Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-07-13

;. THE JERUSALEM
OF RUSSlA-KIEF

kief is the wealthiest. most important
and largest city in the immediat path OF
the Teutonic invaders, and one of the old
eat and most important of Russia's towns.
A statement given out by the National
Geographic Society at Washington de-
scr1bes this place, the faE1ed mother OF
Russian cities" which is now threatened
oy the southwark sweep Of the Austro-
German armies from KdSel and Lutsk,
and by the eastward advance of the Aus
TRANS In Galicia.
"kief Is beautifully situated on the
broad Dnieper among a cluster OF golden
hills. There are other cities In Russia to
dispute its claim of being the cradle OF
she modern empire, but 1t Is the undis-
plted cradle of orthodoxy. the birthplace
Vt Russia's church, and 1t is as we'll a first
religious center. Holy Kief Is known as
the Russian Jerusalem. 1t Is a city or
many churches, monasteries, sacred relics
and of numerous saints. More than 100000
pilgrims have regularly visited the holy
city each year during times of peace. AS
a place of pilgrimage, Russian Kief ranks
with Mecca, with Jerusalem and with
Rome.
Old Streets Are Broad.
1T rs a prosperous city, a modern and
progressive one. In it's newer parts,
the streets are broad and straight, and
pre- built up with fine homes and public
buildings. In the old quarter. there are
modern buildings from three to six stories
tigh. which is a rare thing in Russia. The
Erostchatik is a splendid t~horoughfare,
cut upon the most approved of western
city plans. However, like Petrograd, the
wide, regular streets of the southern me-
tropolis are a heritage from the founders.
Take. away the churches, with their
turnip, pineapple and pearshaped domes.
take away the pilgrims and the visiting
! npl c or1 ky;1F L~- 40 fIrt To- fNyVt-
cally Russian. With the growth of its
industry and commerce, 1t has adoptedthe
modern city habit. a habit which Is the
same the world around.
Despite its obtrusive newness Kfef IL
an ancient CRY. Its fortunes have been
Intimately connected with the fortunes OF
Russia. 1t was founded about the begin
aing of the Seventh century, and it's au-
thentlc history begins with the arrival of
the two Scandinavian knights, Askold and
Dyr, who left Novogorod to take possess
sion Of 1t.
Christianized In Early Day.
"kief early became Christian. and the
Greek faith was carried to the rest of the
Russians from there. In the Eleventh CEN
fury, there are said to nave been 400
churches within it's walls. The relations
between B&zantium and Kief were close,
and much of the Greek culturc that has
mixed itself with Russian life entered the
empire by way of this city.
kief has been badly battered in more
than LOGO years of wars and Internal dis
orders, but it has had a saving way of
quickly covering up it's wounds and begin
ming afresh with redoubled courage. AT
one time it was the capital of the Russian
state. 1t was subject for more than two
generations to the Mongols. when 1t fell to
the possession of the Lithuanian princi-
pality for $50 years. For So years it was
I if,,f.~ Tho ,-..,, ~ Dole, ~ ,,,J l..
reunited to Russia In 1886, 1t is by far The
most important city in the Ukraine and
one of the most beautiful in Russia.
The city lies OF the right, or west.
bank of The Dnieper, in the midst of a
fruitful region, which, during recent years
has been making rapid progress. 1t is 6gs
miles southwest Of Moscow by rail and 405
miles by rail north-northeaSt of Odessa.
Manufacturing Center, Too.
That part of the city built along the
riverside is fat. while behind the streets
run up and down the hills through pic
turesGue gulMes.
"kief ranks next to Petrograd and Mos
cow in educational and scientific f~nstitu-
tons. rs university is famous and has
more than 5000 students. The city is also
the Magdeburg Of Russia, the center of
The empires beet sugar industry. This in
IustrY has been steadily gaining in i'm
portance. In 1910 100000 tons of beet
sugar We're produced in the czarSs realm,
while just before the war its production
Lad risen to more than 49, 900, coo tths.
There are innumerable rich refineries in
hief. Further, There IA a considerable
manufacture Of machinery, chemicals,
hardware, paper and tobacco. The con-
served fruits of Eief have a European
reputation, and during recent years they
have been successfully competing with
English conGerNes. Kief has a population
Of nearly 350. GOO and has t,eap rarjd1,