The mirror., 1915-04-01


ly three times the size of the United
States without Alaska.
During the Roman conflict with
the rest of the then know world the
Slavic race, then occupying the
country along the lower and middle
Danube was driven across the
| Carpathians to the banks Of the
lower Dnieper where the principal
| ity and city of Kiev now marks the
beginning of Russian Nation. There
were three events during its history,
the coming of the Scandinavians,
the adoption of Christianity and the
invasion of the Tartar, that infu-
enced its future destiny very largely.
About the time the Norseman
roamed along our New England
shore, that is, in S62 Rurik and
two brothers came from Scandinav-
ia and built Novgorod, about one
hundred miles south of the present
city of St. Petersburg. When Ru-
rik died his son Igor was left in care
of Oleg, also known as Helgo. who,
during his 33 years reign made
campaign against Kiev, took pos
session Of it, and made war against
the Greeks, who then occupied the
Byzantine Empire with Constantine
ople as it's capitol. After Oleg's
death Igoa continued the warfare
against the Greeks until he was
slain, after which his wife Olga pro-
ceeded to take revenge upon that
fast declining nation. Olga finally
went to Constantinople and was
baptised, thus becoming the fore
runner of Christianity in Russia.
She proceeded to convert her peo-
pie, but her son who was now rul-
er, did not accept her new faith.
He began to gather in the surround
ing tribes but was at last killed in
battle. He had divided his domln-
ion among his three sons, who, as
was then quite customary among
princes, proceeded to kill one an
other, until but one remained. Via
dimar. who was then sole ruler.
He subjugated Lithuania, Galicia
and the Films. He also had clung
to his fathers pagan religion, but
finding it necessary to choose some
religion better than his pagan creed,
he sent his ambassadors to investi-
gate Catholic, Jewish, Mohammelan
and Greek doctrines, and ended in
choosing the Greek. He went to
Constantinople 9SS to be baptised
and upon his return caused his peo-
pie to undergo the same rite in true
autocratic fashion.
The bond between the Slavonic
people and the Byzantine relig ion
was in the 10Th century strengthen
ed by the marriage of Ivan III to
Sophia, the niece and heir of the
last of the COnstantiEes; in conse-
quence of which he adopted the
emblem of the double. headed eagle
and partially took for the first time
the title of Tsar, which his son, Ivan
the Terrible, later assumed in full
The word Tsar is the Slav form OF
Ceasar," meaning an Emperor.
tits said that the early civilization
at Kiev excelled that of western
Europe, which at that time lacked
much to be desired. This civiliza
tion was submerged, and the people
conquered for a time, by the invas
ion of the Tartars in 1240, Those
who could retreated north ward into
the region of the upper Volga. which
resulted in the development of the
Great Russian" stock In and around
Moscow. Here in the forests thu
Russian slowly recovered his strengl
and in time threw of the Tartar yok,
and freed his kinsmen at Kiev. From
this new center at Moscow the new
, Russia expanded until it fought 1T
way to the sea and occupied th'
, great plain of Eastern Europe ant
Northern Asia. In the 10Th. cen
trru Tuop tho Groat onnruoro1 th