Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-12-24

IAoiiahu' III L. "A. Goluer, proml-
nent faculty member here last year.
tells of his travels in Finland and of
his future plans
DR.. Golder's letter follows:
Helsingfors, Finland,
October 81, 1920.
My dear friend:
] reached here last evening after
hard aud long voyage from Riga.
There are no sleepers and the ordi-
nary passenger coaches are not heat
ed and DOT lighted. Those who can.
bring rugs and a candle to protect
them from the cold and to light.
them. For some reason or other the
trains go at night rather than in the
day time.
After more difficulty I found the
American Red Cross quarters and a
bed. The following night l took the
Esthonian train for Reval When l
started l thought l was we'll pro-
vided with clothing, but | nearly
troze that night in the cold train.
The situation in these countries
is not very cheerful. There is
much poverty and sickness; the
shop windows are filled with all
kinds of precious things which are
being left there to be sold on com
mission so as to secure money for
food. Paper money there is in great
abundance, but it does not buy much
from abroad and it is things from
abroad that these people need. One
American dollar will buy 70 Ger
man marks; 70 German marks will
buy 100 Lettish rubles, and 100 L.
+. will buy 800 Esthonian marks,
and 800 E, M. will buy 10000 Rus
sian rubles and 10000 r. r. will
buy about a half pound of bread
For Americans with American mo-
ney, living is very cheap in this
Baltic country Except Finland)
The other day l had three meals in
hotel and they cost me about 80
cents in our money.
In spite of some of the hardships
l find my work very interesting.
There is so much to learn. Even
during the two hard nights of travel
! learned much from my companions
III misery. The most painful part
of my work and travel is to come in
contact with people who suffer, es-
pecially those who once enjoyed
plenty. Some of them have not
clothing for going out on the street
in the day time and have not food
to keep the body healthy.
Dreadful stories are coming from
Bolshevik Russia. This afternoon l
learned the sad fate of very dear
friend of mine, Russian professor,
honored with an honorary degree by
the University of Cambridge. He
died two years ago from disease and
hunger; one of his sons has disap-
peared and no one knows where the
widow is. One feels so helpless and
discouraged for there is so little that
one can do.
In day or two l shall leave here
for the interior of Finland to make
some searches and researches, and
on my return will gradually retrace
my steps to Berlin, Paris, and Lon
don Expect to spend Christmas in
one of these cities. After January
/, l plan to go into the Mediterran-
can and Black Sea regions and re-
main there until the late spring In
all likelihood l will be in the Scandi
navian and Baltic countries next
summer.
1t seems such a long time since I
left America, but if counted in
weeks it is only seven. My mind
wanders back very often to the west
and to my friends there and my
heart wishes that l were with them.
When this shall have reached you
another football season shall have
come and passed, and even such
minor affair as a presidential cleo
ton shall have become an historical
event When | return we will have
to swap experiences and stories.
Please remember me most kindly
to the members of your family and
to my friends who are kind enough
to inquire. Greet the students and
faculty for me and tell them that
always wish them we'll.
May you have an enjoyable
Thanksgiving and a merry Christ
mas.
Cordially,
F. A. COLDER.