Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09

| In motor boats and on trains, among
able. must carry their own sheets. pill
| their own beds. Therefore, practically
every traveller carries a roll of bedding
with him, as is done in India. although
the Russian cars are Infinitely more COM
Portable in every respect.
The secOnd-class passengers all over
Russia are taken care OF much better
than the flrst-class on the India railways.
Their accommodations are almost as good
as those in the frst-class carriages. The
only reason for taking the latter is to
avoid the crowd and be little more ex-
elusive. No seats or compartments are
reserved. hence there is rush for the
vacant places whenever the train stops
at q station. and IL you happen to get
into one of the four-berth compartments
you cannot choose your company. But
these petty annoyances are forgotten a
few hours after the journey is over.
The scenery along the line Is sublime.
a glimpse of a snow-clad peak with noble
outlines. The mountain sides are COW
cred with forests. notwithstanding the
fact that this is the oldest settled part
ize that some Of these towns at which
the train stops have been standing here
since the flood. Most Of the people at the
station are farmers. who make a good
| lVInR culIlvaIlUK the SOL, anu TdlSlHB
sheep and goats, and the women OF their
household work up the wool with old
fashioned looms into rugs and felt.
Purely Military Station.
Since the Romanoffs brought their ex-
pansion policy down this way so far as
to include a part Of the ancient kingdom
of Armenia. they have rebuilt the Turk
ish town of Gumri and have rechristened
1t Alexandropol, in honor of one of their
emperors. 1t is purely a modern military
station. at strategic point, with bar
racks for 1000 troops. arsenals, arn.or-
les. large warehouses filled with military
supplies and everything necessary to
equip an army at short notice. Such
posts have been located all along the
southern borders of the Russian en-
ghanistan, India. China and other Asiatic
neighbOrs.
All Russian towns are built on the same
model. with wide, well shaded streets.
trio lights, and, II the patronage will
justify It, line of street cars. There
Is always an imposing church, under
the care of q group of priests who are
for them by the holy synod at Peters
burg-Russofying the natives. If that
word may be used; conducting a polit-
ical, rather than an evangelical, propa-
sanda Their policy Is never to in
toms of the people they conquer. but to
assimilate them quietly and gradually by
educating the children in Russian schools.
| teaching them the language first and
| then lessons / npatriotism and loyalty.
The population Of Alexandropol was
| almost exclusively Armenian until the
Russians came. Now 1t is about half
and half The Armenians have hand
some church. dedicated to st. Gregory
1.-THE En1i0htener'. fheu he
and do the mechanical work. and are
Infinitely better off since Russian occu-
patton than they ever were before.
Russian Armenia is peaceful and pros
porous and In degree progressive. much
| more SO than any other section of the
ancient Armenian kingdom at any period
Of its history. The construction Of the
railway has given the farmers an outlet
for their produce; the large expenditures
/! for maintaining troops have brought
much money into communities that
scarcely ever knew what money was dur
| ing Turkish domination, and has provided
q permanent and profitable market for
everything the people produce.
Employment for Thousands.
The construction OF barracks, fortihca-
lions, roads and other such public works
has furnished employment for thousands
and has provided a permanent and steady
income for the laboring class. The Rus
sian government does nothing to directly
promote the welfare of its subjects by
encouraging agriculture. although indi-
rectly 1t is of source Of many bless
ings.
Aiexandropol is 1850 feet above the sea
and almost surrounded by snow-covered
peaks. The highest is Alaguez, 1900
feet, and Ararat. 1920 feet high, may
often be seen in the distance.
| On the eastern side Of Alaguez Is a
wonderful lake called Gokcha. occupying
i the crater of a volcano G, 1877 feet above
/ the sea. The lake is forty-three miles
/ long and an average OF twenty miles wide
/ and receives the drainage OF a very large
area. The mountains that encircle 1t
and i've thousand feet above its surface,
and most of them are entirely covered
| with timber. The water Is very deep,
/ clear and cold and abounds in fish, which
furnish employment for many people
They ship their catch daily by train to
Tihis, which Is limited but profitable
market. The choicest fish Is a salmon
TROUT similar to that found in the streams
and lakes Of the Rocky mountains.
i In ancient times, IL We are to believe
i the LEGENDS, the fish in Lake Gokcha
were never seen between Christmas day
and Lent, but Ash wednesday they used to
come to the surface in large schools and
permit themselves to be caught daily un-
iii Easter Sunday. This practice, as 1
understand. has become obsolete, and
they behave like other fish in these de-
generate days.
Founded by Famous King.
! On an island In the lake IL q pictur-
esque Armenian monastery called after
St Sevan, alleged to have been founded
y hx, r{rfdafoo the unosf famous of all the