The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-09-23

iBY HON. WILLIAM JENNINGS
fCopyriwht. 1903, by Joseph b. Dsw1ss
-Copyriwht In Great BHftaln-
All Rights Ressrved.)
Bergen. Norway. June 20. '0e.-The
discussion of the Duma occupied 20
much space that ! was compelled 80
omit from that article All mention %
Russia in general and to st. Peters-
burg in particular: I shall therefore
begin this article with q brief refer
ence to the Muscovite Empire.
Two and q half years ago. when !
saw Russia for the flrst time. ] en-
tered by the way Of Warsaw and went
to st. Petersburg from Moscow. While
con siderable territory was covered,
the winters SHOWS made the whole
country looked barren and.untnviting
This time our course lay through the
Baltic provinces, and as farming was
1T Its height. the country presented
a much fairer picture. The cities ana
villages through which we passed
were busy with life. and each had its
church, for the Russians are a church,
going people.
st. Petersburg is a fascinating city.
The church of st. Isaacs. with its
great granite monoliths on the out
side, its pillars within covered with
malachtte and lapsus lazuli. and It's
immense bronze doors. is among the
worlds most imposing places OF wor'
ship; the equestrian statue OF Peter
the Great Is famous, and the art gaA-
lery is of rare merit. Russia's bronzes
are most excellent. and her stores az
hibit q large assortment of furs.
In st. Petersburg ! found myself
as on my former visit admirfng the
horses, they being, upon the whole.
4 the best that I have seen since leav-
ing America Possibly the fact that
80 many stations are driven singly
and in pairs may account. in part, for
the handsome and stylish animals
seen upon the streets, but certain 1t
Is that the Russian horse 10 q splen-
did representative OF his breed. There
is large park, called the Point. near
the city, and IN the evening this park
and the approaches to 1t are thronged
with carriages and droskies. As the
sun does not set there at this season
of the year until between nine and
ten and is followed by long twilight.
the drives are gay with life until mid
night. We did not reach our hotel un.
til IL o'clock, although we were
among the first to leave the park.
Speaking of horses reminds me that
the Russian coachman has an individ-
uality all his own. His headgear 10
spool-shaped crown. but one soon
forgets the hat in contemplation Of
the form. The skirt of the coach
mans coat is very full and pleated,
and the more stylish the eauipage the
broader is the driver. Beginning at
the shoulders. his padding gradually
increases until about the hips he 10 as
broad as the box upon which he sits.
This padding Is carried 70 such an exc
IRENE that the coachman sometimes
has to be lifted upon the box. and 1t
is needless to say that he is practi-
cally helpless as well as useless in case
OF an accident. It may DO that
this style of dress is designed for a
wind break for those who are seated
behind the wearer-this was one of
the explanations given-or it may be
that. like some other fashions in
wearing apparel. 1t has no foundation
IN reason.
found to my disappointment that
Tolstoi Is not contributing materially
to the political revolution that 10. TAX
ing place in Russia. Being reyered
throughout the land not only because
OF his philosophy but also because Of
his fearless araignment of the des-
potism that has afflicted Russia. ne
might be a powerful factor in giving