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

Russian Railway Station Devotions.
Ignorance Is universal. or thC
/ Russians only about 80 per cent Of ia,
/ males and less than 10 per cent. of III,
| 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
| tainly no details. The army is re-
| Cruited under the cOnscript system
and privates 20 10 war or 10 fortress
guard duty as uniformed about their
movements or destination as cattle 70
thc slaughter pen.
The number OF adherents 20 the
principal religious denominations Is rs
follows: Orthodox. S7OOO.OO0: old
faith and dlssentcrs from orthodoxy.
2u0OOO; Roman Catholics, / 900. 900;
Jews. 5uOO.OOO: Protcstants. 3WDOOO :
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 "A prayer. a sign of the
cross. or with bow or gcnuheXiOn
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 n journey. In
spite, however. OF apparent devotion,
tie Russian is lacking in religious
sentiment Christianity has not yet
penetrated the stolld 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-
li~iOus sentiment. and Russian au-
thors do not hesitate 10 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 RUS sian
RESTS are ignorant men. but suili-
ciently trained TO 60 through the forms
OF repeating the service aud perform
Ing other church duties.
The Russian population Is made up
OF the various classes, in about the
following proportions: Peasants, &C.
100000: Burghers, 13.JO0,OOO; Heredi-
tary Noblemcn, 1.2OO.OO0; Personal
Nohlemcn and officials. 100000;
Ecclesia sites. 5SS.OOO; Hereditary and
Personal Honorary Citizens. $4,000;
Merchants. PSI goo and Foreigners,
GO5.JOO. These figures are five or six
years old. as the Russian authorities
are 10th 10 give out Information.
Great Density e Japanese Popu-
iation.
The population Of Japan. according
TO the census OF 1903. was nearly
4S.OO0O00. and by adding that Of
FormoSa. with nearly 3,OO0,O0O. the
Japanese Empire contains over 50OOO,-
600 people. The density of population
ranges from 900 10 I 100 persons 10 the
square mile. the Kinai district. which
includes the cities OF Kobe and Osaka.
with nearly LOO 10 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 Million Farmers.
or the population of Japan. over
30.OOO.OO0 are farmers. This Is moth
ing short OF wonderful when IL is con-
sldered 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. tract OF land less than one
half the area of Ohio, supplemented 10y
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
writers the wonderful spirit of devo-
ton 10 country which has been mani
tested by the Japanese sOldiery 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.