The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-28
1t appeared he was glad to hold our

It appeared he was glad to hold our
attention.
Know. then. nobility. tina. the
driven people of the Pale are not all
Zhids (Jews). Where 10 men seek
one Job nine must fall. With us a
earns 80 kopeck us
cents) day. Ten million roam the
roads seeking such work. Russia is
starving. Ask the starost Village
idler). He will tell you our fields
yield 15 kilos OF grain the acre-land
In Europe yields 500 kilos. We have
nothing to put back on the land. Be-
fore the freedom was serfage, Now
free Russians must pay taxes. The
land laws keep us man1iks, Jews and
all. starving.
earn money!" inquired Mile Vespar.
ini. her voice low with sympathy.
The sad. ever-present melancholy
of little Russia dignified the bearded
face which turned toward her.
"Barina. with permission: I ask
you to consider. Voorhees, work.
men, outlawed students, hunted Zhids
(Jews) are everywhere within the
Pale. In the cities cotton spinner
who has his trade can earn but IA
roubles q month go!
1T is said at the Nile (village du-
MAJ how people can earn only half
the bread they must eat to live! So
men are kept weak. Where will the
car find troops for his next war;"
He ceased on the verge OF open 40
cusations.
Across the sudden silence drifted
the uncanny, rustling sound % of one
who. hiding. stirs.
The woman's eyes grew furtive with
alarm.
I'VE wish rest. Show us to our
ROOM" ordered. Eager and relieved,
she obeyed.
Safely upstairs, the business-like
little revolver on her knee. Mile. YES
parini drew a long breath.
There are limits to my interest in
the conditions Of the Russian Pale"
she observed. II could even wish
Hush! What was that?"
Again we heard the cerie whisper.
ing, growing to a Notwithstanding
human. Mon Dieu! They are abus.
Ing child-no. two children. Lis.
ten! Distinguish the voices-a boys
and a girls.
There could be no doubt Of the un-
utterable horror. In low, cautious
tones Of concentrated anger husband
and wife were attempting to terrilv
two little ones! A minute and We
were down the ladedr. listening. The
house was Utterly lonely. Along 1t
lay the grim, lifeless steppe. above,
the wonderful luminous night, about
US the absolute silence OF Russia
Then we opened the door.
Pete Pietroff and his wife faced
about In dumb despair, the children
with dull curiosity.
Shock-headed, dark-eyed, not no
ticeably thin, both were almost de-
formed by the shockingly swollen alb
domens that some sort OF wrong eat.
Ing produces. But OF fear or Ill
usage they showed no sign.
Whose are these children" de-
manded Mile. Vesparini. Instructive
ly my fingers loosed their hold on
the revolver In my ulster pocket.
woman gave way to brOken-hear ed
tears.
Ours. your nobility. ours, though
we tried to protect them. You see
them--it was the famine-last year.
Over Is of our Russian governments
were stricken--village on village suf-
fered.
me, | made bread to the last
cinnamon bread, nobility. When -four
failed, what could we do? Only mix
what remained with ground wood
even with fodder.
Every one did Hundreds, aye,
thousands-hungered!
Public relief?
mo, there was none
1T went to the tchinn (officials)-
as always!
Men Observation-Disclosures died. Ours
our were spared as you sea dis.
grace to themselves forever. take
oath we have tried to cure them. or
ten we make them handle clean food
green things, even poultry. But 1t
does no good. Their sick stomachs
crave-and crave the other!"
What is it?"
"Ah-h, Barina, how can I tell ycu
the shame.
'"They-o,ir poor children--starved
until now-until now-they are earth.
eaters!"
And that. | find. Is the condition OF
many OF the children in the pale
famine drove them at last to eating
the dirt and now their dying s.cm.
achs refuse food.
They will go on eating dirt until
they die!