The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-27

Mr.. Norman is sufficiently we'll known
as a traveller and student of political
and commercial life in far countries to
make his newest book of interest. even
# he did not tell US that it is the result
of Il years of travel and study and of
four long and arduous journeys In his
preface Mr. Norman disavows an lnten-
ton of writing a complete narrative OF
what Russia is: he aims only at pre-
senting a picture of the aspect OF mod
ern Russia most of interest to foreign
readers with reference to the recent
commercial and Industrial developments
in the great eastern empire and the pos
sibility OF closer commercial and p9-
iitical relations between Russia and
Great Britain" This frank aveWal sets
the keynote of the book, and while rob
bing il of any false pretense, rObs it also
of n wider scope of interest. AS COM
mercial report. cOnsuls report OF
higher literary worth than such things
usually are, and as a Travellers record it
Is. barring some chapters, excellent As
q political study of cODtempOraneou
Russia it is of hardly greater value than
the censored leaders in the ST. Peters
burg dailies-
AS a book of travel pure and simple
Mr. Norman's book is excellent He has
q delightful descriptive style. a love of
nature IL her sterner moods a0d a
painters eye for the superficial pictur-
sequences of many men and many
things. as seen by the more intelligent
tourist If he had called his book Rus
STA From a Car Window" it could be
noted as a conspicuous success Had
he not asked Us to look on the book as
a serious political and commercial study
of modern Russia there would not be
any reason for criticism in its perusaL
The Inconsistencies and lacks could be
dismissed As unimportant After two
hurried chapters of delightful descrip~
tion of ST. Petersburg and Moscow there
follows a. chapter on Tolstoi which
brings nothing new, and no new phase
of the old The chapters on Finland,
from the point of view Of description,
are among the most interesting in the
book The country. its people, its in
dustries. its wonderful development
against every natural disadvantage art
excellently described with a loving
ninuteness which shows the writer
interest-from the picturesque point OF
view-in this brave and hardy little ma
ton The dangerous question of Rus
Eia's attitude toward Finland-danger-
Gus for one studying the country with
the help of Russian official courtesy
Mr. Norman approaches with caution.
and states that he expects TO have abuse
heaped upon him for his position in the
matter.
He win not meet with that fate, how
ever. for those really Interested in FIJI
lands side of the question know what
Mr.. Norman either does not know or
does not wish to know-namely. that
Finland was. is and always viii be 6
scandinavian country: that she was
forcibly annexed by Russia-or bought
by shameful treaty. which amounts ~
the same thing-and that therefore his
contention that Finland has no reason Ia
expect a treatment other than that
given anT other Russian province. ca IA
not be taken seriously enough to he
blamed.
The portion of the book devoted tt,
Siberia is very good. At present there is
not much to be said about Siberia, ex-
cept to describe its immensely. its waste
spaces. its undiscovered natural re-
sources, and this Mr.. Norman does
thoroughly we'll We cannot fail to be
fascinated by the journey in the trans
Siberian railway, and here again Mt.
Norman ningles useful practical hints
with descriptive writing of a very higs.
order watch must make his book Of
great value to the tourist. The Journey
down the Nclsa. the trans-Caspian rail-
way, the many-cOlored wonders of tn.
Caucasus. its famed and nayster iou-
cities, its Gil wells and great natural re-
sources OF all description. the steady
march or RUssia's expansion acros.
central Asia, where the mighty impact
OF the very physical weight Of the nation
forced its way forward through the fog
OF mental darkness and official despot-
isul-an these are charmingly described
and we'll worth reading