GLIMPSES OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE 



1073 



outside the tower, which weighs 200 

 tons (see page 1063). It was originaUy 

 intended to hang within the walls, but, 

 soon after it was cast a fire destroyed 

 the building which sheltered it, causing 

 nine gaping cracks and the displacement 

 of a piece of the bell weighing 9 tons. 

 Owing to this misfortune, its tongue has 

 ever remained mute. 



Not far from the Bell Tower stands 

 the arsenal, in front of which is a dis- 

 play of 850 bronze cannon, trophies cap- 

 tured from the Turks and French. 

 Prominent among these is the "Great 

 Gun," its mouth having a diameter of 3 

 feet, surrounded by so thin a shell that 

 regard for safety probably accounts for 

 the fact that it, like the Great Bell, has 

 never spoken (see page 1064). 



These two curios, coupled with Mos- 

 cow's prevalent paving material, are 

 spoken of as the three ancient wonders 

 of the city. "The heaviest bell which 

 never was rung, the largest cannon which 

 never was fired, and the greatest amount 

 of cobblestone pavement" (which ought 

 to be fired). 



the; cathe;draIv op saint basiIv 



As we leave the Kremlin by the Re- 

 deemer's Gate, a few steps to the right 

 bring us to the strikingly gorgeous Ca- 

 thedral of Saint Basil, beside which the 

 colors of the rainbow pale (see page 

 1070). More than 300 years ago, by 

 command of "Ivan the Terrible," this 

 peculiar building was erected over the 

 grave of a popular prophet of the time, 

 known as "Basil the Imbecile." 



The old ruler is said to have asked his 

 architect whether he could erect another 

 cathedral as beautiful as this one. On 

 the latter's replying that he could, his 

 eyes were promptly put out to prevent 

 such an act in case the architect should 

 fall into the service of a subsequent 

 ruler. 



The exterior of this beautiful edifice 

 is much the better part of it, for the in- 

 terior is exceedingly disappointing. The 

 eleven towers, each one diflfering from 

 the others, cover tiny chapels of like 

 diameter, and as we stood gazing up at 

 the ceiling, in each of which is a great 



mosaic eye, the efi^ect was like looking 

 up from the bottom of a well. 



Directly in front of the Saint Basil 

 Cathedral lies that formerly dreaded 

 space, so appropriately named the "Red 

 Square." This is the spot where 200 

 years ago the most horrible forms of 

 execution and public punishment were 

 inflicted. At the right of this square a 

 magnificent arcade, covering an entire 

 block, has recently been erected, and is 

 now occupied by hundreds of the best 

 class of stores in Moscow. 



THE "redeemer gate" 



To the tourist no country in the world 

 shows more evidence outwardly, in the 

 way of religious observance, of being a 

 Christian nation than does Russia. 



The sky-line of Moscow, as viewed 

 from afar, looks like a forest of spires. 

 Two thousand cathedral and temple 

 spires point heavenward, their numerous 

 peculiar-shaped domes resembling in- 

 verted onions, while their gilt roofs glis- 

 ten in the sun's rays like great search- 

 lights. 



On reaching the city, you have no 

 need to alight and enter the buildings 

 you are passing to learn where the 

 shrines are located. Simply observe the 

 driver of your drosky for a short dis- 

 tance, and his almost continual crossing 

 of himself and uncovering of his head 

 will give you unmistakable evidence. 



Then there is that old entrance to the 

 Kremlin, built about the time Columbus 

 discovered America — the "Holy" or 

 "Redeemer Gate." Here, whatever one's 

 belief or condition of life — be he Em- 

 peror or subject, Jew or Gentile — his 

 head must be uncovered when passing as 

 a mark of worship or reverence to the 

 golden icon of the Saviour hung above 

 the gate. 



A short distance from the Kremlin 

 one passes the double arched "Sunday 

 Gate," and it will be the exception if any 

 of the passing throng, however hurried, 

 do not stop at the little chapel to worship 

 the most celebrated miracle-working 

 image in Moscow, the "Iberian Mother 

 and Child." The building is so small 

 that frequently devotees in a line reach- 



