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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: this "Northern Athens," as Madame de Bourboulon has
called it. Not one of their dashing equipages swept
through the wide, clean streets. Not a pedestrian enlivened
the footpaths raised at the bases of the magnificent wooden
houses, of monumental aspect! Not a Siberian belle,
dressed in the last French fashion, promenaded the beauti-
ful park, cleared in a forest of birch trees, which stretches
away to the banks of the Yenisei! The great bell of the
cathedral was dumb; the chimes of the churches were silent.
Here was complete desolation. There was no longer a liv-
ing being in this town, lately so lively!
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