks detention in the ice, there
was no accident, and the expedition reached
the town of Yeniseisk, 1900 miles inland on
the Yenisei river, in good order.
Here Mr.. Price said goodbye to his fol-
low travellers, and struck out for himself.
His general route was eastward from Yen
lseisk east to kiachta, southeast thence to
Oorga, the sacred city and headquarters of
Monaghan Buddhists, to Pekin, Shanghai,
Japan, and by steamer to San Francisco.
Speaking of his trip to a Times reporter,
Mr.. Price said:
81 made most of the long journey alone
and by sledge. must say l was agreeably
disappointed in what I saw. Siberia has
become a synonym for all that is cruel and
h~eartrending in banishment aQd official
neglect. One cannot expect to find the
least indication Of civilization in what 10
popularity supposed to bs a desolate waste.
inhabited only by criminals or by desperate
people who would become criminals If they
had a.chance. / did not anticipate any
picnic on my trip, for I was we'll charged
with the current literature on the country.
But I was most pleasantly disappointed.
II found charming, refined people living
there. l found Telegraph facilities hat gave
me English news the day of its occurrence:
l found officials courteous to a degree and
an apparently pleasant understanding DO
tween them and the people. ! found excel
lent hotel accommodations in all the large
towns. and the discomforts of the post
roads were no more than one may very we'll
anticipate in a trip through u wide and
spHl sely settled region. / was renlly pleased
with Siberia and its people as / found them.
My rscollections are all of courtesy and
hospitality, and l shall be glad to go there
again.
Mind, now, l do not intend to enter into
any controversy with other travellers and
know very we'll what Is stated. ! am not in
n position to either affirm or deny much of
il, especially that which is said of tho life
of exiles at the mines. did not 60 to the
mines. ! said TO myself: Everybody goes
TO the mines; for myself I will take Siberia
on another line and look at its social aspect.
Another time ! may take another journey
and examine the condition of men and al
fairs at the Mines
$50, what | can tell you ia principally OF
social Siberia. That side Of life IN that
country is pleasant enough for any one. III
all the towns you will find a marked degree
Of cultivation and refinement. True, the