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


THE Story of Moscow" by Writ Ger
rare. is a small book literally crammeG
with interesting and valuable information.
The illustrations. by Helen NJ. 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, and 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. fair specimen of the author 5
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 no
less than the richness and multitude OF its build
ings filed pilgrims with awe and reverence 10
the tourist today il Is as vision OF magnificent
splendor and briiliance, for seen in the clear
sunlight Of summer day Moscow has beauty
and brightness other city possesses. Long lines
'of ivory whteDess, capped with vivid green or
flushed with oarmine and ruby; great globes OF
deepest blue, patches of purple. and dashes Of
aquamarine; many cleaning domes OF gold. glow
ing halos OF FURNISHED copper dazzling points Of
glistening silver-such make Moscow at sunset
like part OF rainbow streaked with lightning
and thickly bedzened with great gems.
Intense colors, sharp contrasts characterize Mos
cow. The extravaganza OF design and cOlorIng,
unconcealable even in the general prospect, are
obvious on closer inspection. The stranger ar
rsying by railway gets no biTd's-eye view of the
town; but on his way from the station in the
suburbs toward the central town sees the painted
roofs, colored walls, pTetentious pillars, immense
buildings, tiny cottages, magnificent spaces,
row. winding streets; irregularities and ncongru-
lies so many that Moscow first, and most lasting
ly, impresses by its bizarerie.
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 to 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
deraved monarchs in history. When it is
remembered that this Tsar was a contem-
pcr'lry of Queen Elizabeth, and that more
people were put to death during his reign,
through incurrng his capricious dislike.
than were slain by Henry the Eighth,
Bloody Mary, and Elizabeth together. il
viii be seen that Russia was at that time
considerably behind England in civilza-
ticu. This whole chapter is a record of
burnings irownings. 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
1t is not at all certain that it would. An
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 French Ambassadors
hat to his head Sir Jeremy Bowes the English
Ambassador, soon after came before Ivan, put
his hat, and cooked II before him, at which Ivan
eternly demanded how he burst do so, having
heard how he chsstised the French Ambassador.
Sir Jeremy answered: 81 the ambassador of
the inyincibIe Queen of England, who does not
veil her bonnet, nor bare her head TO any prince
living. II any Of her ministers shall receive any
sffront abroad, she is able to avenge her own
quarrels."
The grim humor OF the fierce monarch
seems to have been pleased by this I'M
daunted rejolnder, and the Englishman re-
neIined unmolested, but it must be said
that TO behave thus coolly in the presence
of person who did not hesitate to have
people boiled alive in oil, or fastened up in
beerskins for dogs 10 tear, required high
o-,ier of courage.
The church which this human fend left
as his monument is, according TO the pres
ent writer, so characteristic Of him that 1t
has not even architectural beauty. and the
sketch which accompanies the description
suggests this. Mr.. Gerrare says:
Many writer's have asserted that this fantastic
ehce il mixture OF the Gothic, Moorish, Indian,
Byzantine, and other styles Of architecture. As
a matter Of fact il is but exaggeration Of the
Russian style, an agglomeTstion OF domes, tow
U-ad. 9TH NJ Fh may he
found many buildings in wooden Russia"
Nine OF its chapels each surnounted
by lofty roof differing from the Others.
The central one, that dedicated TO the Virgin,
has high tower and wonderful spire the paint
ings on its internal converging sides adding 10
its eNtravagsnt proportions. The other eight
chaptls on this floor surro i'd the spire and are
covered with the usual srched vault supporting
longer or shorter cylindrical towers, surmounted
with cupolss of different forms and sizes. One
has apparently large facets; another bristles like
the back of a hedgehog; third bears closest re-
semblsnce to pineapple, and fourth to a
melon; fifth is in folds, another has spiral
gonhenents-none are plain. A covered gallery
extends from north to south with rooted and
epirsd stairways leading up 80 the church level,
ard a narrow passage and outside wall enclose
the remaining chapels The quaint belfry with its
Russo-Gothic spire and bright roofing, being un.
like aught 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
SITS color is motley; the two both harmonic and
contrast-the whole fascinates- IL is at once both
a nish tmare and revelation Like an impress
sionist's picture ii rivets attention by apparent
strength and seeming originality. IL cannot be
forgotten, yet it repels by its egTegiois faulty
1t is the over-infated frog at the instant OF es-
plosion 1t is not even known by its correct
name; covering the remains Of mendicant monk
'idfotic for Christs sake" its familiar appella-
ton blessed Willie is derived from him.
To know Yasili Blsienni, the visitor
should walk Jund it in the dusk Of the evening,
.n the gloom Of winters day, or. in summer. IN
that hslf-light OF midnight that there does duty
for darkness Standing in the shadow Of the
Kremlin wall, on soil saturated fathoms deep with
the blood Of innocent martyrs. examine the build
ing closely and call TO memory the people by
whom and for whom it produced. Then and
then only may the conception Of this fungus-ikc
excrescence seem possible.
The record OF Peter the Great is almost
as unsavory in places. Altogether, the
perusal CT this book, while it may con-
vince the reader OF the unique and pictur-
esque charm Of Moscow, does not conduce
to much admiration or affection for the
Russian character. (London: J. NJ. Dent
G. Coz
"A History Of Russian Literature" by
X. Waliszewsk, is the first of a series CT
volumes on the literature OF the world. Of
which other numbers are japanese Lit
eratures," by W. @. Aston; Bohemian
Literature, by Francis, Count Lutzow,
and books on the literatures OF France
and ancient Greece, by Edward Dowden
and Gilbert Murray, respectively. The
series is edited by Edmund Gosse, and
e will be readily seen that the various
volumes are the work Of men who are
-ffy., tk.xrff In shaFr aSfA0a