The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-05
RUSSIA WATCHES
CHINESE UNREST
Has Ceased to View Asiatics
With Contempt
A ROYAL COMMENT
Grand Duchess Elizabeth Takes Order,
As a Nun-Is Joined BY Twenty
Ladies of High Position
in Russia

st. Petersburg. June 4-(Special.)-
Russia is watching with keen interes.
the unrest In China, and those best in
formed as to eastern affairs are inclined
to take serious view of the situation
in the far east. Time was whe. Russia
regarded the Asiatics with contempt, but
that was before the war with japan, The
disposition now Is to go rather to the
other extreme and to take a too serious
view of affairs.
For the present at least Russia has no
Intention of further territorial extension
in the far east. She will content herself
with holding and developing her present
possessions. In some quarters belief pre-
walls that this will be difficult within
the next decade, If the present awaken
Ing and undermining of China continues.
1t Is this idea which makes Russia will
Ing to come to an understanding with
japan even at the price of concessions
which Russia is loath to make.
A high officer who has seen much sery-
Ice in the east. and who knows China as
well as European may said to me the
other day:
The development of China in a mil
itary way in the past five years has been
really most remarkable. The Chinese
havo wonderful potentialities as soldiers,
and when they have developed the prop
er officers and have received the proper
training they will make formidable oppo-
nents for any army. This is being done
with surprising rapidity."
l mentioned in recent letter that the
Grand Duchess Elizabeth had taken or
ders as nun. Twenty ladies' of the
highest station have Joined with her and
nave established convent known as the
Convent of Martha and Mary. In Mos
COW. The vows were made in the pres
ence of the Metropolitan Vladimir, and
her imperial highness received at the
hands of his most high holiness a cross
In token of her office as sister superior
Her sister, Princess Henry of Prussia
was present at | ,e ceremony and was
blessed with an 4 IN of st. Nicholas and
st. Alexandra, ecialy sent for this
purpose by her VI anger sister, the car
lisa. and by the Car. She and the other
ladies who took the same vows wore
white habits with white wells.
The grand duchess devoted much time
to the care of disabled soldiers in a
home she had established for them. and
they simply worshiped her. The beau
tigul Princess Gaitzin, a girl of 20, has
Joined the community, and visited her
parents dressed In habit similar to
that worn by certain Catholic nuns re-
Gently. The sisters do homework, and
the Princess Oblenskey scrubbed the
convent floors.
The sisters rise at T. At 1880 office is
said In the church, or If any of the sis
tiers are engaged elsewhere they recite
the prayers themselves. At s there is
tea, followed by service in church After
this the sisters are engaged in various
kinds of work until 1890. when dinner is
served. During the meal passages from
| the lives of the saints are read aloud
After dinner there is work, varied at 5
and at by prayer. Supper Is at 7:30.
The grand duchess and the assistant
sister superior have taken the vows Of
| poverty, chastity, and obedience for life;
| the others have only been permitted to
| take them for year. If at the end
| of the year they desire to continue in
the community they can renew their
VOWS for three years, for six, and finally
| fer life.
The sisters have a home for soldie-s
disabled in the war, a hospital for poo
women. a home for women sufferin:,
from consumption, a dispensary at which
medicine may be obtained free of charge.
a home for IS girls, and a free library.
The Russian grain crop bids fair to he
|
have a marked effect on the prices Of
breadstuffs the world over Not only is
the wheat crop greater than ever be-
fore. but the same is true of rye, which
Is the staple breadstuff for the great
mass of Russians; and this makes a
greater proportion of wheat available fo-
| export. Then, owing to the failure Of
certain banking institutions the money
lenders who have advanced money on
wheat are now forcing their borrowers
to sell their wheat almost regardless of
price. Hence the pressure of Russian
offerings on the European markets has
been tremendous. and they have sold for
future delivery at prices that make com
petition impossible.
Drink Ingram Lithia Water,
mo water better, no price more
reasonable, no service more
prompt.