Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-09-02


Ignorance Is universal or the
Russians Ouly about .iO per cent of the i
males and less than 10 per cent of the /
females can read and write. 10 Isl
doubtful IL the people outside 81 the /
large cities know anything OF the ex-
istence OF the war with Japan. Ger |
tainly no "details. The army is re-
cruited under the conscript system
AMI privates 20 % war or 90 fortress
guard duty aS uniformed about tIeIr
movements or destination as cattle to
the slaughter pen
The number OF adherents 20 the
principal religious denominations IL as
follows Orthodox. ST.u0.oto. old
faith and dissenters from orthodoxy.
100000: Roman Catholics. 1t.e0.uso;
Jews 5.u0o.NU, Protestants. 3vot-o
Armenian Gregorians. 100000; No
hammedans, 100000.
Russians Lacking in Religious Uncer-
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 EsnuileNion
before every village Or city church and
every roadside lkon. In The railway
stations there are little affairs before
which passengers bend I'm reverence
upon setting ont on a journey. In
spite. however. OF apparent devotion.
the Russian Is lacking I'm religious
sentiment Christianity has not yet
penetrated the stolid peasant masses.
Whilst accepting the ceremonies OF
Byzantium. the Russian people have
learned little OF the ethical teachings
OF Christianity. External devotion
does not necessarily suppose real re-
ligiOuS sentiment and Russian 0u-
thOrs DO not hesitate 10 deny that
there Is any great underlying character
or tone 20 the people. They bow 10
authority as a tlmid child does TO a
stern parent Many OF the Russian
priests are ignorant men. but sum
ciently trained 10 20 through the forms
OF 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. 96.-
I $4,000: Burghers. 13.Jo0.OOO, Heredi-
tary NOblemen. 100000; Personal
i Noblemen and officials. $4,000
Ecclesia sites. 5SS.OOO; Hereditary and
I Personal Honorary Citizens. S42.oOO
/ Merchants. 2S1 GOO. and Foreigners
Ga0.5OO. These figures are i've OF SIX
+ years old rs the Russian authOrltle,
are 10th 10 give out Information
Great Density of Japanese PoPu-
lation.
The population OF Japan. aceordin.
10 the census of 1903. was nearl,
$1,000. 900. and by adding that o.
Formosa. with nearly 3.OOO.OOO th
Japanese Empire contains over $4,000,
600 people. The density OF population
ranges from go 10 1890 persons 90 tn
square mile. the kinai district. whicl
, includes the cities OF Kobe and Osaka
with nearly 100 10 the square mile
/. being the most densely populated
During the census period OF te
years ending with 1903. the averag
= annual increased population Ia Ja2a
I was nearly 5OO.OOO. The need c
! Korea on the mainland for this Ovcl
dow is apparent. The present empiI
consists OF four large islands and SCI
eral thousand smaller ones. II
japanese style their country Nippol
Thirty Milton Farmers.
+ or the population OF Japan. ov'
n 10000. 600 are farmers This IS not
g ing short OF wonderful when IL Is col
y Sidered that the major portion % a
Z Empire Is mountainous and unpr
y ductive and the immense population
!. ! supported from tiny farms covering
Il cultivatable area Of only 10000 squa'
Z miles. a tract OF land less than on
+ half the area OF Ohio. supplemented
X levying contributions on the sea aloi
v the extensive coast line. No 9th
e nation in the world has reduced Az
e culture TO such a fine practic
2 science: and in the opinI0n OF Eastel
q writers the wonderful spirit OF dev
Is ton 10 country which has been mar
N tested by the Japanese soi6iery is IL
Ie to the spirit OF patriotism bred on Z
Of home acres" Of tbs populatio
v Rooted 10 the soir' would be q
a. expresson 70 describe the condition
Sc the major portion OF Japsn's popu
tion-