The Washington times., 1920-02-29


rxLLE. MARIA KoUsNEzoFF. one OF
MI the most beautiful and talented OF
Iva Russian opera singers. has escaped
from the Russian Bolsheviki' and reached
Paris after cruel sunerfings and an es'
traordinary series Of adventures.
The artist Is q warm admirer OF the late
Gar and the imperial family, from whom
she received many favors. and she makes
no pretence Of treating the present Boil
shevik and Soviet government with I'M
partially. Her experiences, as she de-
scribes them. are peculiarly interesting as
illustrating what may have happened 10
the many hundreds of refined women.
whether princesses. artists or members OF
wealthy families. who have been isolated
in unhappy Russia.
She is one who always enjoyed the good
things Of life to the full, and the. expert
ence of being deprived Of soap and neces'
sary changes Of clothing made her call
down every curse on the authors OF her
misery.
Never, perhaps, has young and beauti-
ful woman. once a spoiled darling of aris'
tocratic society, suffered such hardships.
experiences often so degrading that sne
feels It is not possible for her now to de-
scribe all Of them fully.
Mile. Kousnezon Is noted for the variety
of her talents She is q grand opera sing
er of high order, and is also very skilled
dancer of the modern Russian school, rank
ing with such artists as Anna Pavlowa'
karsayina and the 'Fokines. She is recog-
nzed as an actress OF distinction.
She Is we'll known in America, England
and other countries and has made favor
able impression there by her beauty,
charm and talent In Russia, before the
ravolution. she was one of the fayorite
artists OF the imperial family and aristo-
cratic society and had won a handsome
fortune by her art. Her diamonds were
remarkable, even amid the splendor OF the
grand ducal circle.
After eighteen months OF imprisonment
among the dreaded Bolsheviki this beau
tiful woman has made her way to Paris,
almost a wreck To your, correspondent
she described some OF her most remark
able experiences.
~ went back to Russia from America IN
1917" said Mile. Kousnezon. Il had prop
erty there and my interests required me 10
90 there. The Bolshevist movement was
already in control and conditions became
worse in Petrograd every day spent there.
"For eighteen months ] never Dad
satisfactory meal. Sometimes the food
WAS loathsome. Always there was some
thing lacking that was necessary to re-
past of civilization such as have always
enjoyed.
aDo you know what has given me most
Measure since I escaped from Russiat IL
is not safety, nor missing the constant
sight and sound Of bloodshed, nor even
freedom. Il is the taste of real bread.
81 lived on bread for two weeks after
going out of Russia. To-day. when pass
a bakery in Paris, cannot help stopping
m look at the beautiful golden loaves In
the window.
'fThere is only one store open In Petro-
srad. Most purchases are made In the
streets When you have bought something
10 eat Il Is likely to be taken away from
YOU by force before you reach home;
Those who have things to sell have usu'
aIly stolen them from some one else, This
ia especially true In the matter OF shoes,
which have become rarer than diamonds
In Russia. .<l
"My street shoes we're completely worn
through anu IL was ,lInpOsSipie w ivy ="
new pair at any price Accustomed 10
plenty OF shoes ell my life, had never
thought OF the Inconvenience OF going
without them. After ] had suffered great
ly, made a bargain with a street ped
dler to buy pair OF old shoes for thou
sand rubles.
"They we're shocking looking pair
that. might have belonged TO a scrub
woman, but they had a fairly solid pair OF
soles. On my way home was waylaid by
two fierce AmaIons who threw me down,
removed my new shoes from my feet and
even stole the remnants OF my old ones
from my hands They left me to walk
home In my bare feet. Later I bought
another pair and concealed them more
carefully.
II found that II was dangerous to ap
pear in any article OF apparel such a. .
woman of refinement is expected to wear
In other lands. During the FIRST week OF
my stay in Petrograd my lingerie, which
was trimmed with very valuable lace, was
taken from me by a band OF desperate