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212 that he desired them to be informed about its history, and soon after the train started he referred to the subject.

"It is rather an odd circumstance," said Frank, "that the oldest city

in Russia is called Novgorod, or 'New City.' Novo means 'new' and Gorod is Russian for 'city.' It received its name when it was really the newest town in Russia, and has kept it ever since."

"It is also called Novgorod Veliki," said Fred, "which means Novgorod the Great. In the fifteenth century it had a population of lour hundred thousand, and was really entitled to be called the great. At present it has less than twenty thousand inhabitants, and its industries are ot little importance compared to what they used to be.

"It has a trade in flax, corn, and hemp," the youth continued, and its manufactures are principally in tobacco, leather, sail-cloth, vinegar and candles. In former times an important fair was held here, and merchants came to Novgorod from all parts of Europe and many countries of Asia. Afterwards the fair was removed to Nijni Novgorod, on the Volga, and