The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1919-02-15
HOW SOLDIERS
ENJOY LIFE IN
VLADIVOST0K

Press Correspondence - Canadian
and British soldiers who have seer
service in France have one especial
complaint to make of the Siberian
campaign-there is no "Blighty" at
tached to it. The soldier on leave can
not reach London in a few hours at
an expenditure of little or nothing
Japan is thirty hours away, and the
fare to Yokohama is some $50, and
even then the respite-seeker is in a
strange land. For his amusement the
officer or private in Siberia is thrown
much upon his own resources aid
must Give off the country"
The English families of
Vladivostok have been extremely kind
to the troops, throwing their homes
open frequently to both officers and
other ranks, and each week there is
at least one concert arranged at the
barracks of the various units of the
Y. M. c.. A. or other agency. One
British unit has concert party that
would scarcely be beaten on the regu-
lar vaudeville circuits, while the Czech
force possesses an orchestra Of some
fifty pieces made up of talented mu-
sicians and always ready to oblige.
The city itself holds attractions that
serve to pass the time away, at least
so long as they retain the virtue of
novelty.
Vladivostok was a gay town in i'm
perial days, just as any garrison town
is gay. Even yet, despite the sings
and arrows of outrageous fortune
there is circus, for instance, all the
time, to the delight of the Russian
youth. There are movies, too, al
though these are not as numerous as
in Canadian city of the size, and
theater, the Golden Horn, which pre-
sents pictures in the afternoon and
drama in the evening. Dances and
concerts are Of frequent occurrence,
and allied soldiers are always well
comed-if they have the price of ad-
mission.
The hand of the Anglo-Saxon is seen
in the remaining Of the Vladivostok
restaurants, which are here, as in all
Russian cities, important and we'll
patronized institutions Kokken's, one
Of the leading cafes on the main street,
Svetlaaskaya, has thus become the
Olympus. Other popular resorts are
the Aquarium, the Golden Anchor and
the Solitary Dog.
The Solitary Dog, from the point
OF view of etymology, deserves special
mention. Golden Horn is the strip
of water front that provides Vladivo-
stok with harbor, and the Russian
name for Golden Horn is Solitoi Rog.
In the Russian characters the "R" is
like the Roman "P," so 1t was emf
nently natural that the Golden Horn
cafe-the Solitoi Rog should become
Anglicized as the Solitary Dog. 1t is
a popular resort for officers for after
noon tea, for here everybody cult
Yates taste for the Russian "chei,"
served in glass with lemon and
sugar
The Russian knows how to eat, and
the cafes are full at any hour of the
day or night. All the hundred and |
one types of officers and civilians may
be studied at leisure from restaurant |
table, for one is never in a hurry
here. A quick lunch" house would |
be a dismal failure in Siberia. One
may rub shoulders with Russian gen.
erals bedecked with medals, with
Czech, French and Italian officers,
and there is always sure to be sprin-
king Of Canadians and Americans.
Some of the restaurants have taken
to printing their menus in Russian
and, English, but English study has
not yet advanced very far, and some
times it is less difficult to understand
the Russian version. Language diff
ficulties mar enjoyment somewhat, al
though there is sure to be somebody
in each place who understands French,
IL AOG 4IA6A4oAS uAu IAO oA6A 1du6 ud6c
will 60 far.
Making change is always a toll
some affair, and for the recipient of
he change, decidedly risky. Give
waiter a 4O-ruble note to pay for
neal and you receive in change a
mass of paper that ia we'll worth look
ng into. Interest coupons torn from
rarious domestic loan bond issues are
circulated as currency. They are good
+ they have reached the date of ma
urity, but If they are to mature next
ear or the year after they are worth
ess as currency. Many Canadians
ave now in their possession lunches
t coupons maturing In 1919, 1920 and
921. Even, the bonds themselves are
anded about as money. In fact, ev-
rything but real money may be OBJ
aimed. When the cashier at cafe
unable to make the proper change
9 gives you chit for the balance. =
his chit is accepted in payment for
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