The Project Gutenberg EBook of Russia, by Various

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Title: Russia
As Seen and Described by Famous Writers

Author: Various

Editor: Esther Singleton

Release Date: October 14, 2006 [EBook #19534]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RUSSIA ***

Produced by Robert J. Hall

[Illustration: MOSCOW.]

RUSSIA

As _Seen_ and _Described_ by Famous Writers

_Edited and Translated by_

ESTHER SINGLETON

_Author of_ "Turrets, Towers and Temples," "Great Pictures," and
"A Guide to the Opera," and _translator of_ "The Music Dramas of
Richard Wagner."

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS

New York

Dodd, Mead and Company

1909

_PREFACE_

This is intended to be a companion volume to _Japan_, and therefore
follows the same general plan and arrangement. It aims to present in
small compass a somewhat comprehensive view of the great Muscovite
power. After a short description of the country and race, we pass
to a brief review of the history and religion including ritual and
ceremonial observances of the Greek Church. Next come descriptions
of regions, cities and architectural marvels; and then follow articles
on the various manners and customs of rural and town life. The
arts of the nation are treated comprehensively; and a chapter of
the latest statistics concludes the rapid survey. The material is
all selected from the writings of those who speak with authority
on the subjects with which they deal.

The Russian Empire is so vast that it would be impossible to give
detailed descriptions of all its parts in a work of this size:
therefore I have been forced to be content with more general
descriptions of provinces with an occasional addition of a typical
city.

E. S.

_New York, April 21, 1904._

_CONTENTS_

PART I

THE COUNTRY AND RACE

The Russian Empire
_Prince Kropotkine._

Siberia
_Jean Jacques Elisee Reclus._

The Russian Races
_W. R. Morfill._

PART II

HISTORY AND RELIGION

The History of Russia
_W. R. Morfill._

Church Service
_Alfred Maskell._

The Creeds of Russia
_Ernest W. Lowry._

PART III

DESCRIPTIONS

St.