The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-09


war In the far east st. Peters
burg stands for Russia. The city OF st.
Peter the Great is indeed the political
and social capital of the great empire
it is the point through which Russia
comes in contact with the western world,
the world of modern enterprise and pro-
gress 1t Is the nervous centre of the
great imperial system, the seat of the
government, the centre of military pow
err the home of the nobility. st. Peters,
burg represents the newer Russia. But
to understand the people of the Great
White Car one must know the old city
of Moscow, the city of the common peo-
pie. ST. Petersburg shows you a glitter
ing splendor of the present; Moscow
charms with the interest of romantic
past.
For centuries the heart of Russia beat
here; here history was made, mobiles
thronged the city, czars were born mar
ried, died and were buried; here the
Church of Russia was established in its
great power, before which even emperors
were sometimes made to bow, as when
Ivan the Terrible was compelled to do
penance for his anticipation of Mormon
practices.
The development of the Russian empire
was not unlike that of Germany-a pro-
cess of amalgamation welding a number
of practically Independent principalities
into a great nation, Among these princi-
palities of Russia. that of Moscow early
took the lead, coming into prominence
and power as a result of a war in the
thirteenth century. In 1900 the Kremln,
tho historic fortress, was established,
and with the next few years the princi-
pality acquired considerable territory and
by rolling back a wave of Mongol IN
vasion greatly increased its influence.
At the close of the sixteenth century
Moscow was a wealthy and powerful
pricipality; but there was opposing inter-
est that led to frightful disturbances,
and the story of the seventeenth CEN
fury is one of bloodshed and bitter quar-
reling so that the history of this time
reads like a succession of tragedies taken
from a medieval romance.
After the death of Ivan w, the ter
rible the regent caused the assassination
of Dmitri, the proper heir, and made
himself czar Then rose a false Dmitri'
In whom for time the people believed.
Discovering the fraud they stormed the
palace The imposter fed down a corri-
dor, leaped from a window, hurt his foot
in falling, and avs taken. His body was
riddled with bullets, torn to pieces,
burned the ashes placed in cannon and
fired in the direction from which he had
come. Such are the stories that greet
the traveller in Moscow at every turn.
AS the czars frightened their hold upon
the reins of government and the power
of the people declined the character OF
Moscow changed-ts political power ana
influence waned, and gradually CONNER
cial class began to predominant. There
fore. in the eighteenth century MOSCOW
the rival of the new St. Petersburg gov
arruent was able to offer but a
spiritless opposition.
Fire has played notable part in the
history Of this interesting old city. In
the early days it was several times sack
ed and partially burned by eastern in
vaders, the last of these occasions being
in 1888. In 1547 two CONGREGATIONS nearly
DESTROYED Moscow, and there were others
of a serious nature in 1877, 174S and 1853.
In each instance the citywas rebuilt, and
the people had the good sense and enter
prise to turn the catastrophe each time
into an advantage. by erecting better
buildings, widening some of the streets,
and improving the appearances of their
Phoenix city. In September, 1912. oc-
Cured the last great fire Of Moscow
tho burning of Moscow by the Russians
themselves. one of the great scenes of
history.
Through all the bewildering changes
of this tragic history, the old Kremlin.
the great fortress of Moscow. has pass
ed--courtless times stormed by hordes
OF savage enemies. battered and SCARED,
the center of maelstrom Of human am
billion and passion. Today as one stands
in its courts the place seems haunted
by countless ghosts of those who in the
hell of battle have fallen within its walls;
and the hundreds Of cannon left there
after the French invasion are eloquent
] though silent witnesses OF the fury OF