The state herald., 1910-08-05

from MOSCOW and Ia even more
insular than its big neighbor.
Neither foreigners. their archi-
lecture nor their customs have
filtered past the frontier to this an
Between here and Moscow the rail-
road runs through an almost unbroken
line Of pine woods In which stand
pretty summer villas Of the city folk.
These houses are built Of pine. the
natural color. and recall the type of
buildings existing in Moscow before
1872, few Of which may still be seen
within inclosed courts.
When Kiev ceased to be the capital
and the village OF Moscow continued
to grow in Importance. Troitsa, the
monastery OF the Holy Trinity. began
to compare with the Lavra OF the old
er town. This was in the fourteenth
century when Saint Sergius. humble
rs he was pious. lived and worked at
Troitsa. AS years passed the monas-
terry accumulated fame and wealth.
and In the eighteenth century II owned
Emperors and boyards have enriched
its affairs until today the Troitsa treas.
ury Of sacred vessels. ornaments and
vestments is considered the most ex-
tensiye and valuable In Russia. Since
the last revolution the treasury is
not shown to visitors and n current
report has II that much of the most
valuable plate and gems have found
its way to Saint Petersburg TO meet
the drain OF the Japanese war.
Russian monasteries have the ap-
pearance OF fortified towns. as in truth
they are. The Krim Tartar hordes
failed to capture Troitsa, and in 1908.
when the monastery was attacked by
the Poles under Slgismond. the monks
kept the beseigers. 10000. at bay for
lG months. For just such emergencies
the monastery has reservoir capable
OF holding 5000 pals OF water. The
grounds are incloscd with n high. Gov
cred rampant, two miles In circumfer.
ence: great round towers guard each
corner and entrance Is by four noble
gateways. walked around the ram.
parts with a young monk whose eyes
sparkled as he showed me the best
points for sighting the enemy. come
what direction II might The walls
are pierced with loopholes for the
monastery guns.
Though repairs are being made con.
tinually. yet there Is nm mir OF cen.
ftA L. laL
walls. quaint. arched doorways and
dark. narrow passages. that sets one
dreaming. Peter the Great delighted
In heavy, norid decoration and his
taste IN conspicuous In huge. long
building. the monks refectory. The
same tables and benches are used to.
dny ns OF old. generations Of occupants
succeeding one another. The monas.
terry Includes three churches and dou'
BILE that number OF ohapels. with n
tall bell tower In the center. In n
mortunry chapel lie buried former
metropolitan bishops OF Moscow.
Troitaas famous shrine In the
church Of Saint scrgius. the convent
where the good abbot ruled wisely and
well The decoration IN richer than
the most elaborate of amy Of the old
Moscow churches, The doors Of the
lnokRstun the screen separating tho
sanctuary from the nave. are Of solid
gold with wonderful embolllHhmoni OF
sacred subjects. flnnking thom either
side nre sacred pictures studded with
jewels: the whole from floor TO cell
ing mass Of dazzling beauty. Walls
md ceiling Rro frorcoed completely
with old byzantine studies. broken
hero and there with some rare old pie.
turc with robe Of beaten gold or ham
morod silver aud crown and necklace
Of pearls md precious stones. Saint
Sergiua rests In q oalaialpuo of ON
basonod silver whoau Intrinsic value
would ransom half the conyicta In 81
IBERIA. I liked best tho quaint arehl.
lecture Of the ono-tlmc convent but II
IN dlnicult TO trhoc, no much does tho
wealth OF mural decoration obtrude ON
the eye,
IN the open square In graz stone
obelisk oommomorating the fepulso OF