17 JULY 1926, Page 16

CROSSES IN RUSSIA

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,--As a comparatively recent visitor to Russia, I was deeply interested in Mr. Boothby's article, " An Impression of Moscow." I am glad that he warns as that sweeping judg- ments on Russia arc ludicrous. For how is it possible to offer a valid judgment on a country twice the size of the rest of Europe without a lifetime of travel and close study ?

On one point, however, I venture to think Mr. Boothby has made a slip. He writes that " for every (red) flag there glittered a challenging golden crucifix." I doubt if Mr. Boothby saw a single crucifix, for the crucifix is abhorred of the Orthodox Church. What he saw were golden crosses, with a tilted bar near the base, the tilt indicating the Orthodox tradition that when our Lord was crucified it was necessary to tilt the bar to which His feet were nailed, as one of His legs was found to be longer than the other.—I am, Sir, &c.,