Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-02

in history. but kuropatkin should also
have monument. because he carried into
effect what Kaufman planned
The present viceroy is Lieut.. Gen. Sam
sonoff. man of great ability and energy.
and his deputy is Lieut.. Gen. Pokotillo,
who is also making a reputation.
The governor general has palace. as
1t Is called, but you cannot see much
of it because it is hidden by high wall
painted white, with green panels The
house is painted green, with white trim
mings, and is simple and modest, and
without the slightest ebstentation. 1t is
by no means imposing, but is said to be
handsomely furnished and comfortable.
Palace Built for Comfort.
1t is Of stone, of a single story, sur
rounding several courts and covering a
large area. 1t was built by Gen. kauf-
mann and is intended more for comfort
than display. Each of the courts has a
wide portico or cloister to temper the
heat, which is intense in the summer,
and all the rooms are large and high.
chamber, but ballroom, thirty by fifty
two feet in size, is used about once a
year for a state reception. The dining
room is twenty by thirty-two feet. A
lounging or smoking room is really the
wainscoting and fieze of exquisite
oriental wood carving, divans, upholstery
and window hangings of native velvet
made in Bokhara.
The yarim padashah, or viceroy makes
no attempt at display and offers very
little hospitality. either to the natives
or the Russian residents. From a social
point of view the administration of Turk
estan Is in striking contrast to that of
India. where the viceroy Is surrounded
by much pomp and ceremony. and where
the etiquette is even more strict than at
Buckingham Palace or Potsdam. The
viceroy of India holds regular levees, at
which the native princes. the rajahs and
maharaj ahs, appear in their royal robes.
loaded with jewels. and are entertained
with ostentatious ceremony; but at fash
kent all such things are omitted except
on New Year day. when the governor
general receives both Russian and native
citizens in manner as Informal as the
reception Of the President of the United
States.
The palace is surrounded by several
acres of gardens. orchards and groves,
are inclosed by high wall which extends
back into the native city. The only forti-
occupies an eminence upon the opposite
side Of wide street, and commands the
native city
Like an Imperial Court.
The viceroy or half king" as the
natives call him. has large staff of
civil and military officials, mostly gen.
erals and other men Of high rank, whose
wives and daughters constitute an official
hierarchy like the imperial court, or as
near as possible. There are dances. teas.
card parties. private theatricals, amateur
concerts and various other amusements
at the military club, which are attended
by the families of the army officers. who
are divided into cliques, lotteries and sets
as in other military stations. The mill
tary etiquette is very severe, and the
customs of st. Petersburg prevail in Off
cial society to degree that is amusing
The merchant population have no social
position, although if they happen to have
attractive daughters they are made well
come at the balls and garden parties.
The morals of the people are ignored. but
religious holidays are strictly observed.
The viceroy has absolute and auto
cratic power and is responsible only to
the car. who appoints and can remove
him. but thus far has never interfered
with his administration. 1 do not know
of any other civilized ruler on the face of
the earth who is so independent of all
criticism and restraint as the Viceroy of
Turkestan. The Viceroy of India is al
ways under fire from critics in England
and in India both natives and English
men, whose partisanship provokes them
to comment favorably or unfavorably in
books. newspapers. magazines and upon
the lecture platform upon everything
he does. according as it happens to suit
their views. The Viceroy of India is the
victim of a parliament also. and coun-
Gil for Indian affairs, as we'll as the colo
NAL department of the government The
civil authorities In India are in continual
g.S1 49, 81.
first of January last a council of state,
one-half of whom are natives elected by
the people, has been created to criticise
as we'll as to cooperate with him.
None to Question Him.
The Viceroy of Turkestan is not trou-
bled with any of these afflictions. but is
an absolute dictator, civil and military.
No one asks him questions. Although he
is assisted by council. that body seldom
offers him advice unless it is asked for
and the ministry at st. Petersburg have
nothing 10 say concerning his admins
tration one way or the other.
There is parade ground Immediately
In front of the palace. surrounded by "A
double row of poplar trees. and upon the
on posite side is a gorgeous church with
yellow walls and Ave turqouise domes en-
bellished with gilt, which Is intended
especially Tor the SoIuieFs. A military
mass Is celebrated there every Sunday
morning and always upon holidays and
saints days.
We were fortunate in being able to
witness the open air ceremonies upon the
parade ground in front of the palace upon
the emperors birthday. but they did not
amount to much No enthusiasm was
displayed and 1t looked as IL Nicholas III
is not getting all the respect that should
be coming to him. The city was literally
decorated with Russian flags, but no
salute was fired. There was probably
some reason for the omission, but /
could not get an explanation. The church
bells woke up all the population at an
early hour in the morning, early mass
was sung in all the churches as on Sun
day, and a special service was held i'm
the military church at O'Clock, which
was attended by all OF the officials. civil
and military. The introduction of sew
eral childrens voices added much to the