The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1905-08-30
Russian Railway Station Devotions.


Ignorance is universal. OF the
Russians only about 30 per cent Of the
males and less than 10 per cent. of the
females can read and write. 1t is u
doubtful if the people outside of the
large cities know anything of the cX
istence of the war with Japan, GER
tainly no details. The army is re-
cruited under the cOnScript system
and privates go to war or to fortress
guard duty as uniformed about thcl
movements or destination as cattle to
the slaughter pen.
The number of adherents to the
principal religious denominations is aS
follows: Orthodox, S1.0O0.0O0; old
faith and dissenters from orthodoxy.
2,OOO,OOO; Roman Catholics, 100000;
Jews. 100000; PrOtestantS, 3.UOOWbO:
Armenian GregOrians, 100000; Mo
hammedans, 100000.
Russians Lacking in Religious Under
standing.
The Russians are on the surface an
exceedingly religious people. They
continually interrupt their daily Occu-
patiOnS for prayer. Il cl%n OF the
cross. or with a bow or genuheXion
before every village or city church and
every roadside ikon. In the railway
stations there are little affairs before
which passengers bend in reverence
upon setting out on journey. In
spite, however, of apparent devotion,
the Russian is lacking in religious
sentiment Christianity has not yet
penetrated the stolid peasant masses.
Whilst accepting the ceremonies of
hn
learned little of the ethical teachings
of Christianity. External devotion
does not necessarily suppose real re-
ligious sentiment, and Russian au-
thors do not hesitate to deny that
there is any great underlying character
or tone to the people. They bow to
authority as a timid child does to a
stern parent. Many of the Russian
priests are ignorant men, but suili-
GENTLY trained to go through the forms
of repea ting the service and perform
ing other church duties.
The Russian population Is made up
of the various classes, in about the
following proportions: Peasants, o.
100000; Burghers, 13,J0O000; Heredi-
tary Noblemen, 100000; Personal
Noblemen and Officials. 100000;
Ecclesiastics 5SS,0O0; Hereditary and
Personal Honorary Citizens. 342oOo;
Merchants. 2S1 900. and Foreigners,
Cos, 800. These figures are five or SIX
years old, as the Russian authorities
are 10th to give out information.
Great Density of Japanese POpu-
Iation.
The population of Japan. according
TO the census Of 1903. was nearly
As. 100000, and by adding that OF
FormoSa, with nearly 3,OOO,OOo. the
Japanese Empire contains over 5O,OOO'-
600 people. The density of population
ranges from 300 to 1000 persons to the
square mile, the Knai district when
includes the cities of Kobe and Osaka,
with nearly LOO to the square MILE
being the most densely populated.
During the census period OF ten
years ending with 1908, the average
annual increase of population III Japan
was nearly 100000. The need OF
Korea on the mainland for tins over
flow is apparent. The present empire
consists of four large Islands ana sew
o,,oi thousand smaller ones. The
Japanese style their country nippon
Thirty Million Farmers.
OF the population of Japan, over
3O,OOO.O00 are farmers. This Is n0th-
ing short of wonderful when it is con-
sidered that the major portion OF the
Empire is mountainous and unpro-
ductive and the immense population is
supported from tiny farms covering a
cuitivatable area of only 10000 square
miles, a tract of land less than one
half the area of Ohio, supplemented by
levying contributions on the sea along
the extensive coast line. No other
nation in the world has reduced agrl,
culture to such fine practical
science; and in the opinion of Eastern
writers the wonderful spirit of deyo-
ton to country which has been mani
tested by the japanese soldiery is due
to the spirit of patriotism bred on the
"home acres" OF the population.
Rooted to the soil' would be the
expression to describe the condition OF
the major portion of Japan's popula-
ton.