Warsaw

the former capital of Poland. In population and commercial importance it is the third city of the Russian Empire. In 1901 there were 756,426 inhabitants. The city is situated on the left bank of the Vistula River. It is connected with a suburb on the right bank by a noteworthy iron bridge 1,660 feet in length. Warsaw became the capital of the kingdom of Poland about the middle of the sixteenth century. It has been devastated by fire a number of times. The older parts of the city have a mean appearance. The streets are narrow and crooked. The houses are huddled together without regularity of arrangement, looking not unlike the communities of squatters to be found on river flats and other unoccupied lands near some of our large cities. The commercial and newer parts are well built and present an imposing appearance. The most interesting edifice historically is the ancient castle of the Polish kings. It stands on a natural crag overlooking the river. The University of Warsaw was founded in 1816. Its grounds are adorned by a statue of Copernicus, the founder of modern astronomy. There are several cathedrals, a town hall, arsenal, mint, custom house, and military barracks. The Bazaar, a large square surrounded by arcades, has attractions for the tourist. There are important manufactures of metals, beer, tobacco, cloth, chemicals, furniture, and musical instruments. An extensive trade is carried on by railway, canal, and river with the adjacent country. The city is surrounded by a wall and ditch, and is commanded by a huge citadel erected by the Russians. The immediate vicinity of the city has been the scene of numerous engagements. One of the most memorable took place in the autumn of 1794, when the Poles made a valiant stand against the Russians. The latter carried the chief defense of the city by general assault. Fifteen thousand Polish soldiers were driven into the Vistula and drowned. Women, children, and unarmed citizens were subjected to a general massacre. Warsaw is one of the great European centers of the Jewish religion. About one-fourth of the population is Hebrew. See Poland