The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-14

 dn the midst of an impassioned ad dress to 15O prominent Americans at the Henry street settlement here the other day to embrace and kiss George Kennan, the author and explorer, who came in unexpectedly upon the gathering, 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, MT. Kennan today related with great viv- idness and sympathy that phase of lhis expose of the Russian prison hor- TOTS and the exile which, in 1885 brought him in touch with ''Babushka," then a political prisoner In a little ! burat or village called Selenginsk in the most desolate part of the Trans BaikaI "She was the only civilized, educa- ted woman within radius of 300 miles,, said MT. Kennan. "She made l a. very deep impression upon me as d woman of heroic character, great for titude and indominable cheerfulness. I never expected to see her again when I left her that day in 1885 be- cause 1t 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.
 Tt didn't seem possible that a wo- man could live under such horrors The severity of the treatment proved ] fatal to thousands of the most rug ged men. And so, when I bade Mme Breshkovsky goodbye 1t was with the saddest m1Sgiving. Her last words to me were: MT. Kennan, we may die in exile and our children may die in exile and our childrens children may die in exile-but something will come of it at last
 50 you will understand that when, after the lapse of so many years, saw 'Babushka' alive and we'll here strong, courageous and determined as ever in spite of her 75 years-you will understand when I say that our meeting was one of the most dra- matic experiences in my life.
 ''I had gone to Russia on a secret mission and while I was there Mime. Rreshkovsky made one of her at- tempts to escape from Siberia and. disguised as a man. did succeed in travelling 400 miles, almost to IT. kutsk, before she was recaptured.
 During my three years residence Jo At Dol times and always she was the same cheerful, unconquerable spirit On my last visit to her, to which I already have referred, she was exiled in the most northerly part of Siberia with in the Arctic Circle, and lived alone in 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 was on my way to another convict settlement where HBabushka' had friends fellow revo- lutdonaries. She wanted me to take 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 g. little Ted feather duster. I delivered all oi these mementoes
 At intervals, thereafter, I cores ponded with Mns Breshl1ovsky and together with other Americans. sen her books, magazines, clothing anc food. Finally, after spending 2t 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 tc America where she made the ac auaintance of Miss Alice Stone Black well of Boston, and others who learn ed to love her and aid her work
 Returning to Russia with Nicholas Tchaykovsky, another revolutionar, socialist, both were thrown into cell in the Fortress of St. Peter and St Raul where, for two years, she wa immured as in a tomb. Then sh, was sent to Kirinsl, in Eastern Si beria. The charge against her wa attempting to overthrow the existiny government.
 ''She was never a terrorist, neve sympathized with bomb-throwing M hilists. She is an Intellectual social ist, made so by her abhorrence 0 6erfdom and her sympathy for th Russian Moujiks or peasants. Sh desired to ameliorate their hard life That Is why she is so uncompromis tngiy opposed to the Bolshev1l whom she has designated as tmur derers' of Russian freedom.
 ''The real revolutionary movemen in Russia began in 1878 and 1S7 when 2,000 or more persons 1ik Mime. BreshkovsI<y, opposed to tn autocracy of the czar. were throw into prison. All of them were free except 193 and the social upheavs started.
 The story Of 'Babushkas' repeat ed efforts to escape from captivit ing. The last dash she made for free dom was five years ago. Imagine woman TO years old still unbroke an mind and heart after so much al guish and torture, still mentally CT ergetio enough to devise a plan obtain her liberty. T love my pee ple' she has said and this though doubtless has helped to sustain he
 When Kerensky came into powe and Mime. Breshkovsky and othe exiles were freed in 1917 she can to Petrograd and was received as great national figure. After th downfall of Kerenslsy, for whol fBabushka had the highest regar being of the same political faitl