The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-29

the public square, which had been re-
moved by the Bolsheviks. On the oc-
casion of it's return to its place, great
crowds gathered in the streets, bands
played speeches were made, and the
priests marched thru the streets car
rying ikons.
Brings Ikon'Home.
Mrs. Thompson brought an ikon
with her. from Siberia. The Russians
pronounce the word as if it were
spelled e-con-e. Il is the image of a
saint, set in a deep frame. with glass
doors before it. There are ikons as
innumerable as there are patron
saintSJ and they may occasionally be
purchased, sometimes because some
family to whom the ikon belonged is
in straitened circumstances.
The ikon plays quite an important
part, evidently in the domestic life of
family. Mrs. Thompson described a
wedding that she saw in Vladivostok
to a Journal reporter. '"They have
feasting, and do lot of things that
are unintelligibIe to the layman." she
said. "Then finally a small choir boy
brings the ikon-which in this case is
st. Nicholas, patron saint of Decem-
Der, and the bride and groom kiss it
in turn. Then they take the ikon home
with them and a piece of the bride
veil and some of the orange blossoms
she has worn, are put in the frame
with the ikon; and the ikon becomes a
couple. being taken with them where
| ever they may chance to 60"
Funerals in Russia.
Nothing, Mrs. Thompson says, de-
termines the state of family finances
| like a funeral. The richer the person,
| the more horses are used IN the fu-
neral procession. The body of the
deceased is not enclosed as the parade
goes thru the streets, but can be plain
| " seen, with the hands folded across
| the chest. With the rich, the body is
placed on q much bedecked float. with
| all kinds of fancy, fluttering stream
ers, hauled by horses. There may be
| twenty or thirty or more horses in
| front of the vehicle, if the person is
| one of importance-which means,
wealth. The mourners walk behind
| the hearse, whether rich or poor.
| Those who cannot afford horses.
carry their own dead. The Russian
Jew. in addition to the horses, has
| huge banners, bearing sacred inscrip-
tons, which precede the procession.
A Child's Funeral.
| 'I was going along the street one
| day." Mrs. Thompson related, and
| was about to cross the street when l
| down, 1 saw that there was a pitiful
| little funeral procession passing 1t
| was the body of a child. with poor,
| pinched little face. and skinny little
| hands crossed on the breast. II was
| living on a board. carried by four
| young women. with few stragglers
| behind. 1t was sight which haunted
me for days"
| Before Mrs. Thompson left Nladi-
vostok the Red Cross was caring for
large numbers of refugees who had
| been driven from their homes in the
interior of Siberia by the Bolsheviki
| The conditions under which the ref
! ugees were trying to live were pitiful
| in the extreme. Mrs Thompson says.
| Dozens of families-and there is no
race suicide in Siberia-with their
household pets, were living in hoX
| cars. and raising chickens, as well.
Took Care of Refugees.
The hills around Nladivostok are
dotted with barracks erected after the
| Observation-Disclosures war. These lar
racks were cleaned ard made habit
able, and the refugees housed in them
| in some measure of comfort. The
| Red Cross esta blished sewing rooms,
placing competent women in charge
and the refugees were paid to sew on
much needed garments. In this way
they were clothed and made to feel
| Independent as we'll.
| Mrs. Thompson did not leave
! Vladivostok any too soon to please her
1 family. since the town where the Ca
{nadians were so horribly maltreated a
short time ago by the Bolsheviki is
Ionly five miles from Nladivostok.