The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-04
RUSSIAN. CHURCH
DOMINATES TOXIC.
Strange Story Of Cathedral iii
Japanese Capital and How It
Came ,Tl1cre.N
OCCUPIES CHOICEST SPOT
Defics Ancient Sentiments of
People But They DO Not
Disturb It.
OCCUPIES CHOICEST Spot
By Eleanor Franklin.

3553 Dys ElCdIlOI TldllhAlLl. litsb
TOXIC, June s.-The most con-
sptcpous object In q panoramic view
OF broad grey-roofcd Toxic is the
+ Russian cathedral It dominates the
oily with nj insolencc wh!cl. should
inspire these proud little people with
an Irresistible desire to march en- massc
up to the heights where 1t stands and
tear 1t down stone from stone, but these
proud little people are far8too temperate,
too sane to be betrayed into any such OK
hibltion OF wrath, however righteous 1t
might be.
This cathedral is great white
edlflcc OF the regulation Russian STYLE,
y with an imposing dome, which Is
surmountcd by a cleaning golden cross.
It was built by. n consecratcd missionary
y priest named Father Ncolai, and has
been the scene OF a strange conglom.
crate religious life since 1t was dedicated
IN 1901. Father Nicolni has always been
loved and respected by tho Japanese and
It Is doubtful II through any other for.
eigner in tho land they could ever have
been Induced to grant such beautiful
and conspicuous sito for a Christian,
81 church. Looking UP at its proud heights
round 1t, one finds difficulty In believing
thatsle than fifty years ago there were
printed notices posted at all road corn
ers and crossings In the Empire warning
the people against the heinous crime Of
protesting faith In the wicked doctrines
81 tho evil sect called Christianity.
Visit to the Cathedral.
The building has already the look Of
great hge md closing ones mind against
its strange Oriental surroundings It IS
easy. to believe ones self som ewhere in
the heart OF Russia where faith In the
wicked doctrines" has been kecnlY alive
through a whole, millennium. But the
aged look is due to the dampness OF tho
y Japanese climate, or perhaps to the Inn;
perfection Of some OF the materials used
In tho construction Of the church. for
It Is anew thing. new az the rcyolu-s
ton OF manners and ideas In this newest
OF Empires and In face OF present con-.
ditIons It is ono OF thev strangest OF new
things under the Japan sun. It Is gen.
orally called "Nicorai',5 because the people
cannot disassoclate 1t from 1t builder and
pricst1y Father. They say Nicorai' be-,
cause II Is almost Impossible for the
Japanese tongue to form the letter L and
everybody In TOXIC, from the lowest
4 coole to the highest prince, knows the
4 cathedral by this name.
II stepped in a ginrksha over the Gina
tho other day and said to the
kuranaya "Nlcorai" and he picked
up tho shafts and whirledt me
away without stopping for a single qies-
ence. He ran swiftly through a devious
sf winding way which could never have
retraccd alone; through tiny little streets
where only my riksha could comfortably
go; over many humpy little canal bridges
from which l caught glimpses Of oddly
Venetian scenes In which wistaria clad
Il houses hung In close clingng. uneven
plc,urcsqueness above the deep blue OF
the water way In which long proved
boats laden with strange merchandise
were being pushed along by the 1.-the
little boys In blue tunics with long bam-
boo poles which they thrust 5lazily TO the
bottom OF the canal with a graceful run
ming motion along the side OF the boat.
I wanted to llnger along these fasci-;
mating ways but had said to my kura-
maya "Nicorai" and he was running 1t
top speed to get me there. believe
he anticipated some interesting advent
ure with me up there on those forbidden!
natty little policemen parade with self
conscious solemnity. We whirled up to
the high iron gate and stepped down
from my riksha with my camera case
and tripod full displayed. I knew
should be challenged but didn't expect
a whole regiment to made Its ppea:ance.
AS "a matter. OF fact n whole regiment
didn't but q good many more than one
I soldier stepped out from the guardhouse
4 Just within the gate and prevented me
from entering, looked as innocent as
& an American tourist "doing"the city and
said may I so in7'' They looked at
each other and smiled. couldn't
imagine at what but smiled too and
then one OF them began to speak Japa-
nese at me very rapidly
Guards the Temple.
"Wakari masen! Wakari masen!" said
!, which means II do not understand"
and the poor little chaps looked very
helpless. Then one OF them waved his
hands and shook his head wildly, for all
the world like an excited little French
gendarme. and said, "Ikk mussen. Xxx
i Inassen,''s which ] knew very we'll meant
"You can do But ! smiled and stood
! quietly by to! let them talk It over and
4 finally ono Of them, with the most de-
lightful embarrassment In the world. said
to me In quaint English. Have YOU name
N card? Who you are?' went down into
the depths OF my coat pocket and pro-
duced my innocent little calling card case
and handed him card. knew no
read 1t so read 1t for him
and added American traveller, live Hotel
Imperial" and while he puzzled over the
4 card ! murmuyed "Chotto halken dozo." Z