V
THE DESOLATION OF ROSLAVL
ROSLAVL, on the River Oster, is a quiet little town in the province of Smolensk. Ordinarily, when you drive along the highroad coming from the West, in Rogachef, in Cherikof, in Propoisk, in Krichef, they will tell you that Roslavl is:
—The first Russian town.
Prom here to the eastward, Great Russia begins.
When you arrive at Roslavl you will be awakened in the morning by the soft yet powerful baritone of its marvellous bell, sounding from the height of the Transfiguration monastery on the hill.
And you will hear this, like music—
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