Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-07-18
TEMPE PERAMENT Of
81 A Y s H|NDERS
WORK OF RELIEF
Without a Thought for To-
morrow, They Live at the
Best Hotels While Their
Money Holds Out.

AOIloldllAillOPltB H1AJ -
Russian temperament is proving a
serious obstacle to American ana
other relief and charitable organi-
cations here. Individual Americans
trying to help Russian refugees Of
ten give up in despair.
The Russian may be described
as money blind. Thousands OF
Russian refugees arrived here with
plenty of gold money. fnrs. jewels
and portable values. Without
thought of the morrow, they lived
for a time in the best hotels until
the money was exhausted and the
valuables pawned.
Look to Americans.
Then the hotel proprietors asked
them to leave and they went cheer
fully to live in a squalid by-street,
not only expectant but confident
the Americans or some other good
souls would care for them. And
often it is done.
One of the tragedy-comedies OF
the foreign colony here is the story
Of the attempts Of a Russian gem
eral to get his seven daughters to
Paris. Dozens of persons have
spent much time and money In his
effort and so far three of the
daughters are here and starving.
The father has himself spent 75,-
600 francs trying. The general a
good and capable father, got him
self as far as Paris through the
kind offices of United States Con-
sui General Moser, then in Tiflis.
In Paris the father mortgaged
his estates for 100000 francs and
sent $4,000 francs TO his wife and
seven daughters to join him. They
got as far as Constantinople,
bought a lot of new dresses, at
tended the seasons dances, loaned
the rest of their money to needy
friends and asked father for more.
The general sent another $4,000
francs and after various difficult
ties, the mother and four of the
daughters departed. New loans and
expenditures made it impossible to
take three of the daughters. An
other $4,000 francs was sent to the
three daughters by the father
through a Russian general who
pocketed it, or thoughtlessly spent
it, and the daughters are still here,
their clothes held for board and
lodgings and they and their family
in Paris are cheerfully waiting un-
til the American relief organiza-
tions do something about 1t.
A certain baron, member of the
imperial guard, eleven times
wounded during the war, was all
but adopted by a Chicago dentist
who met him in Russia. The latter
arranged for his passage to the
United States, sent funds for trav-
ell and expenses and waited. The
handsome baron pocketed the
funds and turned up at the Amer
lean embassy within a few days
describing how his pocket had
been picked. A cable was sent the
dentist and fresh funds arrived
These funds were dissipated and
still the baron did not sail. He is
now waiting more funds from Chi
cago.
An American navy officer on
station here was told by his Rus
sian friends of their difficulties
with the cruel landlord who was
about to eject them. The officer
gave them the needed money and
was invited to dine with them. The
dinner was splendidly served in
cluding champagne. The landlord
had to renew his threats, but in
vain. The rent money had paid
for the dinner. -
Americans Love Russians.
All Americans here love the
Russians and do much to help
them, but those with experience
have ceased making heavy sacri-
fees to do so. The incurable op-
timism of the Russian leads him
to build air castles and into fool
ish acts that have to be paid for
in cold cash. When his optimism
is exhausted, the Russian is so
pessimistic he takes to the river.
Many young men have committed
suicide here. Their families In
France and England and Italy send
them money to join them, they
spend the money for champagne or
silk socks, or what not, and when
the money is exhausted they shoot
or drown themselves.
The devotion and childlike
cheerfulness of the Russian wom-
en- here is a source or constant
wonder to Americans. Many of
them have forgotten they were
countesses or princesses and gone
to work. Their charity to one an
other surpasses belief. They will
pawn their last jewel to help a
friend. The correspondent found
one woman selling her eyeglasses
to help friend, and doing 1t with
out thought of making a special
sacrifice.