New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-17
Friends Here Rejoice for
"Baboushka," 74-Year-
Old Patriot
Woman Dehed Gear
Called on Peasants TO Right
Wrongs of Years by
Great Revolution

In her Siberian exile, "Baboushks,
the little grandmother" OF the Rus
sian revolutionlsts, would have re-
joiced yesterday if she could have
known of the success OF her lifelong
dream. Her friends here in New York
were celebrating for this seventy-four-
year-old woman, who IS perhaps tne
best loved of all who have suffered for
the great cause of Russian freedom.
"Now Baboushka will be freed was
the first thought Of thousands OF
Americans when the news Of the reVo-
luton came. The little grandmother
had made them travel the long road 10
Siberia with her, through the pictures
she drew of its terrors when she VS.
tied New York in 1905.
Russian music was heard at the
Henry Street Settlement House. II
was here that Catherine BreshkoVskaya
had been most at home while she was
in New York, and the oid-tashioned
rooms still seemed to reflect the spirit
of the intrepid old woman, frst I'M
prisoned in her girlhood. and never Tor
a moment since ceasing TO fight for the
liberty of her people.
Wonderful News" Says One
at is wonderful news to u.s." said
Miss Lillian Valid, head of the settle
ment. "Baboushka" had written con.
stantly TO her dear. noble Lillian" OF
her undaunted dreams for rightlng the
wiorgs of the peasants through great
revolution.
Il am an old mother who would
serve every one of them" she wrote
Miss Wald Of the Siberian prisoners,
after she had been banished 10
Yakoutsk. Siberia, after many years at
Firensk. 81 aid, ] grumble, ! sustain
/ hear confessions, blu this Is drop
in the ocean of misery"
The walls of Henry Street yesterday
seemed TO listen to the retold stories
OF "Baboushka's" life. They heard
how. while still in her teens, and the
daughter of nobleman, she had gwen
her life up to lettering the conditions
Of the peasants, through trying to
awaken them TO realization OF their
rights. With 1000 others she had been
banished to Siberia. She was the only
woman ever put 10 work in the Kara
silver mines. Once she almost sue
cceded in escaping with three students
to the Pacific. a thousand miles away,
in order TO return through America to
Russia, to take up her WORK again
But she was recaptured, and set 10
work again in the mines.
Her term expired when she was
ffty-three years old, and 1t was under
rer leadership that the Socialisticc
Revolutionary party was born, and
through its teachings and its under
ground printing Offices spread its doc
times throughout Russia. Catherine
Breskovskaya worked, disguised as a
peasant, until a signed proclamation
was sent out that she and two other
leaders we're wanted by the govern
ment. She fed to Switzerland. and
shortly afterward visited the United
States, to arouse thousands to the
needs of her people.
"Persecuted and Beloved
"a remember going with her to re-
ception rendered her by her people
here" said Miss Wald. 81 have never
seen such enthusiasm as was offered
the little grandmother They shouted
until they were hoarse. They lifted her
from the floor and bore her over their
Leads to her chair"
"How happy | am; prosecuted, BAN
ished. and yet beloved" Baboushka
wrote Miss valid after she had returned
10 Russia. and after four years in tine
stone coffin" as the fortress of Peter
and Paul is known, had been sentenced
to Siberia again. -,
"If she is freed now, her JOY will
not be for herself. but for her people,
who have won liberty greater than a
release from exile" said Miss Wald.