Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-22

WAS born on May 20, 1863 In very small
village called Nescherow In the Government
of Kiev in Southwest Russia. MY father
David Bells. unfortunately became very poor IN
the DAYS OF my youth. and had not suincient
means To give me n proper education me pest
10 could do for me was to engage n Jewish
teacher living in the village who knew nothing
Of the Russian Language, and had but very
poor knowledge of Yiddish.
was fifteen years old but 10 my great regret,
benefited very little. not so much on account OF
my own poor abilities as Tor the reason that my
teacher knew so little.
ask my readers TO pardon the poor way In
which tell the story OF my HE, Tor am ohiy
poor warkman who never learnt much, ana
also because the hardships nave had 70 Dear
through so many years have scarcely htted me
10 give from my history as should nave liked
remember very little Of the early days at
Nescherow. Only one incident reniains l,s teany
clear In my memory. ! can remember, Just as
though II was yesterday, often meeting = nttle
hoy, the son of rich Russian living III our
village. coming home from school ! saw saw tnat
he carried a bag full Of books with MIN, anu
wore beautiful school uniform whieh enVieu
q greatly .a on,
vsptured TO ask him 70 teach me some OF thr
things that he had been learning He answered
TINT he was unable 10 do this but he gave me
small book containing the Russian alpnaOet,
For several days ! tried hard, In secret 10
master this, but then, one morning, my jewish
teacher caught me with the book In my hnhn
As an orthodox Jew, having no use Tor the nus
sian lnnguage he became very cross sinhOheu
my face until the blood came. and then tore the
book to pieces, This was one of the great sor'
rows Of my early lfe. -,
Al the time | was born my father. for Jew
In n Russian village, was rich. He owned a
small distiery, and was doing so well that he
was able to give my elder brothers quite goou
private education; but, when was between
three and four years of age, my father was
ioined In his business by Jewish friend. Mr
zaitsef. Everything went well Tor time, out
then my father sold out his interest Ia the bus
ness 10 Mr. Zaitscif with the intention OF start
ing a similar business IN Nescherow. men
toned Mr. Zaitseff's name because in years TO
come he was TO play very important part In
my life.
The Journey Beyond "The Pale"
Unfortunately, my father had not sufficient
capital TO carry on successfully the new DUST
ness, and after two or three years all bis money
had gone and he was a ruined man
AZ this time my parents had eight enllureh1
four boys and four girls. Without penny in
the world my father did not know which way
TO turn to support us. Nescherow left but l'ttle
opening for man without capital, ana tnere
fore he made up his mind TO leave the village
and try what he could do In larger place.
Every one in Nescherow loved him. Christians
as well as Jews An were grieved at the idea OF
his leaving. Our Jewish friends came and vol
unteered to lend him money, Numbers ot
Christians came TO the house and begged him to
remain. Offering him both money and employ
ment. But my father was n proud man; he
could not accept anything that had even the ali-
paarance OF charity, and he declined all offers,
although most grateful for them. Soon after,
what remained OF our home was sold, and We
prepared for our departure.
l well remember the scene when we left Al
most everybody in the place came to wish us
goodhry Our Jewish friends embraced Us
by one. while the Christians, most of them In
tears. kissed my fathers hand and wished him
"good luck" l have thought since that this
moment must have been among the proudest OF
my fathers life 1t was rare thing at that
time In a Russian village for Christians to go
So far as to publicly declare their esteem for
jew.
We started on our journey but little knew
what lay before us, At the moment we left, my
father had no idea OF what direction ne would
take. but finally decided to make for Kiev. OF
course. We knew that should have 20 walk.
but as I remember, that prospect did not
frlghtcn us much Our little party of ten was
quite cheerful when It took the road for Kiev
sonic miles away.
But we could only travel very slowly. and II
was not long before cur money was exhausted.
Then. fer the irst time We began tO feel the
pangs Of real hunger We had 20 fnd food and
shelter as best we could The Winter cold
seemed t. grow worse and worse as we went on.
and 10 not think that during the last dsy
tive CT hat march we children ever ceased
from crying.
Finally we reached Kiev. and here our mis-.
fortunes began la earnest My father hal fcl-
gotten that Jews are not allowed TO 1.-Two in the
"holy" city In Russia Il is only lawful for my
race 10 live IN certain prescribed places, called
The Pale az Settlement" and II We are found
outside OF that are liable TO be arrested on
the spot unless we can bribe the police % let Us
alone
police seized my father and took him away 70
prison for being in the city without a passport