Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-03
REAL VIEWS IN REPLY
TO NOTES IN HAMPERS
Petrograd Woman Adopts Plan of
Sounding Sentiment of Sol
diers at Front.
Correspondence of the Associated Press,

Correspondence of the Associated Press
PETROGRAD, April 12.-More than
800 letters from Russian soldiers have
reached a prominent Petrograd woma n
in response to a note which she in
closed in a large number of hampers of
food which she sent to the front few
weeks ago. She had expressed desire
to get some letters from the front
which would show what the ordinary
Russian soldier really thought. instead
of the stereotyped letters of thanks
with which the soldiers ordinarily
acknowledge gifts from persons of
higher social station. Accordingly. she
signed the notes which she inclosed
with the names Of her three maid serv-
ants, making it appear as II these
young women had slipped the notes
into the hampers surreptitiously. The
receivers were asked to reply to these
maid servants and to tell them how
they were faring in the war
The plan worked we'll. Fifty OF the
replies are to be published in book form
shortly. Several soldiers replied in
verse. Several made love in pretty. fan
ciful style Only one letter out OF the
whole number was offensive.
Sends Pen Picture of Self.
A cossack sent the following pen
picture OF himself:
II want to tell you what a cossack
looks like He is not handsome, no, in
deed, Yet he looks like an eagle, and
whether the foe he meets be German
or Austrian, he will beat him like an
eagle A Cossack is small but brave
Small is the grain of gold, yet of great
Inc Ia in ie
coat and waist held tightly in leather
belt. However hot the firing, he will
not drop his gun. but will ride his
brave horse and arrive in time. wher-
ever he may be sent"
A scout tells of reconnaissance
from which he has Just returned. 'the
moon shining as clear as If it were
daylight and the Germans firing at us
constantly and doing us much harm. =
He adds:
let my letter fly from the German
land to the metropolitan town. 1 bow
to you. sister Katinka. 1 am a hero
from the River Don, fighting for our
religion and our country. You and
your friends listen to the holy bells
calling tho Christians to service. We
hear here only the roar of the cannon
and the rattle OF tho German machine
guns"
Wants Pair of Trousers.
Prom Orenburg comes prettlIy
worded appeal for a pair of trousers:
my Dear Friend Katia: I hasten to
inform you that l am In good health
and all is Furnishing with me. ! am
well. and my horse is well. and for you
/ wish the same good health, and accep,
my deep devotion. and let me bow &c
you. Against my viii. tears coursed
down my creeks as l read your letter
IT have humble request to make OF
you. 1 do not ask for tobacco. for ] dc
not smoke. But, If such be your kind
ness, pray send me old pair of rid
ing trousers. of which ! am very much
in need. II you have a divine spark oil
love for the soldiers who are defending
their country. do not refuse what
ask"
One Of the letters in poetry is roughly
translated as follows.
Greeting from all the hero soldiers:
We shall end the 10 glory
For the Russian ceicrs
And through ~. street. of Berlin
Shall march tn. Russian eglunepis
With the giant their head
The Giant" is favorite soldier:
fo,. tho Grand Tb,fk Nicholas