Atlanta Georgian., 1914-03-01

my knee. and we would have some tea Then
we would 90 to bed
His education was a prea+ ,Uorr,, tn mo
had made up my mind that he should not fail
IN lie from the same causes that | had. 1t
was Tor this that cheerfully paid the police
to let us stay in Kiev At first | did not think
that could get him in one OF the gymnasiums
because besides Christians only the sons of
rich Jews, or those with powerful friends,
get in. But by great good luck l was able
TO get MIN some schooling when he was very
young.
It happened this way Two Jews came to
me one day. men who had educated them
selves. believe they are now both doctors.
They had right to live in Kiey, and no
money to bribe the police They said to me-
You have to give your workmen bread and
herrings and meat. Cannot you spare a little
from each man-just a tiny piece will be suf-
hcient-and let us stay here that shall
be safe, and in return we viii teach your
children?"
These men stayed with me for six months.
and taught Pinka to read. But at the end
OF that time they had to go. 1t came about
like this: ! got two months behind in my pay
ments TO the police, and one day they came
In and arrested me. Fortunately the men
were away, or else | might have been sent
to prison for long time If the police had seen
them. But after this thought it too dauger-
for them to stay.
SO got another teacher, a Jew, for Pinka,
and paid him three roubles a month for CIV
ing the boy lessons. At the end of this time,
when he was eight years old, | had a piece
Of good luck. Because had done my best to
give the boy his schooling some of the rich
Jews in Kiey got him a place In the gymna-
SUM
Only ten per cent of Jews are allowed in
these schools, the reason being. the authori.
ties say, the Jews will educato their children
IN any event We don't want to encourage
them to live in Russia by making schooling
easy for them
1t also means so much more to us, because
If "A Jewish boy is taken into the school, his
ant, ,1f tr,I 1srr-, npA
the police cannot touch them. On account OF
this alone it was great relief to us when
Pinka was at last taken in. His school fees,
food and books cost me 200 roubles a year.
which at that time was just about half OF what
! earning, but l cheerfuny paid this, al
though it meant that the rest of us had to so
short OF everything.
The Struggle for Education.
This question of education is one of the
chief worries of US poor Jews in Russia. Every.
thing is made hard for US. | can tell you of
one case in Kiey. Three years ago Mr.. Mar
COLIN, the father of the lawyer who defended
me until the judge at the trial refused to let
him so on any longer, and who has since
been disbarred on account of what he did for
me. obtained leave from the Government to
build a school for Jews in the city here, He
is a very rich man. and built a beautiful school.
But he has not been allowed to open it yet,
and will only be permitted TO do SO at the be-
ginning Of next year. and then only condi-
ton that all the teachers are Christians
There are now in Kiev several secret schools
for jew children. supported by wealthy people
Of community But if the police were to
find them they would be shut at once, and
the teachers sent TO long term in prison,
well as being made to pay a heavy fine,
Mr.. Zaitsef, the owner OF the brick works,
inquired a little while ago whether the chill.
dren at these schools had enough to eat. lie
found that the only hot meals they ever had
We're those given them at the school. Because
OF this the schools are now kept open on Sat
urday. so that the children can so there and
have meal
I am glad to say that Pinka did very well at
the school Although he was SO young. he un.
derstood that he was the hope of the family.
because II he had been turned out of school
for not getting on weu enough. it would have
meant that the rest OF us would have been sent
away from Kiey. tie used TO work at his
lessons day and night. and vas always near