The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06
Russian History and Literature.

Russian History and Literature.
The Story Of Moscow" by Writ Ger
rare. is a small book literally crammed
with interesting and valuable information
The Illustrations by Helen N. James
while not a very prominent part Of the
work. add much TO its charm, being thor
oughly suited to the text The author
gives a detailed history Of the city which,
more than any other, is identified with
the life of Russia, aud interspersed in the
narrative are descriptions Of the historical
buildings and localities in the city, and Of
its general aspect and character. Any
one who reads this little work through will
have the sensation Of having been to Mos
COW. A fair specimen Of the author $
style OF description may be found on the
first page. where a sort Of bird s-eye view
OF the city is given:
Long ago the tremendous extent Of this town,
Apparently without limit. amazed strangers 10
less than the richness and multitude % lts build
ings filled pilgrims with awe and reverence To
the tourist today it is as vision 81 magnificent
splendor and briIauce, for seen in Toe clear
sunlight Of a summer day Moscow has beauty
ana brightness no other CITY possesses. Long lines
of livery whiteness, capped with vivid green or
aushod with carmine and ruby; great globes oi
5eepcst blue. patches Of purple. and dashcs OF
aquamarine; MANY cleaning domcs of gold. glow
ing halos Of FURNISHED copper. dazzling points OF
glistcning silver-suUh make Moscow at sunset
like part q q rainbow streakcd with lightning
and thicAly bedizcned with great gems.
Intense col0rs, sharp contrasts cnaIaeteIize Nos
COW. The extravaganza OF design and uoloring,
unconcealahle even in the general prospect are
obvious on closer inspection. The stranger ar
irving by railway gets no bird's-Cye view Of the
town; but on his way from the station in The
suburbs toward the central town sees the PAINTED
coli ak
buildings, tiny cottages, magnificent spaces, mar
Tow, winding Streets irregularities and incongrui-
ties so many that Moscow first and most lasting
", impresses by its bizaUerie.
After this preliminary survey Of the city.
Mr.. Gerrare goes on to narrate its history
from the earliest period, showing how at
every step its growth has been inter
woven with that Of the Russian people
The chapter which deals with Ivan the
Terrible has about it the weird fascination
Of chamber of horrors. for the author
takes particular pains 10 depict that char
acter precisely as he was, and omit all the
whitewashing which some later historians
have endeayored to administer to the rec
ord Of one of the most bloodthirsty and
derJaved monarchs in history. When it is
remembered that this Tsar was a contem-
porary OF Queen Elizabeth and that more
people were put to death during his reign.
C.
than were slain by Henry the Eighth.
Bloody Mary, and Elizabeth together. it
viii be seen that Russia was at that time
considerably behind England in civiliza-
ton. This whole chapter is a record Of
burnings, dTownings torturings impale-
ments. and every other form Of cruelty.
practiced impartially on men, women. and
children. The history Of the Iroquois
might possibly equal this chronicle, but
-TH-
incident in the diplomatic history Of the
time shows the caprice Of this terrible
ruler. and also the customs which pre-
vailed at his court:
He it was who nailed a French Ambassadors
hat to his head Sir Jeremy Bowes, the English
Ambassador. soon after came before Ivan. put on
his hat and cooked 81 before him. az which Ivan
sternly demanded how ne burst do SO. having
heard how he chaetised the French Ambassador.
SIR Jeremy answered: u am the ambassador Of
the invincble Queen Of England, who does not
veil her bonnet. nor bare her head to any prince
living. i any o. her ministers shall receive any
ffront abroad, Size Is able to avenge her own
quaues."
The grim humor OF the fierce monarch
seems to have been pleased by this IN
dsunted reioinder. and the Englishman re-
mIined unmolested, but il must be said
that to behave thus coolly in the presence
OF a person who did not hesitate TO have
people boiled alive in Gil OF fastened up in
besrskins for dogs TO tear, required high
orier of courage.
The church which this human feud left
as his monument is. according to the pres
eAt writer, SO characteristic Of him that II
has not even architectural beauty, and the
sketch which accompanies the description
suggests this. MIR. Gerrsre says:
Many writers have asserted that this fantastic
edihce 10 mixture % the Gothic, Moorish, Indian,
Byzantine and other styles OF architecture. As
matter Of fact il is but exsggerati0n Of the
Russian style, an agelomerstion OF domes, tow
ers, and spires, one or other Of which may be
found on many buildings in wooden Russia"
Nine Of its chapels are each slrmounted
by a lofty roof differing from the Others.
The central one. that dedicated 20 the Virgin,
has high tower and wonderful spire the paint
ings on its internal couverging sides adding to
Its eXtrayagsnf proportions. The other eight
Chspels this ho0r surround the spire and are
covered with the usual srched vault supporting
longer OF shorter cylindrical towers, suTMounted
with cupolss Of different forms and sizes. One .
has apparently large facets; another brstles like
the back Of hedgehog; third bears closest re +
semblsnce to a pineapple, and a fourth 10 4
melon; g eth is in folds. another has spiral 4
gonhements-none are pain. covered gallery +
Extend from north TO south, with rooted and .
Fpired stairwsys leading up 90 the church level, /
and narrow passage and outside wall enclose /
the remaining chapels. The quaint befry with its
hueS0lln0tAlE kllrt ana DflEllA looNlA. Ae-ilk ul
ike sught else is IN keeping with the general
design. Outside the central dome is brightly
gilt the others are painted in gaudy colors, and
the whole Of the exterior Is decorated with crude
patterns in strong contrast Its design Is bizarre
Sts color j. motley; the two both harmonic and
whole fascinates. j. Is al once both
a nightmare and recitation Like an impres-
sionists picture IL riyets attention by apparent
strength and seeming originality. " cannot be
forgotten vet it repels bt its egregious fatnlty.
it is the over inflated frog at the instant Of eE-
plosion- II il not even known by its correct
name: covering the remains Of o meudicaut monk
a-ifotic for Clrist's sake It's familiar appeila-
ton Blessed Willie is derived from him.
To know YssiH Blsienui the visitor
should walk round it in the dusk Of the evening,
IN the gloon O, winters day. or. in summer, In
that hslllight OF midnight that there docs duty
for darkness. Standing in The shadow Of the
Kremlin wall, soil saturated ialhoms deep with
the blood Of innocent martyrs, examine the build
ing closely and call 90 memory the people by
whom and for whom il WIS produced Then and
then only may the conception % this luHgls-ilkC
eXerescence seen possible
The record OF Peter the Great is almost
as unsayory in places. Altogether, the
perusal CT this book, while it may con-
vince the reader o. the unique and pictur-
esque charm Of Moscow. does not conduce (
TO much admiration or affection for the I
Russian character. (London: J. NJ. Dent /
d Coz
"A History Of Russian Literature by I
X. Wsliszewskl, is the first Of a series Of |
volumes On the literature OF the world, Of /
which other numbers are japanese Lit |
eratures," by W. G. Aston; Bohemian I
Literature, by Francis, Count Lutzow, /
and books on the lteratures Of France 4
and ancient Greece by Edward Dowden /
and Gilbert Murray respectively. The (
series is edited by Edmund Gosse, and I
Il viii be readily seen that the various .