The state herald., 1916-12-01

complete century since the
great fair of Mini Novgorod
was established on Its present
site, while the fair Of 1915 was actu-
ally the ninety-ninth since the removal
Of this famous national mart from Its
former location at Makariev to the
banks Of the Okla in 1917.
Yet the legitimate antecedents of
the fair may be traced bnck much
farther than that date. History re-
cords fair at the mouth OF the volga
in the kingdom of the Hozare and at
Arsk.
Piunder for the cxars.
The spacious field OF Arsk in 1875
was the scene of reunion Of peoples
hostile in sentiment, alien In faith.
reconclied by economic needs. says the
London Times. The fair they held
WINS attended even by the Kazan czars
with their retainers, but their un-
bridled revels not infreQuently cul-
minated In murderous assaults upon
the unfortunate merchants and plum.
der Of their goods. When at length
Mongol supremacy began to totter and
the Muscovite grand dukes became
strong enough to dispute the author.
ity Of the Kaxan czars over the volga,
a fair sprang up alongside on Russian
ground.
Ioann III, seeing that the Tartars
had robbed Russian merchants at their
fair, forbade them to proceed to Kazan.
md established a Russian fair at the
newly founded town OF vasil-Sursk.
at the confluence Of the Sura with the
Volga. In proportion as the volga be.
cnme more settled the fnir expanded.
and received official recognition. Car
MihaIl Feodorovich conferred upon II
the right to levy customs duty on vnri.
Gus commodities. The fair passed un-
der the Jurisdiction Of the Kazan court
In 100 and Empress Elizabeth Petrov-
M ordered booths to be erected at
state expense on the bnnk Of the
volga.
Gradually the fair grew into the
principal distributing center for the
entire internal trade OF the country.
and the Mnkariev site became too con.
gestcd for Its requirements. More
over. the fair was situated on shifting
sand, and, added TO this. the volgn en-.
crOached more and more upon the
Maknriev shore and insidiously re-
duced the fair aren. SO the stnte
chancellor proposed that the fair
should be removed to Mini Novgorod.
but the merchants fatty declined to
entertain this suggestion, and the ques-
ton was left op,si. An accident. how
ever. took the decision out Of their
hands.
All Fair Shops Burned.
A fire broke out among the fnir
buildings, which were speedily reduced
to nshes, and no further opposition
was raised TO the choice OF Mini Nov.
gorod MS the new site. The advantages
OF Mini NovHorod were manifest. Al.
rendy fourishing commercial center.
II was also nearer TO Moscow. n city
which was even then steadily gnther-
Ing into Its hnnds the rcins which con-
trollcd Russin's domestic trade.
The fair migrated to Mini md took
mp Its quarters temporarily In wooden
booths on the shore OF the Okn op.
posite the town itself. The govern
ment. seriously concerned for the per.
mrnent prosperity Of the fair, decided
TO lose no time In building stone prem.
iscs for the accommodations OF goods.
Emperor Alexander was NO impressed
by the nntlonrl importance Of the fur
TINT he appropriated for It's improve.
meht 100000 rubles ts75OOO0) origin.
nlly assigned for the construction Of
the winter palace. In Ave yenrs the
GosiInny Dvor wns rendy. and the fair
removed to its new quarters. There
nficr II developed with great rnpidI'y
The Mini Novrorod fair begins OF.
lclnlly July 2s. when solemn service
is held In the cathedral, nftcr which n
cross procession leaves the church and
wcnds It's way 10 the chapel Of 81. Mn.
cnrlua. Here another service In con.
Quoted. md nftcr the fnir fipes hnve
been duly consccrnted md sprinkicd
with holy wntcr they are Simultaneous
Iy run NJ md the fair IN declared for.
mnlly open. The bulk Of the goods,