The Republican journal., 1917-07-12
A Lecture on Russia.

Alarge audience was present at the Uni
tartan church last Friday evening to lister
to a lecture on Russia by Prof. Roscoe J.
Ham OF bowdoin college. The church was
decorated with large flag in a standard
at the right of the pulpit, jardinere Of
peonies on the communion table and on
either side were bouquets of peonies and
syrlngas. Mrs. Horace Chenery was in
charge of the decorations. Messrs. M.
L. Slugg, c. B. Holmes, l. T. Dinsmore
and W. H. Hall ushered. Mrs C. E,
Read played the voluntary and postlude.
just before the lecture she PLAYED The
Star Spangled Banner and at the close
America, the audience standing for both
selections. Prof. Ham was introduced
by Rev. Arthur E. Wilson, pastor of the
Unitarian church. When war was de-
clared between Germany and Russia the
| care of German subjects in Russia was
assigned to the American embassy, as
this country was then a neutral nation.
Prof. Ham, teacher of German at Bow
doin, was employed for some time as an
agent for this embassy and his remarks
were based on his experiences while
in this wonderful country. July 4,
1916, he was on an English ship and
with other Americans celebrated the day
by reading the Declaration of Independ-
ence, singing Yankee Doodle, etc. He
spoke of Norway, Sweden, Finland and
the trip through Scandinavia, which
country he described as being very much
like Maine. Russia in general is antique
Her people are suspicious of Americans.
In many instances German prisoners of
means were boarding in Russian families
and their relations seemed most agree
able. 10 gain even hearing with the
Russian police government it was nnces-
sary to entertain their officials at dinner
Russia is in the 18th century and bribe
taking and grating has been developed
to such an extent that some of our large
American cities are kindergartens in COM
parison. Russians as whole are good
natured and fine looking. Their customs
are as diversified as our own and their
dress picturesque. They are emotional
and sympathetic in the extreme. Their
army leaders are incapable and it is said
that every general at the front has his
price and would sell his country if oppor-
tunity offered. He vividly described Petro-
grad with its two million people as COM
monplace and without any beautiful build
ings. Russia's cities and towns are laid out
in checkerboard style, without any real
beauty. He spoke of the lack of water
for personal use and for fire purposes.
About three-fourths of her real business
is in the hands of Germans The German
nation is like a great tree whose roots
have penetrated the Russian country in
every particular. He named several
American inventions that are seen all
| over Russia, such as the National Cash
Register, etc. What Russia will be at
the close of the war is difficult to predict,
for she is now with scant food supply
and hampered in many ways, seeking
peace with Germany without annexation
and without indemnity. She is not an il
literate country, but she has no compul-
sorry education laws. She has many clear
thinkers who are well Informed, they are
looking forward, not backward. They
have high ideals. War has relieved Rus
sia of the imperial disease and it is hoped
it may be eradicated from Germany, that
she may no longer be led about by the
nose. In caring for the German prison.
ers most of the Embassy's information
as to their needs, etc, was derived from
Berlin, where it was obtained from pris-
! oners escaped from Russia and from Rus
sian spies hired by the German govern
ment. In some instances this informa-
tion seemed almost uncanny, it proved to
be SO minute and accurate. The work of
the American embassy and its agents
was arduous as the amount of money al
lowed by the German and Austrian gov
ernments was not sufficient to relieve the
suffering and mortality especially in the
winter season. Thousands of these pris-
oners are kept in complete idleness and
thus tends only to corruption of princi-
pies and destruction of body and mind
The American embassy sought to estab-
lish schools and public kitchens, thei1
greatest needs. He described the work ot
the Red Cross in Russia and dwelt upon
its needs of an enormous amount of sup
plies and money. Prof. Ham has been a
close student of the German press and
has interviewed many German subjects
and predicted that this is her last drive
and that the war will end by next Christ
mas. At the close Of the lecture a col
lection of $42.06 was taken. S35. 81 was
presented the local REQ Cross Auxiliary
Prof. Ham gave his services for this pur-
pose. Mrs Eugene L. Stevens, who en-
tertained Prof. Ham, her cousin, and had
charge of all the arrangements wishes to
thank all who assisted in any way partic-
ularly those who contributed generously
for the collection.
WEDDING; BELLS.