Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-12-02

become what in Russia is known as a
single f%abricator, or roofer. He a
also learned the Shoemaking trade,
that is the way of making shoes such
as are worn by the Russian peasants.
So he was not afraid of hard work,
but he admits that not until he found
himself sleeping With German pigs,
eating horse meat and cat sausage and
keeping On the jump in the field I'M
der a master who proposed to get eV-
erything possible out of him did he
learn to know the meaning of the
term.
During the four years he put in as
q serf he was prohibited from talking
with anyone not connected with the
farm. This made it impossible to get
word of his condition to relatives in
America. Furthermore it prevented
his learning the fate of his mother
and father, whom he had left in Rus
STA.
Information Became Meager.
All the information which came to
him flowed through the German farmer
and toward the end Of the wal it be-
came meager. This led Simon to be-
lieve that things were not going so
well with the German armies as at
first, and it caused him to brace up.
But he did not dare ask the farmer
anything about the war. That would
have started trouble, with the farmer
having a monopoly of the production.
So he waited and worked just hard
enough to keep out of danger.
AS the war drew to an end the ra-
ton of horse meat grew smaller. AT
last it ceased entirely. This reduced
him to a vegetarian diet, and even that
became limited. He learned to eat
raw vegetables at last, but even they
became scarce. Had the signing OF
the armistice beer deferred much
longer Hack would have attained the
proportions of a walking skeleton. The
signing of the armistice saved him.
One day the German farmer brought
him the trousers he had worn When M
arrived and his old belt. He was to!f
to get into them m then to get out
Simon was not averse to the chanS'
Of clothing, for he had worn the Ole
trousers supplied by the farmer dur
, ing the entire four years: neither wa
he averse to moving IN. He was read,
: to start at once. But before going II
thought it might be e%xpedient to hay
a settlement With the farmer. Their
was pay coming for As months at tn
rate of ten marks a month. or As
marks. He mentioned this TO tn
= farmer. The latter looked incredr
= lous. Could it he possible that tn
!, slave really was in earnest? Then II
= laughed. That VAS all Hack got OF
q of him.
Was Left Pennies.
! But Hack vas not discouraged. In
y German government had his 40 mark
He would get that ut Danzi@. So i
trotted off for the German city. 81
," there another disappointment awaite
him. The custodian of alien nroper'
- and cash in particular had no recol
of his As marks. This oversight
II housekeeping created a desperate stu
ton for Hack. He was penniless. |
did not even have the shelter he h;
y shared with the German pigs. me
d was not oven horse meat to cat.
N In this extremity he found a frien
ne II who looked after hin until q K
IL fer could be sent TO his brother in M
York. telling of his situation. WI
the return mail came exchange I
10 c4On aud w,nrh 10 come to A,G@r.c@.'
III Now he is in West Chesrer'W:th T
RI cousin. Harry Soigel, a tailor. lie Il
rs arranged TO return to his tlrSt IRA
he as a shoemaker. Only he again fac
u the necessity of starting all oVe&
al cause where he learned the Sh0c'n;
as ing trade everybody wore pcgg
shoes. while such q thing hos not ="
he seen in West Chester within half
ld- century.
ge But he is not in the least disco
M agpl at the prospect and tellS
us through an interpretation he has
re- still further task before him OF lea
as ing the English language-that he v
If become a frst-class shoemaker.
ge- Incidentally he has not heard II
M his parents in Russia in o II yes
vas Eventually they were driven out
their old home. He believes. hoWe'
in they are living and he is now try
'pi- to get in communication with then
But lot them know he is finally free
Germany and has no intention OF e
18th seeing that il|-fated country AGAIN.