ST. PETERSBURG.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 33, 8 February 1905, Page 9

ST. PETERSBURG.

I SYDNEY PROFESSORS IMPRESSIONS OF A RECENT VISIT. j \ LIGHTS ANT) SHADES OF RUSSIAN CHARACTER. TRAVELLING IN THE CZAR'S REALMS. Some interesting facts relating to Russia and the Russians, from the viewpoint of recent personal experience, were elicited by a Sydney "Evening News" reporter in an interview with Professor G. H. Knibbs. of Sydney University. Mr . Knibbs was one of the two Education Commirfsioners who toured the world on behalf of the Government of New South Wales, ami he and his fellow Commissioner, Mr Turner, were in St. Petersburg in November. 1902. Their credentials secured for them hospitality and kindly attention at, the hands of the Russian officials, who afforded them opportunities of seeing all that it was possible to see during a comparatively brief visit. Their attention, of course, was devoted mainly to educational matters, but Mr Knibbs' casual impressions are interesting. "L saw Russia snow-covered."' he said, "but there is no question about it—St. Petersburg is a magnificent city. It is maguitieent from almost every point of view. There are some splendid buildings. cf great architectural beauty, noble thoroughfares, and substantial bridges." Tbe Professor prorince-d a large map of the Russian capital. This illustrated how the city, which bars a. population of abont a million and a-haif. and is about three times as large as Sydney, is built partly on the bank* of the Neva., which has a width of about COO yards, and partly on a conple of large islands, formed by the stream branching outward and meeting acrain. Tlie Neva thus divides the capital into several large sections, which accounts for so much, of the lighting ha.ving taien place on the numerous bridges, that span the river at intervals. "The New-sky Prospect (pronounced 'Nevsky'i." said the Professor, "'is one of fhe chief features of the city. It is a broad, straight thorocghiare, running through the centre of St. Petersburg, in which are many of the finest buildings in the capital. It leads to the banks nf the Neva, at a spot close to the square which the Winter Palace fare-. In the centre of this -rtiuari" is a very high column, supporting :i monument." THE RUSSIAN CHARACTER. "What were your impressions of the Russian character" inquired the "Evening New*" representative. It was evident, from the tone of Mr fvnibbs' reply, that while not admiring Russian methods of Government, he had found a good deal to admire in the Russian people themselves. "I found them extremely kindly and courteous." he said. "In fact, for politethey erjtial the French nation. Moreover, they possess a certain dignity of carriage ami reserve with their courtesy of demeanour that is not to be found anywhere else. The Russian oSliccr is extremely kindly and courteous. A-k him your way about, and he will do all in his power to help you. In fact, throughout, Europe. I found this 10 be a pleasing cbaa-actrristie of military and civilian alike. "Generally, too. tbe Russian oflk-er is a bin fellow, which ;uid~ to the natural dignity of his manner. "It. is difficult." said Mr Knibbs. "for people here to realise the sta;te of things in Russia. St. Petersburg had a school for young ladies, eclipsing in stateltness anything seen in the whole of the United | Kingdom. Its higher classes have a courtesy and charm of manner that seems to have reached the ne plus ultra of good address. You will find these people,' said the present Ambassador to mc. 'ex--treroely delightful to meet and talk to." " "On the other hand, tho insolence of even the drnshky ilriver—the isvoschtsobik —to the mcuzhik is such as to make one astonished as to how far tolerance will £r>. "It is. of course, difficult to be certain that one's impressions are just, but it appears as if the higher classes do not regard the lower as having the same natural rights, and it is that spirit which probably accounts for the fact that even the most kindly individuals fail to appreciate their attitude to tbe lower branches from anything like the point of view of th. la±t_t_ . .. . < f . • . "• - J — stMiS__wMM——l—frf—■*!■■■ ~f

CZAIfS INCOME— .£IOOO PER HOC It. "Russia," said the Professor, dropping into a. statistical mood. "is a, land with 40 provinces, the Imperial family owning about 3_.000.00<) acres. It has a nobility or about 1.400.000, owning about 152.000.000 acres of land. About 110,000.000 belong to the peasant class, owning altogether about 35.000,000 acres j In Europe alone the Tzar's realm i.- ! greater than the whole oi the States oi Western Europe. In Asia his possessions are more than three times larger 'than those of Europe. Hh personal income is about 00.000.000 roubles per 'annum, a rouble being worth a little : over _/. This means that his income ; is about £ 1000 per hour. day and night." '■'What impression." asked the reporter, "did you gain respecting the resources of the country?" "It is a country of immense resources, but of resources indifferently exploited. It is said that hardly 10 per cent, of the people can read, and less than 8 per cent, can write. A more dismal educational state of things than cxi.sis in (Uaat is, as a whole I is not to be. found. ''On the other hand, some of the higher schools of Russia, are almost unique, and so indeed are some of the schools for artisans. Russia is a country which has ft bet.rer school for industrial teaching than is to be found in America, despite its democratic traditions and its intense, appreciation of pra.ctica.Jiry. "'ln the Cosmos Club at Washington." Mr Knibbs confirmed. "T was fold tbiit an American scientific investigator, who had completed some original research. suml who had compiled „ Kiiropvtui I-.ibii-jOgraphy on the same line of work, found, jon getting a Russian reading friend to i look through the Russian literature on jthe subject, that his re'warch had been ! anticipated, and far more ably executed, and that there were more original papers in Russia alone than in all tho rest oi Europe 1 "But the ignorance of the lower orders istvery great. The drosky drivers, foi instance, cannot read the names of tha various portions of thc % eity. "They know the place well enough. If you can pronounce the name of the locality you wish to go to they are ali right: otherwise there is confusion. '' Among the educated classes I found that Germau was very widely known: quite as much so as French. This applied particularly to military men." WOULD NOT DISCUSS POLITICS. "Did you observe any indication of ith* j^-Bn_ai»3t : s*Q -.

