The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-07-01
Touched as They Are with the
Elementary Poetry Of Prim-
tive Peoples.

/ IllV6 GUpICo'
PBARoGRAD, July 1.-CCorro-
spondence of The Associated Prcss)-
The following excerpts from letters
written by Russian soldiers to the
American hospital in PutrogrRd not
only form a quaint testimonial to the
work done by members Of the Ameri-
can colony / nearing for the wound
ed, but at the same time provide IN
interesting study of the intimate feel
ings. the chlldllke simplicity and naive
impulses which govern the millions OF
soldiers who make up the Russian
army. The little reading done by the
Russian peasants is confined TO the
Bible and fairy tales and their natural
mode of expression is quaint re-
llgious style, touched with the clemen-
tai poetry Of primitive peoples.
One letter reads:
Charitable committee, now we see
that It was you taught us the 18th
chapter of Gospels. And truly every
one ought to know this chapter. In
! it is contained love to Goo and to ones
neighbor. Although We are Chris
tians, yet the teaching of Christ in us
is like a clouded glass, we see little
through it, and man does not see the
light of Chrlst's teaching and gropes
in the dark. Charitable committee, all
your kind hearts and wishing
thoughts and all the gifts which come
from you, and in addition your warm
love to us, all these gathered together
in me make a stout ship amidst the
waters which have already swallowed
up many and in which are struggling
others, drowning in the waves Of this
difficult time, which has fallen to the
lot OF nearly the whole world. You
20 about on your ship and gather up
us drowning ones and take us to your
selves and cheer us and make us
again like new, ready for fresh deeds,
For me there has never been such a
happiness from my birth as at this
time. this gift which has flowed from
your good hearts. 1t is an unhcard-of
thing, such a great sum. / cannot
imagine how can ever repay you
for such a great thing. l have no
means. Only in one way can pay
YOU, committee Of well-doing, eternal
". and my fortunate family will
pray to God for you and for Sister P.
Externally we will remember that your
strong ship came up in time to save
me in my little boat which had al
ready begun to sink under theh water.
Now see that providence watched
over me and sent the sister who inter
coded for me. and you with your
warm love to your nelghbor fulfilled
the preaching Of Christ and saved me
and my family by your gift. Once
again I beg you to write your names
and send them to my family, and they
will pray God for you day and night.
Are Called BenefactOrs.
"Bxcnse me, my benefactors, II l
trouble you with my letters"
Another letter reads
Greetings, my dear sister, as the
duty of my letter / hasten to assure
YOU of my deepest respect and with
great love | bow low to you and !
wish you from God good health for
many years. inform you, my dear
sister, that received the money
which you sent to me-4 rubles the
2sth Of April, and for which l express
my deepest gratitude to you and to
the whole committee Of the American
colony. was surprised and deeply
touched by these four rubles, for the
things | had made were very few and
| did not ask to have money sent me
10 rthem. For this reason l am sur
prised and deeply touched, not only
! but all Of my family, that among us
Russians there are also foreigners who
enter into the needs Of our dear
defenders of the Fatherland. What
can | write, how can express my
thanks to you and to the whole colony
II only had wings ] would fly to you
and kiss you all for your interest and
kind heartedness, for your gentle and
wise talk. When l feel homesick for
you, then look at the picture, and
it brings back to me again our dear
Lazaret, and closing my eyes see one
sister, and another and the third NOV
ing about, see the ventilator buzz
ing, thhe aeroplane turning from side
to side, and 1t seems as II l were back
in our dear Lazaret, and this comes
very often to my mind.
Now l hasten to tell you about my
booltb II 10 mt vet vary good, often