The Washington times., 1921-02-03
mrs. SHERIDAN.
TELLS OF REDS.
English Woman Who Made
Busts Of lenin and Trotzky
Arrives In U. S.

NEW YORK, Feb. 3.-Mrs' Siaio
Sheridan, the English artist who
spent a month modelling busts OF
Lenin and Trotzky, has arrived
with the finished portraits in bronze
of the two Soviet leaders. She Is
here to lecture about her month In
Moscow.
THINKS VANDERBILT A TOOL.
Mrs. Sheridan talked interestingly
of Lenin, Trotzky, Wells, Washington
B. Vanderlip. the late John Reed and
others whom she saw In Moscow dur
ing the month in which the two lead
ing figures OF Bolshevist Russia sat
for her.
From what she heard and saw Mrs.
Sheridan was convinced that Wash
ington B. Vanderlip allowed himself
to be made the unconscious tool OF
Lenin. The paper grant of vast 81
berian concessions to Vanderlip was
a device, in her opinion. to scare the
British Government into trade rela-
tions with Soviet Russia. Lenin also
made use Of ii. G.. Wells. she said, In
furtherance OF his scheme to frighten
British commercial interests with the
picture OF an American Russian com
mercial entente.
LENIN PLAYED HIM TO WIN.
Vanderlip. she said. sought to guard
against England. so Lenin told the
the secret OF his concessions. This
did not suit the purposes Of Lenin.
who wished to play the United States
story of the Vanderlip Siberian grant
to Wells, that the news might be
broken to the British people.
"While i was in Moscow l learned
from an absolutely reliable author
ity," she said. that, when Leuin was
telling this to Wells, another member
of the Soviet Government interrupted
to say:
care you not indiscreetr"
Lenin looked up calmly and replied:
mo. am not indiscreet." A few
days later the news OF a concession
on a scale almost unknown since the
days of Ferdinand and Isabella burst
on the world.
Mrs. Sheridan was reluctant to
speak of John Reed. for fear of Of
Tending some of those who cherish
his memory, but she was induced to
tell OF him on the plea that he was
public character whose name had
passed into the history or "mythol-
ogy" of Soviet Russia
"The truth Is that he was not taken
seriously in Moscow" she said. "He
"
members of the Government. Pos
sibly his manner was too iippant. At
any rate, he failed to gain their con-
fidence or make a deep impression
there"
HAS A GIRLIsH PRESENCE.
Others passengers on the Aquitania
who met the young woman on the
voyage were surprised to learn that
l. NJ L. h a
become a celebrity overnight by the
publication Of her diary. This was
due to the impression she makes at
first glance, an impression which she,
as a professional woman, deplores.
She has the complexion of a girl In
the teens and a debutante type OF
countenance, no more presaging wit.
artistic talent and literary power
than does the average magazine
cover face.
ut has been my greatest handicap
all through my career" she said,
speaking OF her childlike appearance,
but it did me good service in Mos
COW in a way. At least, l did not
look like a spy. or like one that would
bother her head much about politics"
1t is not only in her writing and
aculpture that Mrs. Sheridan over
comes the handicap" OF this impress
sion of immaturity and helplessness.
On the pier. the versatile sculptress
dragged with one hand huge and
heavy trunks full of bronze states
mems heads and other things. dis
tancing professional porters and
scorning offers of assistance. She had
got used to heavy porterage in handling
her precious things on the way
out of Russia
She was accompanied on the voyage
by her five-year-old son, Richard
Brinsley Sheridan, the great-great-
great-grandson of the author OF The
School for Scandal" and the great
great-great-great-gr of the
famous Tom Sheridan. the vfndictive
and irreconcilabIe enemy Of DR.. John
son. The boy Is also a descendant of
John Lothrop Motley on the side OF
his father, now dead.
MET BY MAXINE ELLIOTT.
Another woman of slender figure,
considerably Handicapped" by an i'm
preston of extreme youth, boarded
the Aquitania on It's arrival, tripped
lightly up the main companionway
and kissed her. This was Maxine FL
lott
Mrs. Sheridan was surprised to find
out that she had been whispered
about on the ship as Soviet propa-
gandist and that similar things had
been rumored on shore She said she
had only been accused of being a
propagandist on one occasion before
this trip and this was by an American
diplomatic officer, who said the fact
that she had not been imprisoned and
executed in Moscow raised pre-
sumption against her.
Il hate and loathe the word propa-
ganda," she said Il am an artist
only and have nothing to do with
politics. The only reason that 1 am
here today is that l did my own work
and did not mix in politics"
Mrs. Sheridan got her chance to go
to Moscow for the Lenin and Trotzky
portraits through Kamenen, mem.
Der of the Soviet mission to England,
who sat for her in London. She said
the suggestion came from him. Re-
garding II as unique opportunity
for an artist. she leaped at the chance.
Not a single portrait, she said, had
been made during the French Revolu-
tion of any Of it's great actors. Speak
IN ~ bor rorepfion bv the BOlsheyiet