New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
"a STUDY OF RUSSIA"
MISS GEORGIANA ROBERTS GIVES HER
FIRST DRAWING-ROOM LECTURE
THIS SEASON.
A BELIEF EXPRESSED THAT RUSSIA AND ENC
LAND HOLD THE FUTURE OF THE EASTERN
HEMISPHERE IN THEIR POWER
NOTED PEOPLE PRESENT


NOTED PEOPLE PRESENT
N,ss Georsina Roberts. who Is well known as an
historical lecturer in the most exclusive circles OF
the city, gave her first drawing-room talk yester-
day morning at the beautiful home or Mrs. Johh
Drexel No II East Thirty-fourth-st
The subject was "A Study Of Russia and IN
cluded the causes which have produced the pres
ent condition Of affairs in that Nation.
Miss Roberts first alluded to the natural dsad-
vantages-the extreme climatic changes. also the
restricted seaboard. which cut the country OH
from European influences.
'In fact" said the speaker RUSSIA IS an alien
IN Europe she was Graded In the traditions OF
the East and matured under the inhuehce OF
Asia.
"I believe with Mr. Gladstone, that Russia and
England hold the future Of the Eastern Hem-
sphere In their power because they are the only
two nations which really colonize The other couh-
tries have exhausted their vital force their people
go TO other and become absorbed into the civ
lization of those lands while the Sav and the
Saxon are born colonizers because they retain
their identity"
The subject was then considered under three
heads. and 1t was very clevery SHOWN no" inc
present literary condition was produced by the
no,,t,caI and how the political grew out Of the
religious element.
THE NOMADIC TRIBES.
A brief sketch was given Of the early nomadic
tribes who wandered across the Cral Noun
+ains and effected various settlements. finally te-
coming sufficiently united to have ruling prince
Rudik who established his capital at kiet IN 'he
ninth century.
TWO GREAT EVENTS.
rh. two great events which stand out in history
as exerting the greatest influence on the nation
were the adoption OF the Greek religion ana 'he
Tartar conquest.
Vladimir the ruler IN the eleventh century oe
came troubled IN his conscience because OF tie
fetch worship Of the people. and sent MS ennis
sares 10 all the courts OF Europe 10 learn OF their
forms OF religion. The gorgeousness OF the 'reeh
r,tual as practised Constantinope. ana inc
power enjoyed by the priests. convinced the en-
VOWS that this the true religion, ana thls ia'
was forced upon the people The ola gods were
broken and thrown into the river ana the prince
and his court we're baptized. but still many super
sti.ons remain to this day among the peasants
MANY DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICS.
A. this time the Government was collection or
democratic republics. each with reigning prince
who did not govern. this function beng 'es'cu W
the ve,ch where every one irrespective OF oir'h
or position. was eligible to a seat the Mir OF TO-
DAY is a survival of the Vetch. so that Inc ao'as
o. democratic government within an au'ocfa"c
present in Russia to-day
Tn. central Government only requires the taxes
from the ruler of each province ana never '"''
feres with local administrati ton OF affairs
Just as Russia about 10 imbiDe hu'ope"''
ideas through tho Greek priests the ia'''r III
vasion took place in the thirteenth century anu
its effect was TO drive Russia back again "l'"'"
the pale OF Asiatic influences ana ret"'" "'' '
telectual and material CROWN zVV yea''
RUSSIA FREED FROM TARTAR RULE.
When Russia freed herself from tartar 'u'e e .'e
Church dominated the civil power, ana theh 'n"'
rordsr,,, ,,ar Peter the Great. appeared ana dc-
clared tbers should be but one power In 'hu'c"
and State and the Car should be master.
MANY anecdotes were told Of his reforms ana
the mean. employed to make Russia "a great T"'o
pean nation. I'VE stife' he said' we "'u'e op ,,.,'
a window N .he West" SO he went to war win
c...,s. WV =, sweden TO get control Of the Baltic
WOMEN IN WAR
", .x. 49, r,rks and gained a foothold on
tbe p,.cL sea and the relentless policy or aggres-
sion and extension Instituted by him "as ao's ,"
ried on by his clever daughter Ehzape'"' anu .'
marvellous woman, Catherine ii. ana II ho ''' -,
fcrcs to-day as shown In tho transs'oe'''" 'a"
road which will open a very large window IN the
East.
WHERE WOMEN VOTE IN RUSSIA
.syyhile so much is said Of the absolutsm OF the
central Government" continued MISS hoDeI'S, ~ 10
we'll to note that tho women OF Russia Vo'o ~ ~ ,,
district assemblies Notwithstanding the men s','
hold TO tho Oriental idea voiced IN ono Oh ''','
proverbs: Where the hair ~ lohe '"e '''"'
SMALL"
terse account was given OK tho or's'n VA
Nihillsm in church schism. down 10 i's Dru'a' 60.
hibitions OF our day. Out Of all these e'e'he"''
literary Russia was born about ffty years ago
They had early traditions and folklore pu, r,an nan
been content copy translate from me "s, t ~
and French TIL Belinski. the critic. SCI the iec "
the nation in tho line of national literature.
GoGOL AND HIS RUSSIAN SKETCHES
In response to his CALL Gogol wrote his inimi'aor
Russian sketches. The novelist occupies unique
position in Russia; his purpose is deep ana MS ms
sion exalted, ali OF which must be expressed IN INC
yelled form Of romance owing 10 the censorship 9'
the press Gogol portrayed the venality or the Oh
ncias In Dead Souls. while Dostoyevskl se' Io IL liz
burning picture OF the horrors OF siDeria III '"'
famous novel OF Buried Alive"
Turgenef vividly illustrated the Wretcneans1,s, =,
o. the serfs Of Russia that Alexander II deciaIea -