The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09

and the nrst class Is only two and one
half times the third-class rata
HIS EXPERIENCE
ON A RUSSIAN TRAIN.
have Travelled many thousand miles on
tho Russian trains. 70 first-class and take
sleeper when can get 1t. and as 1t is the
accommodations are not tho best The
trans-Siberian express has fine cars. 1t IL
true. but the ordinary sleeper leaves much
to be desired. On some roads one IL ex-
pected to supply his pillows and bed linen.
He carries his own towels and soap, and an
for combs and brushes he would be brave
indeed who dared use such things in COM
mon with the average Russian The sec
ond-class cars are little worse thnn the
first, and on some Of the roads the third
class cars are fitted up with benches and
are without modern conveniences Some Of
the cars are lighted by candles. The peas
ants carry their baggage with them
wrapped up In cloths or in great bags, and
vhe cars are packed fun Of such things.
Every one takes as much with him as pos
sible. for only thirty-six pounds can be
checked Free and the balance Is charged for
according to weight and distance. AS to
sl.,ping-car tickets. they must be bought
at the offices and not of the conductors
The ordinary rate II from dollar to a dol
lar and a half q night: or. II you want q
compartment to yourself. s.. passenger
has a right to his compartment from D..
m. to 8 a. m. II one is without bed linen
he can. II he wishes. rent a pillow, two
sheets and blanket for so cents a night.
The other night 1 rode in second-class
sleeper from MOSCOW to the Volga. Tho
first-class accommodations were all taken,
and the second-class was cheaper. Be-
sides. wanted the experience. 1 got It.
Ny car was divided up into compartments
or pens open at the top like the box stalls
of stable. Each compartment had four
Nxy1 h-1-
There were no curtains. We undressed in
the open and lay down facing each other.
The cars were filled with Asiatics and Rus
SLAMS. There were a half dozen pig-tailed
Chinese in silk gowns Persians in turbans
and long cowls OF fine WOOL Armenians in
red feB tarbooshes and Tartars with high
caps Of black aStrakhan. Not few Of the
Tartars carried daggers. and there were
also Russian soldiers and officers with guns
and swords. Fortunately. the windows were
open. and the wind from the plains kept
the air comparatively pure.
I shall not soon forget my two room.
mates. They had dark faces, Roman noses
and long. curly black boards. They laid
aside their astrakhan caps short time after
entering and little later on pulled on their
high boots. showing boots Of soft, black
leather within. Il asked them whence they
came. and they answered by signs, telling
me that they lived in Asia and were Kirghiz,
replied. pointing to myself. that was an
American. saying "Amerikanski." They
were surprised and seemed glad to meet me.
noticed that both men were well-to-do.
Their clothes were Of the finest broadcloth;
they had inlaid daggers and their watches
were gold.
HOW RUSSIAN RAILROADS
ARE BUILT.
On the other side Of me. with q board wall
between, slept q Turk. and with him Mo-
hammedan Tartar from Kaxan on the Vol.
ga. Both these men kneeled and prayed al
|aths sun rose. They had their faces toward
Mecca and bumped their heads on the cusii-
their devotions. Another Tartar eread the
Koran aloud until late In the evening. His
| tone was sing-song and he was still rad
INC when drcpped ~ - slssp.