Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1905-08-31
Russian Railway Station Devotlons.

Russian Railway Station Devotions.
Ignorance Is universal. OF the
| Russians only about 81 per cent Of the
/ males and less than 10 per cent. OF the
| females can read and write. II Is
| doubtful II the people outside OF the
large cities know anything OF the eX-
| lstence Of the war with Japan. GER
| ialnly no details. The army is re-
cruited under the cOnscript system
and privates go 10 war or 10 fortress
guard duty as uniformed about their
movements or destination as cattle 20
The slaughter pen.
The number OF adherents 10 the
principal religious denominations Is rs
follows: Orthodox. 100000: old
faith and dlssentcrs from orthodoxy.
2.OO,OOO; Roman Catholics, 100000;
Jews. 100000; Protestants. 3WOO0O;
Armenian Gregorlans. 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 "A prayer. sign of the
cross. or with bow or gcnufeXion
before every village or city church and
every roadside ikOn. In the railway
stations there are little affairs before
which passengers bend I'm reverence
upon setting out on journey. In
spite, however, OF apparent devotion,
tie Russian Is lacking in religious
sentiment. Christianity has not yet
penetrated the stolid peasant masses.
Whilst accepting the ceremonies OF
ByMntlum. the Russian people have
learned little OF the ethical teachings
81 Christianity. External devotion
does not necessarily suppose real re-
li~ious sentiment. and Russian au-
thors do not hesitate TO deny that
there Is any great underlying character
or tone TO the people. They bow 10
authority as a timid child does TO
stern parent. Many OF the Russian
RESTS are ignorant mon. but suiii-
clently trained TO 60 through the forms
or repeating the service and perform
ing other church duties.
The Russian population Is made up
OF the various classes, in about the
following proportions: Peasants, CO.
100000; Burghers, 13.5OO,OO0; Heredl-
tary Nohlemcn, 1.2O0O0O; Personal
Nohlemcn ard officials. 10000;
rcclesia sites. 5SSOO0: Hereditary and
Personal Honorary Citizens, $4,000;
Merchants. PSI 900. and Foreigners,
G0j.JOO. These figures are five or six
years old. as the Russian authorities
are 10th 10 give out Information.
Great Density of Japanese Popu-
iation.
The population Of Japan. according
TO the census OF 1903. was nearly
$4,000. 900, and by adding that Of
FormoSa. with nearly 100000 the
Japanese Empire contains over 10000
600 people. The density of population
ranges from go TO 1900 persons 10 the
square mile. the Kinai district, which
includes the cities OF Kobe and Osaka,
with nearly LOO 20 the square mile,
being the most densely populated.
During the census period OF ten
years ending with 1903. the average
annual increase OF population In Japan
was nearly 100000. The need of
Korea on the mainland for this over
flow is apparent. The present empire
consists of four large islands and sew
cral thousand smaller ones. The
japanese style their country Nippon.
Thirty Wilton Farmers.
or the population of Japan. over
30.0OO,OO are farmers. This Is moth
ing short OF wonderful when II 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
cultivatable area of only 10000 square
miles. Il 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 Ia the world has reduced agri- |
culture to such fine practical !
science; and In the opinion of Eastern
writer's the wonderful spirit of devo-
ton 10 country which has been mani |
tested 10y the Japanese sOldlery Is due
To the spirit OF patriotism bred on the
"home ceres" of the population.
Rooted II the soil would he the
expression 10 describe the condition OF
the major portion Of Japan's popula'
ton.