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

fish holiday, whether l might walk to a syna-
gogue in one OF the towns nearby. but he
answered: rs not your TaliSkutin sufficient for
you?" | replied that I did not wear one,
was not Mt that time a strictly orthodox Jew.
After that gave up all hopes of seeing syna-
gogue until l was free again.
think was a success in the army I seemed
to be suited for a soldiers life. The fact that,
in regiment composed of men of unusual size,
was one of the biggest and strongest and was
also one Of the best marksmen, gave me high
position among my comrades. The officers
thought well of me. too Although was unedu-
Gated and only common soldier, l set to
instruct the other men in their drills and shoot
ing.
"No Promotion for Jews"
But l never secured promotion; the reason
was the fact of my being Jew. Time after
time l passed over in favor OF men whom
! myself had helped to make competent When
/ asked my superiors why l not given
chance, they always answered: Because you are
Jew. We are sorry; you deserve promotion IL
any man does; but then we never promote
Jew"
For five years my life went on like this. with
out much change incident. lost count of the
weeks and almost of the years. There was abso-
lutely nothing by which one day could be told
from another.
Then one morning when on parade as usual,
number of us, myself included, We're called
out of the ranks by an officer. He told us that
time was up and that were free to go
home. Our colonel then came and spoke to us
one by one and thanked us for our services.
When he came to ME he took hold of me and
kissed me, and he said-I shall never forget his
words: BELLS, you have been one of the Cars
best soldiers. l sorry you a jew But
for that you would have had high promotion. /
am deeply sorry that you must 60 Take my
best thanks with you"
That night was given fcurth-class ticket to
Nescherow. But did not want to go: 1 thought
! would try and stay in this village where | was
known as good, honest soldier and might OBJ
tain work.
went at once to the major and asked his
permission to remain. He had always been very
kind to me. but this time he replied: 81 am
sorry but if you do not leave this town within
twenty-four hours you will be arrested as a Jew
who has right to be here, and we shall not be
able to save you"
took the train that night for Nescherow I
knew well enough what would have happened il
| had deied the police and remained. l should
have been arrested the spot, and sent by
"etap' to one of the loathesome country prisons
There ! should have been kept until party of
prisoners had been collected previous to being
sent to another town This might have meant
several months. Then, when there were enough
of US, We should have been marched, under an
escort of soldiers with fixed bayonets, to the
next town. and so on until we reached the pale
Of Settlement At each stopping place we
should have been put in prison and kept there
until the Governor ready to send us along
on the next stage of the journey. This process
would be continued until at last reached
The Pale" Then should be freed. after
having endured all kinds of brutalities
knew exactly what would have happened
ndu uedIu IHe StufH 50 often DeIOre from other
Jews. l preferred to get away az soon as pos
sible.
The Search for His Parents.
settled down in a corner of the train that
night but I could not sleep l had only once
been in a train before. and the noise kept me
awake. The next morning found me tired and
hungry ] had money leaving the army
and therefore was unable to procure food for
my long journey. For two days 1 suffered the
pangs of hunger, but then some kind passengers
took pity on me and gave me something to eat.
BY the end of the fourth day, when l reached
NoScherow, l was feeling very sick
Nevertheless, I quite cheerful. because l