Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-24
PASSED BY THE CENSOR

n1HERE arrived in Philadelphia this week
l. copy of the Courier Of Political Exiles,"
the official paper of those sent to Siberia by
the Gar 1t is printed in Russian, but for
obvious reasons is published in the capital
city of Russia's ally, France. The Courier
contains the first authentic account OF the
death of Dszheparidze, one of the 100 Social
Democratic members of the second Duma,
who were exiled to Siberia for affixing their
signatures to the famous Viborg manifesto
n Russian declaration of independence.
Laying aside entirely the pathetic human
side of the story, the account Of the last
hours of the Russian sounds strangely out of
harmony with the honeyed words of the Gear,
addressed to his Dear Jews and MY Loyal
Poles" In part, the Courier says:
"At o'clock in the evening the train
approached q small station, Yamskaya, where
we were to change trains. All out, shouted
the head OF the convoy, opening the doors.
Dszheparidze rose together with the others,
but Immediately fell to the ground, crying,
1 cannot 1 am all In Tzereteli and Macha-
radze picked him up and placed him on a
dirty rug nearby.
How dare you sit down, you dogT
shouted gendarme, whereupon his COM
rades picked him up and carried him out of
the car to the station platform. We had to
walt fully hour for the arrival of the
train for Kursk. Surrounded by host of
gendarmes, beneath the open sky, in the hor-
rible cold and but the scant prison clothes
on our backs, we waited in the snow, shiv-
ering, hungry and trembling for our lives
lest one of the gendarmes take fancy to
shoot us. Dszheparidze alone was permitted
to sit down on the ground. Beside him
Stood his wife with her 2-year- old child in
her arms. After our arrival at the Kursk
depot we were dispatched to the prison.
All OF us, 40 men in all, were locked UP
in cell II feet by s. All along the floor lay
the victims of Russian barbarism Not only
was 1t impossible to pass from one end of
the cell to the other, but it was impossible
Tor one to stretch out on the floor. In half
hour the air in the room became intolerable
one OF us took q chance and attempted to
open a little window, but the soldier on duty
ordered him back to the floor In an hour
Dszheparidze began to snore heavily. We
pounded at the doors and demanded that
some of us be transferred to another cell. At
midnight the warden of the prison, Kalmi-
kof, entered and ordered that members Of the
Imperial Duma be given room in another cell
nearby. That night Dszheparidze died with
out having received any medical attention"
AMhS - DONNElIL BENNETT was the
- most vitriolic dramatic critic in Chicago
where he sat in theatrical judgment for the
Record-Herad He was feared by actors
and managers alike. yet, when it was learned
that he had been captured by the Germans
in Belgium and was threatened with death
as a spy, even his enemies in the profession
were sorry. OF course, he was released
hence this story.
The other night two actors who had felt
the sting Of Benefits pen stood in front of
the Garrick Theatre discussing the war One
referred to Benefits visit to the scene of
conflict.
Wouldn't it be awful" exclaimed the other
with heartfelt worry, If he didn't like the
way they fought"
THE original manuscript of Arnold Ben
L netts THE Regent" also known as THE
Old ADAM is now in this country the prop
erty of Edgar Selwyn, the dramatist. How
Selwyn smuggled the manuscript out of Ben
nett's house at Thorpe-le- Soken in Essex
England, is an interesting tale. Mrs. Ben
nett is the feminine Cerberus who guards
original manuscripts with a zest and care
verging on the fanatic. No manuscript has
ever been known TO leave her possession be-
fore. Bennett and Selwyn were discussing
things in general when the former offered the
desired manuscript to the dramatist.
But how will l get It past your wife,"
queried the American.
Here it is; just put it under your coat
and walk out" responded the Briton.
But it's bulky package and she'll see it,"
IF she stops you give her this" replied
Bennett And seizing a pen he wrote on the
cover of the bundle This manuscript be-
longs to Edgar Selwyn and Is the property
Of no woman"
And that is how the manuscript was SNUG
ged out of the Bennett home.
TT WAS in the Pocono Mountains the last
l. weekend. A number of legal lights, mem
bers of the Lehigh County bar including
Judge Frank NJ TreXler, We're holding
friendly debate on the fine points of the
law Two men of the Poconos passed by.
Are all those lawyers" Queried the first
Most Of them are" replied the second
and the others are Judges"
TIME present attempt on the part OF Russia
i 10 stop alcoholism in the army is not the
first Of it's kind by any means. Gear Alex
ander made every effort TO stop the drinking
habits Of soldiers and especially OF officers
Whenever a case Of inebriety came under his
observation the punishment was swift and
severe. One evening an officer of the impe-
rial guards had dined neither wisely nor
we'll and was showing decided symptoms of
intoxication knowing the fate that would
await him if caught he took droshky to
drive 70 regimental quarters
Suddenly, TO his undisguised terror, he saw
approaching the carriage OF the Emperor
NIotioning the carriages to stop, the Car ex-
claimed angrily
Major what are you doing here?"