Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-13


Josephine MarZynsk. the singer. re-
turned from the rrussian capital last
week. Hers WAS remarkable expert
ence and an extraordinary opportunity
to observe conditions. a little more
than eight weeks ago this slim and eS-
ceedinGly girlish young American made
her veritabie escape from the great
German metropolis. Only by the most
desperate and importunate efforts did
she obtain her passports. She brings
back vivid word picture of Berlin az
it is to-day--Erimly resigned to ter
rible priration and rcsolute1y deter
mined TO fight TO the end. Last week
the girl told me the story of that year
and n quarter in the depressing atmos-
phere of the stronghold of Kultur. Had
she forcSeen the vicissitudes she her
self had undergone or the awful suf-
fering she has Witnessed Josephine
Marzynski would never have left her
native city to finish the training of her
voice. AS she sat in the living-room OF
her home on Sunderland Street RoX
bury. the story unfolded itself like n
nightmare, despite the gayety OF an
American maiden that not even the
concentrated gloom and hate OF brood
ing Berlin could suppress
By JOSEPHINE MARZYNSKI.
do the Germans still believe that
they Will win the war; They do
she replied TO my first question. The
general feeling in Berlin is that our
allies are exhausted, and that de-
cisive blow will have been struck be-
fore we become factor on the western
front.
81 left Berlin just as reports from
Itolx
fensive, and Italy out of the war as u
result, and as reports from Russia
pointed to a peace that would insure
food for the starving people in Ger
many.
They were very, very confident of
the Russian peace, and il was regarded
as the solution of the food problem.
which is really the biggest one problem
now bothering Germany. Peace with
Russia was the lips of every one,
and It was always said with u smile
that implied food.
Food! You cannot imagine what tho
word means in Berlin. Morning, noon
and night the whole city talks food.
The topic is discussed more than the
war. Wherever you so you are greeted
with some sort OF comment on it's scar
Z.
And you simply cannot get food-as We
know food-!n Berlin and the larger
cities. In the smaller cities the short
age is much more cndurable.
"Now during my fifteen months there
Jlired with very wealthy people Had
] been dependent upon my own eff
forts and purse for food ] woull have
suffered even more than | did for the
want OF nourishing food. They were
able 10 obtain an occasional goose now
and then some eggs, and occasionally
some fruits vegetables, butter and
cheese in excess OF the regular rations
Poorer people who performed. hard
work were much better off in way
for the government saw to 1t that they
were allowed propor,ionately much
more OF the necessities of life.
ON the other hand. l knew personal
ly of tho case OF the family OF n
banker who was rich. Yet the family
was literally starving. and suffering
more privation than the family OF a
poor laborer. For they were seemingly
upable to connect with the under
ground source Aof foga that goes to
Berlin in excess Of the legal allowance
And their legal allowance was less than
that of poorer family
"UNDERGitoUHD" FOoD ROUTE
PROVES DECIDEDLY COSTLY
The underground food supply on
which the rich depended was naturally
costly in proportion to the risk the
farmers took in disposing OF it, Two
dollars pound for butter and $3.50 a
dozen for eggs gives you some idea
When first got into Berlin. by way
OF Holland, seventeen months ago II
was the usual thing for my musical
student associated to go to the various
hotels for o'clock tea and cakes. Lit
tie by little the size OF the cake-l'd
have been unable To eat ii before tn.
War--waS cut down. In early sprinc
last il was no longer served: in early
summer the o'clock tea was cut out.
To-day you cannot get either ten
or coffee, ard when q pound or two
gets into Berlin via the underground
II sells for between s. and $40 "A pound.
You must have heard what little
nourishment there is in the food OF
the people. The report has not been
exaggerated. was more fortunate
than the average Bcrlincr. and never
retired at night with my appetite sat
isfed.
Y 1T was so amusing Al the opera to
see the hungry ladies Of society.
dressed In their iinery and decked with
diamonds and conventional to the ey-
trexne, calmly eating sandwiches in
the boxes
~ Did you notice any signs that would
indicate German wenkneasea?" asked.
II did not" Miss Marzynski answered
And / mixed with set OF people who
surely would have known Of any
Tumors Of q breakdown in the war ma
chine. when they called out the boys
for field duty Berlin appreciated the
signiticance of the move in fun But
ty you must remember that Berlin be
iieves that our allies are worse OF:
for man power than Germany is.
land talk about giving comfort To
the enemy. Every uttcrance OF any
Englishmen. Trcnchman or American
in criticism or opposition Of the war
is published in fun. and is fairly de-
svoured by the Berliners. Lord North
cliffe's speech believe 4; was d.
fTected al LLOYD Georsc-was read with
the greatest g!ce.
:, II hoard many runors Of disanectior.