The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-26
SACRED CITY OF RUSSIA.
Moscow, the Ancient Capital, Where
Shrines and NihiIists Abound.
From the London Express.

From the London Express.
To see a real Russian city it is abso-
lutely necessary for the foreigner to
visit Moscow.
Its narrow streets, countless nina
rets, Moorish architecture and the an
cient walls are full of interest to the
stranger. Merchants from Siberia,
China, Japan, Persia, Turkey, Syria
and all parts of Eastern Europe Jour-
ney to Moscow to dispose of their
wares.
The markets are a babel of strange
tongues, intensified by the violent ges-
ticulationS of the speakers.
Moscow is the Manchester of Russia
and the center of the commerce and
wealth of that vast empire. The
sturdy Muscovlte merchants begin
work early in the morning and have all
their business finished before their ST.
Petersburg confreres are scarcely out
of bed.
Napoleon the Great was the most
important tourist who ever visited
Russia. In the spacious courtyard at
the Kremlin there are $50 pieces of
cannon which were left behind by him
in the retreat of 1872.
These cannons, mostly bronze, were
originally taken by Napoleon from the
Prussians, Austrians, Italians, Span
iards and Portuguese during his va
rious victorious campaigns.
Recently thousands of soldiers have
passed through Moscow on their way
to Manchuria and Siberia.
They marched through the silent
streets at midnight or early in -the
urh fr1h hi
asleep, The military bands and
waving of handkerchiefs by wives and
sweethearts were missing from the
scene. Nothing but the tap-tap of the
drum was heard as the soldiers silently
marched through the snowclad streets
On their way to the Siberian railway
station.
1t is an ancient custom that war
must be proclaimed from Moscow, and
nowhere else in the Russian empire
The report that the Gar was to visit
Moscow on Jan. Il gave rise to the ru-
NOR that war was to be declared with
Japan, and caused fall of stocks on
the Russian markets.
For the Cars the ancient capital has
always been considered dangerous. 1t
is the hotbed of Socialism and revo-
lutionary ideas in Russia, and is the
place where the students have been
trying to organize revolts against the
government during recent years.
on the day of the Feast of ST. John
(Jan. 19) / went to the Kremlin to see
the blessing of the water" performed
by the Metropolitan and his assistants
Thousands of peasants rolled in
through the holy Gate" like a resist
less tide, and assembled in the great
square of the Kremlin, which overlooks
the river. For hours they waited in the
snow and icy blasts i'm order to bare
their heads and utter prayers as the
holy relics were carried past by the
priests.
/ watched the enormous throng.
numbering over 100000, for three
hours. as II was far more interest
ing sight than the religious process
sions.
and duh, staring eyes. trampled over
each other without uttering a word
They came stumbling along like a
vast herd of buffaloes being driven
into stockade. There We're no
sounds OF merry laughter or testing
to be heard on every side as there
would have been IN England, but sim
ply a sullen silence that grew oppres-
sive as the hours sped by.
The peasants standing high up on
the church steps, when they wished to
come down, simply stepped on 20 the
people below them without saying a
word. although there was really plenty
OF room 20 have avoided a. Those who