:pie; of their desire for better Government?" "I found a very general disinclination to dis.cu.-ss such matters, which, is probably characteristic. Whenever I started a conversation on political affairs I was promptly checked by the manner of whoever I was addressing. It was hard to jet anything like a definite expression of •pinion. of the institutions of Russia, jhf.wcver, show most distinctly that the' I spirit r.f reform is coming over the peo- ; pie. Tlit: People's Palace, in St. Peters- j burg ran institution which, by the way, ; claima t';ie Czar's special Interest') ex-j j presses in the linest possible manner a regard for the well-being of the massesII heard there Russian music played on the nationaL instruments—part of an evening's entertainment for the people. "A fine-lookiu<r man gave two haifheur lectures, with ;i musical interval between. The subject was the right and duty of every man to think freely in matters of philosophy and religion, and I have no doubt that his intense earnestness, his fine and grave, face, and i I obvious irnprcssivencss of delivery, wers but the outward expression of the sentiment of hundreds of tho-usands of I splerrdid men. who lor:g to scp their fatherland in a better way. not merely for the U million of nobility, bnt the I 100.000 000 of peasants. * ' | "it is well for us to remember." continued the Professor, "that Russia has produced such men Prince Knxopotkin. earnest, friends of the people who dare not live in Russia. I met some of his friends and admirers, KnElishmen. »ho ippl that dfspito bor btirpaucratio system, and despite the eh a raeteristie methods of Russian diplomacy, there is much to love in Russia, and that once the spirit of reform fully asserts itself the country will go forward by leaps and bounds, and make for itself a nobler record on the page of history. "It would be hardly possible for anyone visiting another country on an j educational tour to have been treated i with greater courtesy than were the Commissioners of Education, and speak- I ling of Russian kindness T am reminded I of the fact that the leading art iudusI trial school in St. Petersburg, over I which the Commissioners were shown. I | was striking in it- cveeilencc. THE IRON HAND. ''Russia has not yet learned that the iron hand is not the hand with which to deal with humanity. Cue felt this in Finland. It is o,uite impossible to fail to recognise the sinister appearance I which is given to that country by the I jsre-ensQ 9* Russian. «o3_U«rj." 1% jem 1

hard to believe that the Grand Ihichy was a loyal and now integral part of Russia—the type of occupation expressed servitude. "If the reports are true.'.' said Mr Knihbs. -'chat tins soldiery- fired on an unarmed mob of workmen and their wives, that cavalry charged and sabred thousands of citizens, who desired to make a constitutional representation of their disabilities, the day for change has clearly arrived, and the baptism of blood is but the tribute paid as the first step of a great reform. The Kishineff massacres a little while back called forth ma-s demonstrations all over the L'nited Stales.'' UNSPEAKABLE OPPRESSIONS. On that occasion. Garrison [the son of t.'ie famoius anti-*lavery reformer, William Lloyd Garrison!, wrote:—"l n.m sorry that I can be with you only lin spirit at to-morrow's New York meeting on behalf of Russian Free- | dom. Tlie unspeakable oppressions 'which curse the earth to-day are nowhere more flagrant and crushing than ;in the Czar's dominions."' On the same occasion the venerable j reformer, ilrs Julia Ward Howe, wrote as follow.-:--"Dear friend* of Russian freedom, I rejoice that you are to meet in our great city of New York at this tune whon your voice may blend with the. Grand music of the Peace Congress, to render its harmonies more perfect. >Iv heart is wholly w it n yo:i. although [ am able only to send you this distant greet, hi if. ""What, is ii that we desire for Russia, thai State of magnificent resources, of gifts and ulems innumerable,. of toval and devoted people? "We wish for it the liberty tr. exercise the highest human functions and to enjoy the greatest human attainments. We ask for them freedom of thought, freedom of faith, freedom from the despotism which degrades alike those who exercise and tho-e who suffer it. "T have little doubt that the Czar of Russia would be glad to grant this freedom to his subjects, if he could only see how ir, might ho done He and""they are entangl.-d in a '.veb of bureaucracy and otucial corruption which ir is net easy to break. "To achieve this liberty which is essential to true manhood, our fathers were obliged to expatriate themselves, and. later on. to make armed resistance to the tyranny which pursued them even to the shores of the new world. The case of Russia is hardly as desD_c»_# a_ -yas theirs."