Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-06
AD. McCuLLEY
GETS HIS SEVEN
RUSSIAN kIDDIES

order for the temporary admission to
the United States of the seven Rus
sian children he has tentatively
adopted, Rear Admiral Newton a.
McCulley, former American high
commissioner at Sebastopol. left to-
night for New York to get the chill
dren. now at Ellis Island, and bring,
them TO his Washington home. The
admiral said he would deposit inn
mediately the $4,000 bond required in
the case of each Of the children as
assurance that they will not become
public charges and will receive prop
er education.
Admiral McCulley plans to keep
the children at his home here until
their right to remain III the United
States has been fully established by
hearings before Labor department
officials. Afterwards he will take
item to his boyhood home in Ander-
son. S. c. to introduce them 10 his
mother, VIC will ASSUME temporarS
charge of the children While the Off
Ger is refurnishing and remodeliing
his Washington home for their per-
manent residence.
Asked if it was his intention for
mally to adopt the children. Admiral
McCulley said that such was his in
tention if there were no legal bar.
He had attended, he said. 10 all legal
matters in Russia in connection with
being given custody of the children.
including the obtaining OF necessary
papers from several Russian cities,
orphanages and government officials.
In two cases it was necessary to OBJ
tain the consent of one parent, the
officer said, but no difficulty was en-
countered because of the terrible
conditions in the region in which
the children were living and the dc
sire of the parents to obtain for
their children new chance in life in
the United States.
"TheSc children are but isolated
cases among hundreds and thousands
of similar ones said Admiral Nc
fCulley. Il did not carefully selec,
the seven but when came away
decided that ! should do something
and I took the first | came to. al
though in several cases had met the
children previously and had become
! attached to them There we're three
others I wanted to bring but one was
.tubercular and ! knew would not be
admitted to this country. In another
case the mother gave her consent to
my adopting the child and at the
last mombent withdrew it, and in the
third case the mother consented, say
ing she did not care what became of
the child, but the father refused to
part with it,"
Just what are your plans for the
future of the children" Admiral
McCuiley vas asked.
WELL" was the reply. being a
bachelor, you eau imagine that it
took me some time to get my nerve
up to go through with. this affair.
now that ] am started, like it bet
! ter every minute
The admiral said he had called a
family council to meet at Anderson.
and added:
II inps that my niece, who was ed
uCdiSu 81 SlIlLlI SoliCSc anu - id-
mirably qualified to direct their train
ing. will take over the big job of sup
plying the necessary feminine intlu-
cnce IN their lives, but because it is so
great a proposition 1 had rather her
, name nor pc mentioned until I have
her consent. She probably will ac-
cept.
'"It is my intention to give the chill
dren an ~all-around American educa-
ton. hope eventually that they
will combine all Of the good traits
of the American and all the good Of
the Russian. When they are old enough
and we'll enough educated I shall give
them the opportunity to return to
Russia. and If they care to stay there
in their own country that will be their
privilege. If not they will, OF course.
return to ME. I intend always TO re-
main father to them, although thus
far they haven't gotten to the point of
calling me by the paternal name. They
call me by the Russian equivalent OF
uncle and l am as well satisfied that
ii is that way for the present. for all
these swift Developments are rather
startling for bachelor who has spent
much of his life at sea-"
Admiral McCulley said that l2-year-
old Nikola; was found in the trenches
on the Wrangel front acting as sort of
q mascot to the soldiers. He was cov-
cred with vermin ana unbelievable
dirty, but boosted proudly of having
killed two Bolsheviki. The admiral
was not inclined to place much cred
ence in the youths account of his ex-
ploits.
Loudmiia Manetzkaya. an 11-year-
old girl, first caught the admiraIs at
tention when ne visited an orphanage
at Yelta. He was captivated by the
little girls smile and her charm of
manner. he said while Nina Furni-
nan, eight years old, he described as
very bright and cheerful" with cap
. able manner and great ability at look
ing after the other children. Eugene
Selifanova. 70. was mother" to the
party and looked after the other chill
dren very capably, the officer said He
indicated that it was his intention to
send Eugenia to girls school in this
country.
Admiral McCulley had been on duty
in Russian and nearby waters for five
years and upon his arrival today in
Washington conferred with Secretary
Daniels The secretary characterized
Admiral AIcCulley's decision to adopt
the children as the big act of a big
man with a big heart The admiral
is So years old.