The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-17
.UNSPEAKABLE LIFE
IS LED BY WOMEN
IN SOVIET RUSSIA
Mrs. Phillip Snowden, Noted
English Suffragist, Tells Of
Conditions in Russia of
Today.

LONDON Aug. IT. (By international
News Service -"Life for women In
Soviet u Nh Russia ps, Is gnspeaEably 6aTd
glish suffragist and wife Of the former
labor member of parliament, who has
just returned from Russia, where she
went as one Of two women members Of
che British labor party's delegation.
There is no public criticism of
communist principles or policies" she
eaiO. Those who crlticise are classed
es Counter-revolutlonari and the ex--
eraoFdtnarV commission takes, care of
them. The communists thought to use
as as prOpagandists ana arranged de-
Snonstfations az which we were adver-
Nised 60 speak.
1.-THE Bolsheviki nave convinced the
people chat both Great Britain and
the United States are on the verge of
revolutions. ] took every opportunity
20 tell the people how they had been
tnisleA Bolshevik officials did not like
it, but the applause from the people was
surprising"
Speaking of women and conditions
generally, Mrs. .Snowden said:
II got first-hand information about
was unable to learn where she was
from, or whom she represented. but
her name is Mrs. Harrison. She had
been held in Russia for three years
until after the war is over. She is
not in prison, but is covered care
fully by spy;
-" Emma pn1rs o Goldman compared With tn
mildness. She is very unhappy and
is utterly out of sympathy with the
communist administration; its rightly
is alien to her principles. She is spend
ing, her. time looking out for the com
fort and interests of the other deportees
and quarreling with the Bolsheviki.
Their treatment of the anarchists has
made her. very bitter.
The theaters are one bright spot.
ment takes of children is another.
Country houses have been turned in
to centers for the little ones, and
they are well cared for. I never saw
a miserable child all the time was
in Russia.
But life for women is unspeakably
hard. Every woman whose services
are. not. absolutely essential at home
THAT bos is stu to say every woman who
scripted to work in the fields or fac
. tories. In addition to this work,
they, still have to care for their
homes-to stand in long queues, for
fires without firewood. They have no
clothes except what they have had for
years: There are no styles in Petro-
grad later than 1914. The efforts which
are pathetic. When was in Petrograd
honor of distinguished poet. One Of
the lady guests wore a cloak of sable
which was simply priceless, but her
toes were coming through her shoes.
II saw almost no young people on
the streets of Russia. The girls, they
told me, were all at work in factories,
and the boys were at the front. But
learned that many If the girls were
at the front, as well. I myself saw
at least fifty women, who were volun-
teers, serving in the ranks of the
Red army. Some wore no uniforms at
albany kind Of clothes they could
The Bolshevik. administration, as
l saw 1t, is neither democratic nor
socialist. 1t is a merciless war ma
chine. And the people are supporting
patriotic and fear that division may
mean conquest from an outside foe,
and second. because they do not care
to oppose 1t.
Il found nothing in the rumor that
women had been nationalzed. There
is absolutely free divorce. In the
United States. if both parties wish a
divorce that Is an almost certain bar
collision. In Russia that is the only
reason which need be given. But If
only one party desires a divorce the
couple are put on probation for three
reconsider and patch it up Then, if
one still remains dissatisfied, the di-
Vorce is granted.
Russian women still find consola-
tloa in religion. The reports that the
churches had been closed by the Boil
sheyiki and the ikons and ornaments
confiscated were untrue. It is true
that the soviet cover nBnent has for
hidden the use of the word God in
the public schools and that the
church is no longer under the con-
troll and protection of the state, as
privileged institution.
II found that Russian women, like
English and American women, were
chiefly interested in education, child
welfare, and those matters of public
interest which affect the home.
found them divided politically, but
silent when they held views in oppo-
sition to the government, because
the country was at war. Until Russia
IL again open to the trade of the
world and at peace with her enemies
no one will know how Russian women
really feel about Bolshevism."