Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-16
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Appreciation OF Russian Letters.
OMAHA, Feb l5.--To the Editor OF The
Rec: For a foreigner, and especially an
Englishman, Mr.. Powys displayed deep
knowledge and remarkable penetration
into the very depth of Russian literature.
Russian character. Russian soul. For a
Russian. who is somewhat familiar with
his native literature and who on several
occasions lectured and wrote on Russian
literature. Mr.. Powys presentation of the
Dostoievsky and other Russian intellec-
tual giants was very pleasing. Espe-
cially was his definition OF the peouiiari-
cially was I delighted with his definition
of the peculiarities and idioms OF the Rus
sian language. which Mr. Powys, while
not familiar with the Russian tongue. not
being Russian. has sensed It by some
sort of intuition. He uttered exactly my
views, which have expressed In my lee
ture on Pushkin before the graduating
class of the students OF the University OF
Nebraska. where I stated as follows:
1T viii probably sound exaggerated to
say that of all the languages, even of the
different Slovenian tongues the Russian
is the most superb. There f. not another
language In the world in which one can
so well express the finest. the most deli
cate and the deepest emotion Of the soul
as In Russian. No language has the ma
serial, the resources, the richness, the
softness. the variety of words that the
Russian has. The manifold expressions
Tor the many variations OF the human
feelings and soul are 80 easily and beau
TRULY rendered in that language The
Russian language Is adapted for poetry,
as the Italian is for music, and the work
OF the great poets OF Germany, France
and England are far superior in their
Russian TRANSACTIONS than In the original.
Shakespeare's genius Is shown up to far
better advantage In Russian than in his
native tongue, and the lyrics OF Schiller
Heine, Shelly, etc, are more musical ana
enchanting in Russian than In the orig
inal 1t is the construction of the Ian
suage and the character of the nation
mat makes the Russian tongue so superb.
so heavenly beautiful The Russian folk
songs, folk lores, are 30 rich in expres-
sions and emotions that one can hardly
read them without bringing tears to the
eyes The Russian nation Il a nation full
OF sorrow. grief and hardships. The serf-
dom, the absolutism Of the autocrats has
crushed the spirit OF the naturally gifted
nation and no wonder that in the poetry
ana music or Russia the minor tone IA
Always prevailing and the poems are sobs
and heart breaking cries for delivary from
oppression and longing for freedom Iisa
and civilization"
To understand the Russian soul the
depth OF it or It's peculiarities. which ara
so different and so divergent from anv
other nation. one need not read the lit
erature which is accessible to only a
very few non-R Russians; one needs only
to study other branches of Russian art
such as Russian painting, Russian music
or Russian dancing. What q world of
passion what depth of emotion, wild
ana stormy outburst Of fantasy. thought.
pniiosophy, plaintiveness and Joy, ali I'm
the same soul and body.
The Message OF the kosak," by Ma
wofsiSy the famous painting which took
the world by storm when exhibited at
the worlds fair In Chicago. or 'The Re-
turn OF the Exile by Rapin, embod.es
exactly the qualities expressed above.
Tho Wild, stormy. bravado spirit of The
kosak IL In such a contrast to the paint
ing OF tho return OF the Russian ex
lie. who meets his family after years or
separation. when he left his wife young
and beautiful, his children small only
to return home to find his wife old ana
care-worn. his children grown to manhood
and womanhood, and then the exila
stands at the threshold OF HIS home un-
recognized by his wife and children. he
cause the hardship Of the SIBERIAN exile
has transformed him to an old broken
down man. What a world OF emotion.
pity and heartrending is laid down In that
famous canvas. Such genius "a Rapin
is possible only on Russian son, where
conditions can create such a subject Tor
an artist and only q Russian artist can
reproduce It In oil
Now. where will you find a second
Paviowa or Mordkin7 where will YOU
find such tempest OF emotion, ava
lanche of passion, such a flame and fire
eliminating from every quivering fiber of
their muscles as expressed by these two
famous Russian dancers? There Is such
superabundance OF soul even in their
solos, Or look at the Russian folk dances.
or listen 70 the Russian folk songs What
a mixture OF careless. reckless bravado
and heart-rending cries and pitiful moan
Ing for liberty and plaintiveness against
tyranny and oppression.
Yes. Mr.. Powys grasped the soul of the
Russian. as a Russian himself could do
no better. While he spoke of the Russian
literature only. he undoubtedly would
have paid the same tribute 20 the other
branches of the Russian art In the same
mastery, passionate fashion. 1t was a
grand and delightful treat to hear Mr..
Powys and to the ladies Of the
Art society In charge of the art exhibit,
who brought Mr.. Powys to Omaha 10
lecture, the people OF Omaha owe q deep
gratitude. ] am sure 1 do.
DR. T. HOII OWN r3TNHfFR