The mirror., 1915-04-01

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rulers of western Europe were par
ceiling our western continent among
themselves, Russian expeditions rea-
ched the Pacific Ocean and the whole
of Northern Asia was added to the
Tsar's dominions. In 1922 Alaska
also, became a part of the Russian
Empire but was sold in 1876 10 the
United States. During all this time
the process of amalgamation went
on, for much of the territory was
possessed by hostile races; but the
struggle went on until, as usual, the
stronger group won out.
Peter the Great was the great un-
ifier of Russia. He got the Baltic
Provinces and built St. Petersburg
in 17O3 to serve as seaport, or as
he expressed it, placed window
for Russia to look out Of" A. CEN
tury later Catherine II got large
part of Poland, adding the door
mat" as she put it. In 1900 Fin
land, then quite an important part
of Sweden, was acquired. and in
1915 another part of Poland. includ-
ing the Capital City of Warsaw, was
added. while the rest of that unhap-
py country fell to Austria and Ger
many.
In all this expansion, Russia's
aim was to get to the sea; that is, to
get a seaport that would not be ice
bound the greater part of the year.
Without question Russia will see it's
desire fulfilled in the results of the
present war and one of the causes
for it's tardy developement removed.
The 100000 people now oc-
cupying the centeral territory of the
Russian plain show great uniform
ity of physical type, language, re-
ligion and customs.
The power of the great plain is
dominant and the uniformity and
monotony of the land reflects itself
in uniform type of men. However
we do find three main groups a.
mong them, viz; the Great Russian,
the Little Russian and the White
Russian. The Great Russian oc-
cupies the heart of Russia, with
Moscow for it's center, and numbers
about 80, 100000 souls. He is man
of a phlegmatic disposition. The
Little Russia, numbering about 81.
100000, holds the territory south
and south west, including the Co.'S
sacks. and his center is at the first
capital city, Kiev. His territory is
flat and open, comprising the rich
black earth belt and the immense
grazing steppes of the south. The
Little Russian is dark, and in spite
of his name is taller than the Great
Russian, due to his more favorable
environment. In his disposition he
is more mellow and open, as most
southern people are in other coun-
tries, and it is to him Russia owes
most of her music, literature and
art. The White Russian, about
5,OOO,O 900 in number, holds the land
east of Poland and northward a.
round Lithuania. This land is heavi-
ly wooded and in places marshy, the
soil being poor. His clothes are a
color homespun, devoid of the bright
er hues of the Little Russian. hence
his name White Russian"
The language spoken by these
groups, while based on the same
principle. differs so much that they
cannot understand one another
However, common history, religion
and environment has produced 9
, people of greater uniformity of kind
than is known anywhere else on sc
large a scale.
Among the acquired races on the
, frontier the differences in every
) way are more striking. Among these
, are the Poles, the Films, the people
of the Ural foot hills, the lower Volgs
and the Caucasians. The year. book
for 1910 potos ol.out 100 1anruoros