Semi-weekly herald., 1910-09-19
rom Europe. chiefly about Russisn az

| ldliS. dltuouSH lHtOucIt hoOatfell
name appeared in every issue, and his
receptions at the different European
capitals were the subject of almost
daily comment.
There is a modest museum, which
| contains valuable collections of Tur-
kestan archaeology, but they are not
| catalogued or arranged with any sys-
| TEN. The objects are covered with
dust and the place seems to be un-
cared for. 1t would be On easy task
to fill museum with the relics of the
| prehistoric races who occupied this
section of the world but he Russians
do not seem to take any interest In
the subject.
Attached to the museum Is a ma
tional library containing the largest
and best collection of works, in all
| languages, concerning Central Asil
hat can be found anywhere. and il In.
cludes not only books and pamphlets
but magazines and newspaper articles
This library was started by General
| I<aufmann the first viceroy. and was
Increased by General Kuropatkin. his
successor, but the present generation
of officials are not inclined to literary
affairs and have made few additions.
There are several theaiers and cheap
cinematograph shows for the diversion
OF the soldiers. and they seem to be
well patronized. There are numerous
cafes and clubs and the government
subsidies an opera during the winter
season, all for the benefit of the mill
tary element. and to make them con
terted.
There are several large churches
one in particular. which serves as n
cathedral for the orthodox Greek bish-
op. with a bell tower or campanile,
was built by the late Emperor Alexan.
der Ill, who, as You remember, was
very religious, and a marble tablet in.
scribed with gilt Letters tells of his
generosity and his interests in the
spiritual welfare OF his Asiatic sub
iects. Back of this church Is an entire
block covered with barracks for the
infantry. And, indeed, 1t is unneces
lary to ask the use of any large build.
ing, because the answer is usually the
same The military garrison of Tash-
kent is between $4,000 and 10000 men.
considerable part OF the buildings.
in the city are devoted to the mill.
ary and civil administrations. but as
there are no signs to distinguish pub
lie and private premises all buildings
look alike to strangers. II Is impossi-
BILE to distinguish them.
There are two hotels. and one OF
them, where we are stopping. is man
aged by a viyacious soubrette who was
4 popular stage favorite until year
or 50 ago when she married one OF
the richest merchants in town. who
owns the largest shop and was also
proprietor of the hotel The manager
Immediately had trouble with madam.
and quit. She then undertook to run
things herself, and you can imagine
The consequences. 1t Is common
saying that anybody can run a hotel
or newspaper, because everybody
knows how to do It, and singing and
dancing soubrette is probably more
i competent than people who have been
trained in other professions
In Turkestan a hotel is called "gas.
tinitza,' and madam, who is strictly
, a live wire" gives us n continuous
performance not only of comedy, but
Of tragedy melo-drama and farce II
she would direct some of her fascina.
tions upon the servants instead of
npon her guests the discipline might
be improved, for the cook is seldom
at home, the other servants are in a
chronic state of mutiny, and nothing
is certain or permanent except ma.
dams musical voice, which can be
heard continuously through the cor
ridors from morning till night. She
never stops talking, but nobody seems
to mind what she says Tennyson's
Brook isn't circumstance to her
conversation
But, after all. the hotel is comfort
. able, the rooms are large and airy, the
. furniture is new and abundant, and
= ! even if the cook does not come TO get
e dinner until s o'clock in the evening,
I you are always sure of q warm meal
; before you go to bed if you only have
= the patience to sit up and wait for it.
G In this latitude the twilights are long
e and you can sit on the sidewalk until
L midnight waiting for your supper
. The Tashkent nightingale, or bull.
e bull, is an institution peculiar to this
d place, and it has the only voice that
o can outscream the landlady The irri-
cation bitches that flow through every
f. street are filed with frags, and they
D make the night merry barking like
= dogs, squealing like little pigs, croak-
9 ing like ravens and making a rap-a,
+ tap like woodpeckers. They are deep
4 lunged creatures, no larger than ordi,
8 nary frogs, but can be heard for half
. mile, and the first question a resi-.
I dent asks a visitor is:
3 Did the Tashkent bull-bulls keep
p | 10, all