Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-22
Jews in Russia.

might escape From what had heard, life III
the army appeared To me to offer worse time
than any | had yet experienced. and l looked
forward to it with absolute dread
But there was no way out. said gOodby
very sorrowfuy to my parents and relations,
and we all wept fundamentally at parting. be.
cause we did not dare to hope to meet again ]
left the house with feet like lead.
There were number Of other young men in
the village in the same plight as myself. Under
in escort we marched of to the nearest military
Headquarters. We were a most unhappy party;
scarcely one of us Ind the heart to speak; some
Of the Christians seemed even more detected
than |,
On the way discovered some of the tricks
that We're used to escape service. Among our
party were some who had actually starved
themselves for months in the hope that their
eHanciation and general weakness would lead
to their rejection. Others had mutiated them
selves by actually cutting off fingers in order
to make it impossible for them to handle gun.
These were the only CHEEKY ones among us.
Many of us lay awake at night crying. because
we knew we would not see our friends for the
next FIVE years and perhaps never again.
The next day were called by one into
room where seven officers sat at q table
cred with red cloth. Before them was box
with Il large opening in the top. ] entered.
trembling in every limb Suddenly / heard my
name called:
"Mendel Beis"
I stepped forward
Here | am, your EXcellencv."
Approach and try your luck
He Becomes Russian Soldier.
! put my hand into the box, well knowing
that | was stalking Ave years of my life against
one chance in ten thousand of my winning. But
it had to be done. In those sfew moments my
thoughts were indeed terrible. ! trembled in
every limb I withdrew the tiny piece OF
paper which was to settle my fate, ! remem-
Der well unroling 1t. and as my eyes lit on the
number-7l-I realized my doom.
Had drawn n high number | might possibly
have stood chance of being one of the for
tunate ones TO be examined. He looked at me
and said to the officer present; Russia could
do with few more recruits Of this size and
strength"
Because I was SO big and strong they placed
me in one of the famous grenadier regiments.
was the only Jew in the regiment and there
was scarcely jew in the town of Twter. where
were stationed. Fortunately for me, those
around me had not acquired the habit of i'll
treating my race, and because of this did not
suffer any of the il-treatment to which | had
been accustomed all my life on account Of my
being jew.
In the army had to get up at a. m. and by
six had to be fully dressed spick and span,
for inspection. After this had breakfast,
which consisted of black bread and tea. Then
came military exercise until midday, when
We're given our dinner consisting of soup made
with cabbage and potatoes with little meat
floating in the middle. This is known
"Borsch,''
BY the time dinner was ready we were al
ways famshed and there used to be a regular
fight to see who could get to the soup cauldron
first. As l have never liked being mixed up in
row it usually happened that my turn came
nearly last, and then there very little meat
left for me.
During the five years | always hungry.
We were allowed three pounds of black bread
each per day but l always having been used to
whittier bread found it almost impossible to d.
geSt what was supplied TO us. And so l used to
take my portion into the town every day and
sell it for four kopccks With this l was able
to buy white bread. but of course a much
smaller quantity.
Some of my friends have reproached me since
for eating the Christian food while in the army.
But | have always answered: Il had nothing
else to eat. so what was to do:"
As il WAS | was always hungry. / could not
buy Jewish meat because | had no money. Our
pay only twenty-three kopecks a month.
aud ont Of this had to buy materials for keep
ing clean my uniforms. | did not want to eat
Christian food but could not help myself
Others OF my friends have blamed for not
going 10 SyuAgngue while in the army | have
told them that II there is not synagogue can
not 20 t. it. | did once ask Officer. on jew