The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-04-12
FORMER DUCHESSES
AND DUKES IN SQUALOR
ONE-TIME UPPER CRUST OF
RUSSIAN SOCIETY SUFFER
IN DIREST POVERTY.
NOW DOWN AND CUTTERS"
Barely Manage to Exc Out an Exist
ence on the Food Which Is Doled
Out to Them. Clothing Is in Tat
tiers. Work as Menials.

GIICG OH LllC GO00 AASAA -
Out to Them. Clothing Is in Tat
tiers. Work as Menials.
RAGUSA, observation-disclosures OF
the. late Car Nicholas, members OF
the upper crust of society OF imperial
Russia princes, dukes, generals and
barons, are living in squalor in camps
infested with typhus and typhoid here
and at Cattaro bay, on the Dalmatian
coast
Altogether they constitute group
of about 1900 of the refugees brought
out from the Crimea when Gen. Wran-
gels anti-bolshevik army collapsed
and who have since been scattered
about the Balkans.
Vestiges of their former imperial
grandeur peep out from their rags
when costly Jewels saved in their flight
from the bolshevists are brought out
from the recesses of the old bundles
composing their dirty, unkempt bag
gage. Princes, princesses and generals
sleep on hard cement floors and barely
manage to exist on the meager allow
ance of food doled out to them. Their
costly furs. once exuberant but now
scant. are worn almost hairless, show
the former riches of their owners:
The Associated Press correspondent
visited several barracks OF old forts
and airplane hangers where the Rus
slams are quartered Generals could be
seen in tatters waiting their turns Tor
rations and eating soup and stew out
of mess tins and then filling up on
black bread. Their uniforms carried
the insignia of imperial Russia with
strings of medals across their breasts.
Cossacks stood around in threadbare
regalia of the old regime, wearing d.
lapidated astrakhan hats and tunlcs IN
tended for British soldiers, while their
riding boots were torn and ragged
from long use.
Women Sell Jewels
The clothing of the women consist
ed of relics of better days. Some wore
riding boots. the last footwear lett
from what once had been an extensive
wardrobe. Some carried in their bag
gage Persian rugs, which they had
Ibeen able to save on their long pill
grimage. Once they become well
enough acquainted with visitor they
offer for sale such jewelry as they still
Dossess. so as to tide themselves over
! this period of distress. Some OF the
women had linen bearing the imperial
arms.
Prince Tehachkofsly, formerly own
er of several immense estates IN Rus
STA, considers himself the most lucky
of the refugees, for he has managed
to obtain a job tending bees, for which
| he receives the equivalent OF 40 cents
! a day. The only clothing he owns IS a
conva1escent's suit, shoes and under
wear issued by the American Red
! Cross.
Baron Won Goersten, who says he
was Gen. Wrangeps adjutant in the
Crimean campaign, has at Cattaro $Z,-
100000 worth of regimental silver
weighing several tons, but can do
nothing with it, as the Jugo-Slav gov
eminent refused to admit silver with
out paying a large duty, which the
baron is not able to do. So the silver.
remains at the custom house.
Baroness Nina Won Setachelberg in
sists upon keeping up appearances
and sews and knits for the American
Red Cross, for which she receives 50
cents a day. enabling her to rent
small room in hotel.
Maria Homiakof, daughter of the
former president of the Russian duma,
has an executive position with the
American Red Cross at 90 cents day,
as she speaks English. Col. Beylave-
netsi, formerly commandant of the
cars artillery school and wearer of
twenty decorations, is an Office man
for the American Red Cross at 90
cents a day He shows real enterprise,
for he is saving money and buying
tools to make dolls furniture and says
that within two months he will have
"a factory employing twenty persons.
Fight to Save Children.
In the majority of cases, however,
the former noblemen are untitled for
much except unskilled work The wo-
men are well fitted to become teachers
and nurses, but the present status OF
Tugo-Siavia is not such as to allow
so large a number to be absorbed.
Many of the Russian officers have sue
ceeded in joining the Jugo-Slav army.
Widows among the refugees are
fighting to save the lives of their chill
dren. Mime. Ruchloff, daughter of one
of the cars ministers and wife OF
colonel of the imperial guards who
was murdered by the bolshevists, is
making buttonholes in an effort to
keep up appearances and save herself
and children from starvation. The
American Red Cross is aiding her by
giving an allowance of milk, shoes,
a4r 10 har children