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.... a journey from the Great Wall of China to the skyscrapers of Manhattan This travel volume was published in 1911. Chapters: I. To Go or Not to Go II. The Russian Language III. The Start IV. The Great Wall V. Mukden VI. Harbin VII. Across Manchuria VIII. Kingan and Gengis Khan IX. Siberia X. Irkutsk XI. The Jews in Russia XII. Jermak, Immigration and Exiles XIII. Tomsk XIV. Across the Steppes XV. Over the Urals XVI. The Volga XVII. Through Russia XVIII. Homeward Bound ............................................................................... Excerpt: Sketches of Travel: If Henry van Dyke's analysis of The Spirit of America as stated in his lectures before the cultured audiences at the Sorbonne, Paris, is correct, then travel in a foreign country, or observing foreigners in other lands, does not necessarily give an outsider a true insight into the real genius of a people. A person must have lived long enough in a foreign land, and so mingled with its inhabitants as to know their hopes and fears, their life and ideals, before he is able to form a just estimate of the genius of a nation. Now, our trio were simply passing travelers. These are nothing more than imperfect sketches of travel roughly drawn, to keep fresh some salient sights on our unique trip. It certainly was unique in one respect at least, for not until Marion and her mother stopped over at Irkutsk had any other representative of the fair sex, other than Russian, ever visited that thriving Siberian city. This such as we in vain searched for, and of which we would gladly have availed ourselves before undertaking this overland journey. Our Mascot: Throughout our journeyings in the Tsar's dominions, we were entirely free from any dread of being shadowed by a Russian spy. During our sojourn at Tomsk, the capital of Siberia, we were not even asked to show our passport. Who can say but that our exemption from all such espionage, of which travelers in Russia so generally complain, was due to the fact that a playful child was unconsciously acting as mascot for our Taft party? Courtesy: Travelers sometimes complain of incivility on the part of Russian officials. Such was not our experience. Now and here I desire to record our high appreciation of their un- failing courtesy. This was especially noticeable from officials along the railway lines and in public buildings. In the descriptions of Irkutsk and Tomsk, later on, more detailed accounts will be found. Occident and Orient: A new cycle marks the East, both far and near. Tremendous changes have already taken place. The commingled strains of Eastern and Western life in Constantinople and Tokyo are weaving a far more beautiful fabric than Joseph's coat of many colors. Shanghai and Cairo in their weird, ever changing color effects, and their incessant, startling contrasts, present par excellence the most fascinating "living pictures" in the world. Unter den Linden, Champs Elyse'es, Rotton Row, and Riverside Drive, with all their gorgeous display, are tame in comparison. To-day along the thronged Bubbling Well Road, Shanghai, swarthy coolies may be seen trudging wheelbarrows, built somewhat on the lines of an Irish jaunting car, upon which laughing almond-eyed maidens sit back to back with their tiny feet dangling in the air. Suddenly, the toot of a horn is heard, when the coolie veering his load to one side, barely escapes collision with a speeding motor car and its European occupants.
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- Title: Strange Siberia Along the Trans-Siberian Railway...
- Author : Marcus Lorenzo Taft
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- Genre: Books,Travel,Asia
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