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Alexander Pushkin, the uished poet of Russia, was born at Saint Petersburg, 1799 When only twenty-one years of age he entered the civil service in the departs and efforts for Greek independence exercised great influence over Pushkin, whose "Ode to Liberty" cost hiion of Moldova and western Ukraine] from 1820 to 1825, whence he returned at the accession of the new erapher of Peter the Great

Pushkin's friends now looked upon him as a traitor to the cause of liberty It is not improbable that an enforced residence at the mouth of the Danube somewhat cooled his patriotic enthusiasm Every Autumn, his favorite season for literary production, he usually passed at his country seat in the province Pekoff Here froene Onegin," and "Ruslaw and Ludmila," a tale in verse, after the Manner of Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso" This is considered as the first great poetical work in the Russian language, though the critics of the day attacked it, because it was beyond their grasp; but the public devoured it

In 1831 Pushkinnovel, "Marie," a picture of garrison life on the Russian plains Peter and Marie of this Northern story are as pure as their native snows, and whilst listening to the recital, we inhale the odor of the steppe, and catch glimpses of the semi-barbarous Kalmouk and the Cossack of the Don

A duel with his brother-in-law terminated the life of Pushkin in the splendor of his talent The emperor munificently endowed the poet's family, and ordered a superb edition of all his works to be published at the expense of the crown His death was mourned by his countryo, Nov 1, 1876