The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-06-09
REAL famine IN
SOVIET MOSCOW
Diary Of an American Friend
Discloses Conditions.
FOES THINNER AND GRAYER.

L uueubUevDBu 6NUvO Witt
Food Shortage Combined with Lac
| II Fuel for Transportation Ha
! ereuaht Hardship b Many Moscow
| cltlzens-Tsiis Of Meals at Wori,
ln0msn's Restaurant Streets Seen
70 Do Safe at Night and Thsrs Ar
No Reports Of Hoidupa
faces are bit thinner and grayel
In Moscow than they were three
months ago." writes Anna ]. Haines
Of Moorestown. N. j., In her diary
which has just been received In Phil.
adelphia by the American Friends
service committee at 20 South
18th street. Miss Haines Is their
representative in Moscow for Russian
relief work In cooperation with
Arthur ]. YATES, an English Friend.
The food shortage, she says, com
bined with lack Of fuel for transporta.
ton, has brought real famine condi-
tons to many Moscow citizens. Miss
Haines herself eats her breakfast on
her way to the Friends warehouse,
there being no means of preparing
food in her room and black bread re-
curing no preparation.
Dine at Workingmen's Restaurant.
At noon the two Quakers have
government permission to receive
dinner apiece at the Workingmen's
restaurant, which is run by the soviet
department Of supplies, in the vicinity
Of the warehouse. 1t Is a low-ceil.
inged, steamy room filled with oil
cloth covered tables and long benches,
where, on the presentation of a prop
er ticket, one receives tin bowl Of
soup containing a bit Of fish or meat
and a plate Of boiled buckwheat or
millet, creased with sunflower oil.
One must bring ones own fork and
spoon or eat with ones fingers. a pro-
cedure which Is not considered improp-
er there. She says that she and Mr..
Watts enjoy going to this restaurant,
as they meet all sorts Of people and
the food is really very good. They
are considered somewhat of curiosity
and somewhat Of a nuisance at the
restaurant because they invade the
Kitchen to wash their hands.
The warehouse is sealed every night
at o'clock, which Is closing time
The ceremony takes several people,
one holding candle, another melting
the wax, dampening the seal, etc. Final
ly the reconstruction star shines out
In uncracked purity Of line, which Is
supposed to guarantee that the sup
plies will be intact throughout the
night The workers then shake hands
with the manager and six or eight
Vorkmen and depart for the Savoy
,otel, where Arthur Wattes Is the guest
# the government-by his own wish
! paying guest. Ii
Supper at the Hotel.
Here the first task Is the collection
4 the materials for supper. Some Of
his comes from the hotel dining room
n the form of government rations,
ONE from caldron Of boiling water
which can usually be found in the SER
ice room Of the Savoy, and some from
he fast dwindling stores brought in
or private consumption by earlier
workers.. Miss Haines says her En-
lish colleague affects to scorn these
oothsome extras, but that she and her
'ussian aids make no pretense Of be-
lg above such luxuries, their only
nxiety being lest the next INSTALL
lent may not arrive by the time these
re gone.
While the dishes are being washed,
[r. Nuorteva. the assistant secrei airy
,r foreign affairs, usually strolls In
18th an apology for his lack Of col.
r and glad to accept a cup Of real
,ffee. He gives them a little for
gn news and perhaps some domestic
,ssip before he departs for his Of
e. The Russian foreign department
pes most of its work In the night,
J they say that fewer cranks bother
lem then. During the evening while
ock books and accounts are spread
1t on the table, various callers drop
/. First among them is a Tolstoyan,
light Of eye and eager to talk on
cry spiritual or intellectual subject.
I'd likely to stay till the lights 60
It. Then follow Red soldier COM
Ides, neutrality-suspicious., cal
rs from neighboring rooms in search
something and transient American
lsiness men. AT 1890 Miss Raines
lis the working day finished and
amps off through the dark snowy
reefs mile or more to Ner own
larters. She says that the streets
Moscow seem to be perfectly safe
night, as she hears Of no holdups. n
ever are the city's old towers and
Ills so picturesque as on starry
inter- evening. n