Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-19
WEDS STRANGER
TOESCAPE REDS
But Pretty Russian Girl Met
Real Fiance Across
Frontier.
by HAL O,FLAHERTY.

BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News
Copyright. 1920.
HELSINGFORS. Finland. September
17.-After going through a mock mar
rage ceremony with a Swedish mer-
chant several weeks ago. in order to es-
cape with him from Petrograd. beau
tiful and extremely intelligent young
Russian girl is on her honeymoon
here with her real husband. John r.
Berks, an American who has spent most
of his life in Russia.
An engagement existed between
Berks and his bride before the revolu-
ton. two years ago, when he was forced
&c make a hasty exit from Petrograd
Since that time he has made many at
tempts to bring his fiancee across the
Finnish frontier, but in every case he
met with some obstacle that appeared
to threaten her safety. Finally, he met
a young Swede on his way to Pstro-
grad. and they fixed up the plan for a
soviet marriage just before the Swede
was to come out, and in this manner
to bring the girl with him.
4 had almost given up hope of get
ting across to Finland" said Mrs
Berke. in telling me her story. I'VE
had tried SO many times and had al
ways had to admit defeat. and then
last winter the police in Petrograd
found after a search of my mother S
fiat. 1t was addressed to Mr.. Berks
but contained nothing discriminating
Nevertheless, the police authorities or
dered me to appear before the ex-
traordinary commission to explain my
correspondence with man in Finland.
Marriage and Divorce Cheap.
Il was kept in Jail for nearly a week
and finally brought before the COM
mission to be questioned. I pretend
ed to be an empty-headed girl with
no interest in politics, and must ad-
init that I fiirted outrageous,y with
one OF the members OF the commits
sion. who smilingly urged that I be
released. After the others had grave
1y decided / was guilty of nothing
moro than a little romance, they let
me go. but after that I had to be
doubly watchful. for II they had found
any further correspondence it would
have meant a prison term for me.
THE appearance of the Swedish
merchant brought renewed hope, bu,
1t was several months before he COM
pleted the work he had to do in Rus
STA, and then We went to commits
sar, who has charge of issuing mar
riage licenses We were asked few
questions and paid the commissar %
rubles (nominaIly SO. though the
ruble has really almost no va1ue), fol
the license No marriage ceremony
was necessary. but had really mar
ried the Swede could have gone back
within tho next month and purchased
. divorce for 50 rub1es"
Miserable Living in Petrograd.
Az to life in Petrograd today. Mira
Berke paints q picture Of hunger and
despair. There 10 little food and OF
such poor quality that every one. ex.
cept those most favored by the soviet
officials, lives In continual want. The
shortage of tobacco has robbed the
people Of ono Of their greatest lux
uries and as q substitute many smoke
dried weeds. Even women Of tho bet
ter classes unb1uShing1y smoke dried
weeds in pipeaI For her work as Z
bank MrA BerkD received 5000 rublea
per month. hardly enough to buy food
for q week.
The chauneurs Of Petrograd are tn,
great men Of the new aristocracy
They sit In their machines idly mani
curing their nails and deigning occa
sionAlly to make short trip for Al
exorbtt1nt price The spirit they ge
to run their motors Is composed o.
gasoline. ether and alcohol Wher
drunk in small quantities 1t is very
intoxicating. It is called auto cog.
nae by the residents Of PetroErad
The ohauffeurs have waxed rich upor
their traffic in 1t. and are considered
excellent matches by the girls of the
city. Marriages to this class have
been 80 numerous that the girls are
dubbed "auto-brides."