The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-28
YLADIyOsTOK
OUTPOST OF RUSSIAN ADVANCE
 TO FAR EAST.
A City wsich is Impregnable to As- sault from the Sea-A Fort or
 and for the Russans.

Entering any of the many harbors of China, one becomes immediately aware of being in the land of John Chinaman by the numerous pagodae, nshing vil- iapes and harbor craft that confront the eve at every alteration of the ships co,,rse. says Ernest Williams Hewson, in inc Boston Transcript. The very at- mosphere is redolent of that peculiar aro- ma so characteristic of China.
 Vladiyostok differentiates itself in many ways from other Oriental cities. Japan ese Chinese, Koreans and Russians are the predominating classes, and they have built a city architecturally rude in char acter, but impregnable to assault. The harbor entrance from Peter the Great Bay resembles that of San Francisco; not only are the entrances almost identical in formation, but also are the names; you pass through the Golden Gate at San Francisco, and enter the Golden Horn of Vladivostok.
 Russian Stronghold.
 The first Russian stronghold construct ed in the Far East, Vladivostok, stands to-day as the pioneer outpost of Russian advance into that region. Situated on gentle SAuy' of hills. on a curve of the Golden Horn ,the city is so screened as to be entirely concealed from without T sition of the many small islands lying and about the harbor, heavy pieces of ordnance have been mounted on com manding and advantageous points to in- sure safety from sea attack. WhIie in the city the writer counted forty-three fortified positions protecting the harbor entrance.
 Vladvostok (pronounced Vlad-e-vo'- stock) is essentially port of and for the fc nj a6 a k ed degree by the absence of English speaking clerks in the hotels and com mercial houses. which is not the case in any other part of the Orient ine Rus sians do not encourage immigration of aliens, but supplement the population by sending numbers of their own people out either by steamer or across Siberia by the great railroad
 The city has probably the poorest hotel accommodations in the East. These places look sumptuous and comfortable from without, but experience and con- tact within these self-styled hostelries has unmistakably proved that the Muscovite has yet much to learn concerning the managing of hotels. The English-speak- ing traveller enters the hotel to discover to his chagrin that the hotel stan has not been coached even in the simplest English monosyllables. Taking into con 
 an accomplishment requiring strenuous labor to acquire, it is obviously certain the poor foreigner who chances to come into close quarters with a Iadivostok hotel will not better his temperament in remaining too long time.
 Military City.
 Vladivostok is a military city. Conner cial houses thrive there. Asiatic aliens have settled in great numbers. but above z kI, cf0n of tongues. the click of machinery, is heard the voice of the military. The houses of the lower classes are particu- lerly squalid and dirty; justly fitted to shelter those whose ideas on cleanliness are in strict accord with the condition of their abodes. The streets are like the houses; dirty dusty and the receptacle for the garbage of the poorer classes.
 A drive over the roads of Vladivostok is both instructive and exciting, and affords one a sufflciency of exercise that even several hours of physical culture could not induce. The favorite mode of conveyance is the "isiwashchick," or four-wheeled vehicle, closely resembling < victoria, with the exception that one horse is hi:ched between the shafts and another to the side of the first horse, but outside the shaft. The Cossack driver, perched unconcernedly on the seat in green coat ana puiIeu SieeNes' soImS el ludicrous picture to the nonresident The traveller anticipating a delightful drive, takes his seat in the vehicle, and almost immediately the horse, at word from the driver, with a leap is off. Tho Cos sacks are very proficient in driving and handling these conveyances. They start the animals very quickly and stop with a suddenness anything but pleasant to the passenger. They are dangerously fy, 1rfHr = ed with considerable temerity to under take a drive. especially on the roads of vladivostok. where the prevailing condi- tions make driving rather more of an experience than a pleasure.
 Russian Officers.
 Tn every hotel buffet. corridor and bal