Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-04
RUSSIA WAKEnS
TO new IDEALS
Changed Conditions in Peasant Life Is
One of Greatest Revelations of
World War.

stockholm, sweden. -- (COrreS-
pondence of the Associated Press.)
Americans, EngIishmen, Frenchmen,
returning through this neutral gate
way from the wide domains of Russia
all tell the same story of the wonder
full awakening of the great northern
empire commercially and civiCly as
well as in the gathering of military
resources to carry the war to a sue
cessful conclusion.
Americans in particular seem most
deeply impressed with the changed
conditions in Russia and are the most
sanguine as to the future of the cOun-
try They say there is something akin
to the old call of the west in the fast
opening opportunities and the wide
reaching resources of Russia which
sends an anxious Jingle through the
veins of every American business man
or prospector who has delved into
Russian conditions as they exist to-
day and who is far-sighted enough to
see the prosperity that is in store for
the Russian people.
1t may be one of the anomalies of
! an anomalous period in history that
barbarous war shall teach a people of
10000, 900 souls the ways and the
benefits of real civilization and en-
lightenment. And yet that is what
American travellers in Russia all agree
is taking place. Many thousands OF
lives are yet to be sacrificed at the
Austrian and German fronts, but il is
now agreed that there VIII come back
from the firing line an army of mill
lions of men trained, disciplined,
schooled at least partially in the laws
of hygiene and right living, educated
in degree beyond anything contem-
plated a few years ago, Well-fed, we'll
clothed and ready to take their allot-
ted place in the commercial upbuilding
of the empire and the civic upbuilding
of the people.
The story is told of how under war
conditions the peasant with only pieces
of bark for shoes and bag for cloth
ing. unkempt, ignorant with regard TO
every phase of better living, is brought
into the city or training camp, fitted
with shoes and warm clothing, out
with shoes and warm clothing, put
taught for the first time what his
hands, his feet and his brain and body
can do. The change wrought in so
short a time as Il days is said TO be
marvellous. Regardless of what may
be the conditions in other countries IL
is literally true in Russia that army
life has more comforts. more advant
ages and more educational value than
dreamed Of
1t is predicted now that when this
great army comes back from the front
its members will not be willing TO go
back TO their old methods of life, but
will help in the evolution of a new or
der of things, help 10 bring the vast
nation of the north 10 a state Of effici-
ency which will make it a dominating
world power in deeds perhaps as well
as in domain.
It is said that before the war is end
ed Russia will have had in her army
or in training no less than 25,000,000
men-twenty-five million men trained
to a degree of at least comparative eff
ficiency, ready to throw their power
into industrial energy in field or fac
tory.
But oftentimes the returning travel
ers are met with the question: will
not the sudden awakening Of the peo-+
ple. coupled with the menace of so
many millions trained to arms, logi-
cally lead to revolution" The answer
invariably is that Russia expects revo-
luton, but il is generally believed II
will be political and not a clash of
arms There will be an evolution of
tremendous intensity and II remains TO
be seen whether Russia has the states
men skilled enough 10 handle this
evolution in manner TO prevent IL
becoming a real revolution. II is said
that if the powers that be viii rec
ognize the needs of the changed stu
alton following the war. all in good
time, Russia will safely pass a crisis
even greater than the throes inDoSad