The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-17
RUSSIA OF TODAY.
Extracts From Letter written In April
by Sir Howard Ni7cent.


You ask for my impressions OF Russia
to-day. 1t ia well that you emphasize the
last word. The situation may change at any
minute No man can forecast 1t. But this
is my view to-day"
~, Petersburg Ia nearly as safe as London.
People 60 about their ordinary business In
their ordinary way. The war. Its effect and
It's cost are not seen. save in Red Cross col
Letting box OH each restaurant table. People
TAX and write about the war less than IN
Paris There is no running after news. Social
functions are certainly suspended but that
NILS the theaters 10 overnowing, save in this.
PASSION, week. when fasting, confession ana
prayer reign in Orthodoxy. Gen. Trepon 10
calm. cool. coura geous and energetic. There
are few special police precautions visible.
Al his own Office there is q single constable.
Nor in the streets are more than usual to be
seen. There are 700 fixed points in st, Peters
burg. requiring 2l0O men for three relleis.
This leaves only 800 police out of the total
force of 1900 for other duties, sick, &c. There
are consequently few police patrols, and
military assistance has to be invoked II the
slightest extra force is required. 1t IL IN all
countries bad and untrust worthy in dealing
WIN a crowd serious crime 49, however,
rare. thanks largely to the licensed drorniks.
or house porters
The city artisans in large part are only tenn
porary sojourners from the country. Through
OUT the long snOwbound winter the wives
a a ,Ss 2 the Spn ana HGa
ore w sfetH heT town eapnnss for
blowing. the sowing and the reaping. The
fS,rikes which We're almost wholly political;
10 per cent in wages The economic situation
Of some houses has not been able to accept
and they have shut down ~ Thsir men have
gone or been sent back to the villages, for the
Tn q ri NJ n
i do not find one single Russian in favor OF
pe ess save 9a terws not likely as yet to pe
no indemnity. Even NJ. Witte, the statesman
in whom popular hope for the future hes,
who was known TO be opposed 20 the 9ccupa Pa.
war. and who, like Count Lamsdorf; makes
no secret Of his desire for peace. would never yer
consent 10 the paying. for the first time IN the
Y is urged, has been accustomed to defeat "a
the earlier stages Of a campaig n and to sub
,ba in the W Tepeat
Much depends on Admiral Rojestvensky Inc
successful conduct OF his fleet to the China
in Europe. to say nothing of the Admiralty in
st Petersburg, encOura ges the Russian trust
that the tide will turn.
have myself seen aud handled thousand
r?ill ion rmbles Of gold reserve IN the state
Bank There Are many virgin resources n,nr YET bs
says to the Emperor There must be peace.
because can find no more money" At the
same time one ought in Justice TO add that
there is little animosity against the Japanese.
will conclude. as ] began. with caveat
against prophecy. But having thirty wears
kno wledg of Russia having seen within me
past fourteen days nearly every one. Russ ian
or foreign, able TO throw light on the situation
in Russia come to the clear opinion that.
tude on the part Of the aut horities to meet
what his Majesty happily terms the new
revolution. no violent upheaval. but that the
Russian people. perhaps more good natured
more easily led. more Disciplined. and more
under the influence Of religious rites and
ceremonies than almost any other race. will
work out their salvation under the paternal
system OF government which they best under
stand. G. T.. Howard VINCENT.
ST. PFTERsBrEc. April "a.