The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-03-07
DauntleSS Woman Is
Madam B~reShkOvSky
George KEENAN,, Writer Tells OF Won
derful Career Of Russian Leader
Who Has Suffered Much For Rus
sian People

NEW YORK, Feb. 11-(Associated
Press Correspondence)-When Nine.
Catherine Breshkovsky, a"ffectionately
known to millions of Russians as
"Babushka, or the little grandmother
of the Russian revolution" stopped in
the midst of an impassioned address
to $50 prominent Americans at the
Henry street settlement here the 9th
er day to embrace and kiss George
Kenan, the author and explorer, who
came in Unexpectedly upon the gath
ering, there remained to be told the
story of a remarkable friendship that
began 35 years ago in the wilds of
Siberia.
Seated before a log fire in his home
on FIFTH Avenue overlooking the
gaunt trees of Central Park, Mr.. Ken
nan today related with great vivid
ness and sympathy that phase of his
expose of the Russian prison horrors
and the exile which, in 1885 brought
him in touch with "Babuska," then a
political prisoner in a little burat or
village called Selenginsk in the most
desolate part of the Trans-Baikal.
"She was the only civilized, edu-
Gated woman within a radius of 300
miles, said Mr.. KEENAN,. "She made
a very deep impression upon me as a
woman of heroic character, great
fortitude and indominable cheerful
ness. l never expected to see her
again when l left her that day in
1885 because it seemed probable that
she would die in exile. Already she
had spent four years of her life in
the mines at Kara, Eastern Siberia,
where political offenders were sub
jected to the most rigorous punish
ment, starved, and cruelty beaten by
armed criminals of the Black Hun
dred' engaged by cZardom to destroy
all those who opposed autocracy.
1T didn't seem possible thai a
woman could live under such horrors.
The severity of the treatment proved
fatal to thousands of the most rugged
men. And so, when | babe Nine.
Breshkovsky goodbye it was with the
saddest misgiving. Her last words to
me were: Mr.. KEENAN,, we may die
in exile and our children may die in
exile and our children's children may
die in exile-but something will come
of it at last
$50 you will understand that when
ullO1 lliG ldDSt VI ~ hiuiN NNoiS, L
saw 'Babushka' alive and well here
strong, courageous and determined as
ever in spite of her rs years-you
will understand when / say hat our
meeting was one of the most drama
tic experiences in my life.
Il had gone to Russia on a secret
mission and while | was there Nine.
Breshkovsky made one of her at
| 1D,1, a 4. 10 nrnnrn f,,ntN, Sihntin and
| disguised as a man, did succeed in
travelling 400 miles, almost to Irku-
tsk, before she was recaptured.
During my three years residence
in Russia l met 'Babushka' several
times and always she was the same
cheerful, unconquerable spirit. On
my last visit to her, to which I al
ready have referred, she was eXiled
in the most northerly part of Siberia
within the Arctic Circle, and lived
alone in a log hut destitute of the
barest comforts. Day and night she
was guarded by armed police and had
food only sufficient to keep her alive.
"At this time l was on my way to
another convict settlement where
Babushka' had friends, fellow revolu-
tionaries. She wanted me to a k a
few gifts and from her scanty store
of personal belongings pathetically
gave me small articles to express her
love for her companions in misery.
One of these tokens was a little red
feather buster. l delivered all OF
these mementoes.
"At intervals, thereafter, | cores
ponded with Nine. Breshkovsky and,
together with other Americans, sent
her books, magazines, clothing and
food. Finally, after spending 70
years in prison and exile, 'Babushka'
was freed. This was after the at
tempted revolution of 1905 when she
was permitted to return to European
Russia. Subsequently she came to
America where she made the ac-
uuaintance of Miss Alice Stone Black
well of Boston, and others who learn
ed to love her and aid her work.
Returning to Russia with Nicho-
las Tchaykovsky, another revolution
airy socialist, both were thrown into
cells in the Fortress of st. Peter and
st. Paul where, for two years, she
was immured as in a tomb. Then
she was sent to Kirinsk, in Eastern
Siberia. The charge against her was
attempting to overthrow the existing
government.
she was never a terrorist, never
sympathized with mountaineering Nj
hilists. She is an intellectual social
list, made so by her adherence or
serfdom and her sympathy for the
RUSSIAN moujiks o. peasants. She
desired to ameliorate their hard life.
That is why she is so uncompromis-
ingly opposed to the Bolsheviki whom
she has designated as 'murderers' OF
Russian freedom.
1.-THE real revolutionary movement
in Russia began in 1878 and 1879
when 1000 or more persons like Nine
Breshkovsky, opposed to the auto
cracy of the czar, were thrown into
prison. All of them were freed eX-
cept 1913 and the social upheaval
started.
"The story of Babushka's' repeat