The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-06-26
Some Facts
About Russia.

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IHE Russian Empire includes
the greatest continuous ex-
tent of territory in the world;
comprising, as it does, half of
Europe and Asia. The area is something
like $500, 1895 square miles, or about one
sixth of the earth's land surface. The
population is 1S6O00OeO.
The people are divided into four
classes, the mobiles, clergy, merchants
and the lately freed serfs. The govern
ment is an absolute monarchy and the
ruler is the Gar. The present ruler,
Car Nicholas, acceded to the throne on
NovembeE2 1894. He has private es-
tates of more than a million acres and
his annual income. is between eleven
and twelve million dollars.
Russia's wealth consists mostly of
forests, minerals, agriculture and graz
ing products. The minerals come from
the Ural mountains on the Asiatic
side, where iron, gold and platinum are
found in fairly large quantities. The
greater part of the wheat raised in CEN
trail and southwestern Russia is ex-
ported to western Europe.
st. Petersburg, the capital, is built on
several islands at the mouth of the Neva
river, and these islands are connected
by bridges, which area good deal like
those that connect t6e islands of Venice.
Cronstadt, the seaport of st. Peters,
burg, is the chief naval station of
Russia. Some of the famous old cities
of Russia are Moscow, the ancient cap
ital that was burned by the people to
prevent it from falling into the hands
of Napoleon during the invasion of
1872, Warsaw, which was at one time
the capital of Poland, and SebastopoI,
famous because of the siege it sustained
for more than year against the
English, French and Turkish armies.
Odessa, Cronstadt and Riga are the
principal seaports of Russia and Mos
cow is the centre of interior trade. A
great fair is held every year in the
latter place, and is attended by people
from all parts of Europe and Asia, who
60 there to buy, sell and exchange
goods.
Some people think that the Russian
army service is easier than the Ameri-
can but that is not so, for when a man
enlists in the Russian army he is bound
to service for eighteen years; that
means, five years. active and. thirteen
years reserve. Now in the American
army soldiers discharge can be bought
and the length of service is only three
years.
The Cossacks are very interesting
people and much could be said about
them, but will only say a few words
regarding customs and one of their
queer beliefs. On account of their be-
ing the most skilful and daring horse,
men in the world, they are of great
value to the Russian army as light
horse cavalry, and the Cars private
bodyguard consists largely of picked
men from among them. The costume
of a Cossack in the army consists of a
pair of light Russian boots and a
heavy suit made of kind of brown
cloth, and yisorless cap. They sell
dom wear coat except in very cold
weather, but instead they wear heavy
blouse, fitted with narrow pockets. ali.
the way across the chest, in which they
carry their cartridges, while at their
side is a short sabre. Before going
into battle the Cossack will clean and
polish his saddle and other trappings
with as much care as if he was going.
on an errand to the royal palace; he
will also take pains to see that his per-
-sonal appearance is neat, for he believes
that nobody can enter heaven unless
his person is free from dirt when he
dies. r. r.