New-York tribune., 1900-12-15

get out at a certain station to visit a church
which being built. and to bestow his bene-
diction upon a crowd OF Mujiks who had assem-
bled for the purpose Of receiving IT, whist
the ceremony was in progress, few feet Iur-
ther on five Tartar travellers had stretched
their carpets and, with their faces turned Mecca
ward were going through the elaborate gym
nastics connected with Mussulman devotion
The Mujiks. who were crowding forward to kiss
the priests hand, never dreamt of disturbing
the Mohammedan worshippers. but watched
them quite respectfully
The Siberian peasant is better off than his
Russian brother the author thinks. but both
are astonishingly lazy and apathetic. Their
only pleasure in life consists In dreaming away
the time whilst smoking their pipes and in
drinking vodka. not to enliven themselves. but
simply to get dead drunk" This, in spite Of all
the pleasant things NJ EerOy-Beaulieu has to
say about the kindliness and the other good
qualities Of the Siberian Russian character.
does not present glowingly hopeful prospect
for that Greater Russia into which the Cars
Empire began to expand at just about the time
when the AngIo-SaxOn expanded into the
American Colonies. The mines gold and other.
OF Siberia are represented as extremely rich IN
ore, but their exploitation presents peculiar dit-
hcult:es and these difficulties have not been
too successfully met. But matters are pro-
crossing at HveIier pace at the other end Of
Siberia "On this side of the centre OF Russian
influence is Vladivostok. a town which was only
founded about forty years ago. but which the
transsiberian line will eventually lift TO ex-
treme Importance. The only shadow in the
picture is that during three four months the
harbor is covered with ice. The noble bay.
which the English formerly named after Queen
Victoria and which the Russians have now
placed under the patronage Of Peter the Great.
is enc of the most magnificent in the world. in
which the whole Russian fleet could easily find
shelter: but. unfortunately although it is in
the same latitude as TouIon. it freezes very
easily"
The chief attraction OF NJ. Leroy -Beaulieu's
work is on the whole. to be found in the vivid
French touches of color with which he paints
his Impressions OF Asiatic life. and which have.
very likely lost somewhat in the translation.
Here Is one impression which stands out well.
even in these days Of Peking sketches without
end:
Beyond the Tsien-Men Gate is situated the
Beggars' Bridge; always thrOnged by groups
OF wretches clamOring for aims and Osten-
tatiously displaying the most appalling mutiia-
tions. with all kinds OF lOathsome diseases added
to their sordd misery TO excite compassion The
narrow sidewalks. which are bOrdered on the
one hand by booths and on the other by big
shops, are filled by a motley gathering of small
shopkeepers. each plying his business in the
open air Here you see men in light blue
blouses. with long pigtails; Chinese ladies' with
their hair dragged back magpie fashion. who
balance themselves painfully as they go along
on their tiny deformed feet: Tartar women.
whose hair is pufred out on each side OF their
faces. and who, like their Chinese sisters. stick
big flower behind their ears Not being Grip
pied by bound feet. like their less fortunate
Chinese sisters. these women strut along with
as firm a step as their high-heeled clogs will
permit.
In the Chinese section OF the book about the
most entertaining bits OF reading are TO be
found In the chapter on the hterafy and Man
DARN class. why Is the character in writing
which represents the moon closed a. the bottom
and the one which represents 1.-THE sun left
open?' is one OF collection OF q pcal Chinese
examination questions quoted u illustrate the
futility Of Chinese classical fducation The
futility OF everything distinctiYeIy Chinese and
the hopelessness OF China's caJc are the burden
OF all this part OF the work abd the basis OF all
that Is most amusing In IT, THE authors per