The Denver star., 1917-01-06
New Light on the Russian
Poet. Alexander PoushkIn,
WAS CREDIT TO HIS NATION
Graphic Story Of Birth and Ancestry Of
Russia's Leading sonostsr. Whose
Hundredth Anniversary Was Cello
brated by Royalty and Popuiaes
Throughout the Empire.
By JOHN E. BRUCE GRIT"

The one hundredtn anniversary OF
the birth of the great Russian poet Al
exander Sergevitch Poushkin was cele
brated in Moscow and throughout Rus !
sia In May, 1893. All Moscow Joined
in celebrating the birth Of Russia's
greatest poet. Alexander Sergevitch
Poushkin. like Alexander Dumas, had
a considerable strain of African blood
in his veins. He was descended on his
fathers side from one of the oldest of
the noble families Of Russia and was
the great grandson of Abraham Hanni-
bal, an Abyssinian Negro slave, who
at ten years Of age was brought to st.
Petersburg by the Russian ambassa-
dor at Constantinople and presented
to Peter the Great, who became very
much attached to him and sent him to
Paris to be educated.
Alexander Sergevitch Poushkin was
born in the Schwarz Haus, on the
German street on Ascension day, May
%, 1899. The ancestors of Poushkin
springing from Alexander Newski and
several Of the bearers Of this name
were signers Of the proclamation
which made Michael Feodorowitcb
Romanow car of Russia. One of his
ancestors figured prominently in Rus
sia in the time of Boris Godanow
His great-grandfather. known in his
tory as Abraham Petrowitch, died in
1881 at eighty-seven years Of age. a
Russian landed proprietor.
One Of his sons, Ivan Abramovitch,
who died in 1901, was the founder Of
the city Of Cherson and was the ia
ther Of Nadeshda Ossipouna, the moth
er Of Alexander Sergeritch Poushkin,
the poet The Russians have none of
the foolish color prejudice which is
characteristic Of some of the peoples
Of Europe and America, and this cele-
bration of the birth Of their greatest
poet was an event Of nation wide i'm
portance. The postage stamps and
postcards of the country bore the like
ness of Poushkin and scenes depicting
events in his early life
We are soon to celebrate in this
country the one hundredth anniversa-
~ of the birth Of Frederick Douglass.
a man Of color who In his special line
was as great as Alexander Sergevftch
Poushkin and as worthy OF recognition
by this nation. which he served in an
official capacity for many years, as he
will be by the patriotic members of
bis race who will commemorate the
one hundredth anniversary of his birth
at Washington during the latter part
OF December. They do these things
Inherently In France and Russia and
In some Of the South American repub-
lies. to whose national greatness and
glory their black and colored citizens
have contributed In no small way.
At the celebration in Moscow there
was first big parade in which thou.
sands OF citizens participated. There
were deputations from all the schools
In the line Of march when it started
FOR the Poushkin monument. A me.
mortal pamphlet containing a picture
Of the poet and fragments Of his works
was distributed to the participants in
the parade and to the public. After
all the delegations had assembled
solemn requiem mass was celebrated
FOR the repose of his soul. The march
was then taken up toward the monu-
ment on the Tver boulevard. Thou
sands Of people had already gathered
about the monument, and upon the ar
rival OF the Aparaders the crowd was
augmented by other thousands. and
the main celebration began. The gov
ernor general of Moscow, Grand Duke
Sergius Alexandrovitch, and his wife
OF the imperial court were among the
dignitaries present
The address of the day was deliver
ed in Russian by Professor 8. D. So.
mirnow. chairman Of the department
of the Russian language and literature
in the Pedagogical Society Of Moscow.
He said:
On this day tho name Of Poushkin unites
all Russia IN that one sentiment Of enthu-
siasuo admiration for the memory of the
genial poet. In all Russia the one hun
dredth anniversary Of his birth IL being
celebrated In the name Of truth purity,
love. love for humanity in general and for
his own race in particular. The great poet
now has been slumbering in his grave for
over n generation. but his works have won
immortal life and will 20 down through
the ages forever. Russian literature had
for years been under the influence Of
western European writer's, but Poushkin
broke away from this influence and founds
ed tho Russian school of literature as 1t IL
today. in all its individuality. Today he
stands In the hall of the temple Of fame
by tho side OF Shakespeare. Byron and
Schiller.
Following this able and heartily ap-
plauded address. the school children |
sang festival cantata composed for
the occasion. The parade was then
resumed. AS each delegation passed
by It laid at the foot Of the monument
wreaths Of gold. laurel and flowers.
In the afternoon, at 8 O'Clock. the cele-
bratiOn was continued in the hall Of |
the university building. [