El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-21

Famous Russian Writer Dis
appointed in His Own
Land and People.
THINKS PEOPLE
IGNORANT OF ART

n T. PETERSBURG, Russia, March 81.
Maxim Gorl1y, the novelist, is not
out Of the woods yet. Added to
his wretched state Of health, he has
been hunted from Finland, having re-
turned, as he hoped, to die in peace
within the borders of his native land.
He is now living on the estate Of one
/ of his intimate friends in the interior
Of Russia, halfway between here and
! Moscow.
Here he was found, looking frail and
/ depressed, but still full of the fire Of
that determination which made him run
/ the risk of returning ence more to
( Russia and its icy winter, after six
years spent beneath the golden skies OF
Capri, in the bay Of Naples.
The painter-novelist's face looked
! strangely emaciated, but his eyes have
retained all their briiliancy His re-
turn to his fatherland has not proved
an altogether unmiXed blessing He
told me quite frankly that he felt more
in his element abroad than in Russia.
Is Somewhat Disguised.
People he said, display such a
Iamentable lack Of culture, both intel
7 lectual and moral. Their ignorance on
/ questions of art and literature and all
that makes life beautiful is painful I
am disguised, too, with Russian poll
tics. / can never understand WHY anv-
one ever wanted to make a politician
of me / hate all that has to do with
politics and those who have the
handling of it.
Alas! individual Independence in
Russia is at present nonexistent." ne
added sadly 1T is sufficient for any
one in power to hold up his hand and
the rest of the world follows his lead
without anyone in the least knowing
g In
1t IS the man who holds the stick that
is master of everybody and OF every
thing.
Lack of Definite Aim.
There is no definite aim in anything
We DO, no logic in anything we attempt
10 DO or say, and there is absolutely no
respect for the views Of personality of
others. This is partly why have come
TO the conclusion that there is no real
culture or intellectually to be found
IN Russia Individuals are civilized. the
nation is not As far as can see dur-
ing the years which have elapsed since
! Ieft Russia, no progress has been made
IN the direction of uplifting the. public
nina. We do not seem to have gripped
the fact that it is our duty to watch
what goes on around US and to observe
the good IN our western neiehbors with
a view TO assimilating it with our own
limited culture"
Asked what he thought about the re-
cent ministerial changes Gorky repIied
them anyway, he did not believe in
permanent transformation of the ex-
lstlng question nor Of their being sus-
cepuble to a liberal Interpretation bv
the men at present in power.
Government System False.
alSe IDEAS cannot so easily be up
rooted as many people think he re-
Piled and our whole system Of GOV
eminent is false to the core 7 6one
that IN time better cOunseIs will Dre-
van IN official circles, but TODAY we are
sun uVlng under an administration
Which belongs to the middle ages and
50 long as this lasts there is no room in !
Russia for man with independent /
opinions, or even with personal ones
II IS mainly for this reason that have. Z
q l told you no feelings Of enthusiasm |
Tor my country and that I find no /
pleasure in living in Russia after hav- /
ing lived abroad and learned what /
liberty means.
In Italy, where political passions run
nlgh, they are not permitted to inter-
!ere with ones private life while il is
Just the opposite here, and people of )
ulIIerent political views are not even
GIVil to each other when they meet
1hIs Is lntolerable in a civilized com
munlty and should not be allowed to
continue for a single instant"
Has Made No Plans.
questioned as to his plans, Gorzy I
I cannot say anything definite as to
Wynether shall go abroad again or not
l nave been so long away that I feel
1mpelled to study with renewed care
russian life and Russian conditions.
II only my health will hold out, I hone
70 stay some months longer in this
country. But sometimes feel as though
1 must escape the weight which crusbes
one IN Russia. I have no sympathy with
mysticism, which will be the order Of the !
uay IN Russia until we find something
SISe, Just as useless, just as worthless /
1 loVe life, its manifestations its i'm
pulses, It's reality. cannot waste nv
Time dreaming dreams, because that is I
Just what we are all doing here with |
me result that we have established a /
-aIse atmosphere, out of which I see no !
escape even for Independent minds. For
ms reason regret having left the civ
IIAauon Of Europe behind me, while
or other reasons I am glad to have
zen my country under its present
-eglrne because can speak Of her now
HtIh Ihe consciousness that 1 know
wat am talking about"
Gor6y IS at present engaged in writ
hg a new novel, which will depict the
eellngs Of an exile returning to bis
iaIlYe land He works assidiously at {
I, and hopes to publish It in the fan |
II IS only after it has appeared that
shaI decide my plans" he told the 4
american. Until then I prefer to make
10 plans, especially in view of the
resent state of my health, which NAV
I any moment interfere with them.
y nen the spring comes, I hope I shall |
e aDIe to work better than I can now"