New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-11
q tho Editor Of The Tribune

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In the Sunday issue Of your paper
dated January ,. 1916. | read an article, en-
titled Tea. TINS and Taxes Win Business
in Russia." with illustrations in coarse and
vulgar taste By Z. Kesser, and apparently
emanating from the pen Of Mary Isabel
Brush. or Mary Brush Williams, she is
known in private life, she being the wife Of
Pierce Williams. native American. who rep
resented M one time certain interests in Rus
sia.
am Russian. and during my stay in the
United States, extending over a period OF
about sixteen years ! have kept in close
touch with Russian conditions and Russian
laws, have been in intimate contact with
Russian governmental, commercial and in
dustrial institutions. and have endeavored
as much as it was in my power TO give my
American friends fair and unbiased under
standing Of my native country.
Those that know Russia well will. OF
course, not be influenced by Mary Isabel
Brush's article, but the vas, army Of those
whose opinion Of Russia is closely assoc-
ated with the knout. pogroma. bribery and all
that is base and contemplate in public life,
may become still further preJudiced against
the country of my birth, particularly when
they see an article of the brush type repro
duced in newspaper OF fairness, response
bility and truthfulncss, such as The New
York Tribune.
Mary Isabel Brush is absolutely unqual-
fed and incompetent 70 express an opinion
on Russian affairs; neither has she ever
made study Of the country, nor has she
been in it long enough to understand il. She
herself admits that when she went 10 Rus
STA she went there unequi1pcd with any in
formation appertaning TO the methods of the
country, and. after her stay OF six weeks in
Rus STA, or, 10 be more precise, in Petrograd,
she returned 10 the United States Just as I'M
Informed as she was when she went there.
Mary Isabel Brush, in her article. wants US
90 believe that Russians break most Of their
engagements She may have had difficulties
i'm meeting and making appointments with
people OF prominence in Russia. partly be
cause OF the. natural Discrimination of Rus
SLAMS to give interviews To reporters and
partly owing to the fact that she arrived
there at time when the conditions in the
country were abnormal and foreigners were
received with caution and suspicion. Is it
fair on her part, however, 10 make sweep
ing statement TO the effec. that engagements
are not kept in Russia?
Her alleged experience with the editor Of
the "Novoe Vremya" is another product of
ner Imagination. The "Novoe Vremya" is
one of the leading newspapers In Russia and
has among the members of its staff editorial
writer's and Journalists OF worldwide repu-
taton. II has n we'll organized foreign de-
partment. and is we'll known for the courte-
Gus treatment which it extends to represent
atives OF the foreign press. provided that
they are able 20 submit proper credentials
myself have furnished American newspaper
friends OF mine with letters OF introduction
TO representatives Of the press in Russia
and none of them has ever returned 10 me
with the experience that Miss Brush claims
TO have gone through. The story Of the
British general, who seemed 20 have gone 10
Russia as the representative of the King,
"a mentioned In Miss prush's article, is too
ridiculous 20 evoke more than smile OF
pity.
The custom OF tipping servants IN private
houses is not more pronot need in Russia
than in this country. and Miss Brush's state,
mcnt that one r,ust tip the man who take.
off your overshoes in private house be.
fore you are in = proper condition for wait
ing on your host is a falsehcod Miss Brush
further states that Russia has no system OF
bank checks This statement proves her
absolute lack Of knowledgc OF commercial
usage prevailing in Russia. We have in Rus
STA a bank system which 3; very similar TO
the one in this country and provides for the
disposition of business transactions, a well
established sysAsa - payment b. checks.