Evening journal., 1892-09-21
FREEZE OUT.
FRANCIS B. REEVES TALKS.
III Relates Many of His Interesting EV- /
poriences In Distributing Phiiadci phin /
Food Among starving Russians.

He Relates Many of His Interesting Ev-
periences in Distributing Phiiadei phia
Food Among starving Russians.
Francis b. Reeves. one of the phila
delphia commissioners sent across TO
Russia recently TO assist in the distribu-
tion of food sent to the starving Rus
slams. gave an interesting account of his
experiences last evening before the
Presbyterian Alliance and the congroga-
tion of West PRESBYTERIAN church The
speat er reviewed Philadelpha's work in
dispatch ng cargoes of provisions TO the
relief of those In the foreign count les, and
told how they were sent out.
Mr. Reeves attended the ceremony Of
blessing the provisions before trains started
with them for the famine districts. The
trains contained about thirty cars, smaller
cars than in this country. Some went
1000 miles The services were held in an
improvised church, decorated with the
colors of both countries Russa's colors
are red, blue and white, in that order
| The priests of the Great Church conduct
| ed the services, which were very elaborate.
/ The Russians considered the -four as a
national gift Great interest was taken
/ by the women of Rega in the visit Of the
! Americans The women were never omit
ted from the dinners and receptions. He
( was invited TO n meeting of the women S
society of Rega, at the house of one of
the leading women Of Russia They
wi shed 90 hear Of the work OF the Phila.
dclphia Relief Committee
In Russia at least $4,000, 900 were
contributed by private means; IN addi
tion the Gar gave half that amount
from his private purse and the govern
ment gave about $50 00O,0O The
women were much interested in this
work. The receptions TO the Americans
were not confined to the nobility. On
Saturday night at least 10000 people
congregated in front of the hotel and a
serenade was given. An address of wei
come and Thanksgiving was presented by
a committee. Before leaving Rega he had
a ride in a trayka, a carriage with three
horses abreast, the middle horse "a trotteI
and the outside horses were runners The
driver wore a blue frock, a lighter
blue sash, red sleeves and velvet hat.
The rains matched the sash.
house to house inspection was made
of a village In the province of rula. The
people were wretchedly poor. Two
thirds of the families were on the relief
I AlNNs anu HtNAAN dll INiluiAtA iNlitA AA
lief. In only one instance the report OF
the head of the family was found TO b,
false. In one house forty people lived
Mr. Reeves saw three cows in the house
The children slept on a shelf near The
! roof. The older people slept on stove
which was like bake oven The peOpll
were appreciative of the kindness of th'
people Of the United States Mr. Reeve
, met cunt Tolstoi, who was living in th'
5 famine district The count took tea a
the house where Mr. Reeves was stay
ing. He eats no. meat for conscience
sake. The next day they visited Coun
Tolstoi The count said that he wa
3 writing a book entitled "The Kingdom
of Heaven is Within You He wishel
2 Mr. Reeves TO write TO him of religion
A recent letter from Russia told Mr.
Reeves that the prospects in that dis
: trict were gloomy, as rain is badly needed
Z OF the 100, 600, 0O0 of people in Russi
p only one-tenth are property
: About 3ji per cent. of the income of th
u people is taken for taxes. He though
u the cause OF the famine was religious an
y political; the peoele are idolators an
politics is interviewer with their religion
They are resigned to their fate believin
e that what ever is. is right. They hav
from 100 10 200 holidays year and drin
> a great deal of white spirits He though
q one great means of improvement in th
3 condition of the people would follow
knowledge of the shorter WestministC
r. / .Na