Warsaw
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Warsaw. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a city of Poland; formerly the capital of the Polish kingdom; under Russian rule the capital of the government of Warsaw; and since November, 1918, the capital of the Polish Republic and the seat of its government; situated on the Vistula, being connected with Praga, its fortified suburb, by a floating bridge. Warsaw consists of an old and new town, independent of its suburbs; the place is one of great antiquity and many of its ancient houses and streets are quaint and picturesque; the new town contains some attractive boulevards and handsome buildings, squares and parks. The chief edifices are the council house, a collegiate church, the barracks, Tamek or palace of the ancient kings, now used to house government offices, and containing the diet hall, and all the national archives; several statues, some private palaces of the nobility, with the castle and an equestrian statue of Sobieski. The manufactures are woolen stuffs, soap, tobacco, gold and silver wire, hats, hosiery, paper, chemicals, carriages, harness, etc. It is the center of industry, commerce, and literary activity, and the great entrepôt of commerce of Poland. The university, suppressed by the Emperor Nicholas after the insurrection of 1830, was subsequently re-established through the influence of the Grand-Duke Constantine. In 1566 Warsaw succeeded Cracow as the capital of Poland. In 1793 Kosciusko retreated on Warsaw, and defended it with success against the Prussians, during the summer of 1794; but, on the arrival of Suwarrow and the Russians, Praga, a suburb of the city, was taken and destroyed. Under Russian rule Warsaw was for many years the residence of a viceroy representing the Emperor of Russia; it was also the place of meeting of the Polish parliament. In 1830 the Russians were driven from it by the Poles; but it was, in the following year, retaken. As a result of its position, the city was especially exposed during the World War. It was strongly protected by the Narev river and by a string of strong fortresses and several attempts of the Austro-German forces to capture it failed. In 1915, however, after the fall of the Narev fortresses, the city was evacuated by the Russians and it was occupied on Aug. 5, 1915, by Austro- German troops, who held it until the end of the war. Pop. (1919) about 820,000. See POLAND. WARSHIPS. See NAVY: BATTLESHIP.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
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 2026 Editor's Note: By way of comparison, Warsaw today has about 1.86 million residents, up from the 756,426 of 1901 noted here — though the city was deliberately razed by the Germans in 1944 and rebuilt from ruins. (Ed: BR 2026-06-25)