Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-09-01
lOSCOW CAYETY !
THING OF PAST
IlSFlcanT Consulate a Browsing
Spot For Goat,
l0ST SHOPS ARE CLOSED
public 10 Unaware Advance Party Of
American Relief Unit is Due For
Survey.

American Relief Unit Is Due For
Survey.
Moscow But slight change In
the physical appearance Of Moscow
since the American consulate and the
remnant of the American colony left
three years ago Is noticeable.
Buildings are somewhat shabbier,
holes in pavements are more frequent
and the parks are not so we'll kept. A
mich goat WAS brewing in the OVER
grown garden of what was the Ameri-
can consulate, but which Low is used
as wireless office.
Banners and signs embellish half of
the great buildings, announcing that
they are used by the government, and
all motor ears bear the soviet flag.
Street cars are lnfrequent, but when
boarded are found TO be In good repair
and not overerowded, as In the early
days of soviet rule. There are few
cabs and few pedestrians, except In
the vicinity Of Offices where foodstuffs
are issued.
In many ways Moscow suggests the
appearance Of small French cities
slightly damaged by the war, after the
Germans had left and their popula-
lions returned. II has none Of the
characteristics of great city, as the
resumption Of free trade has not yet
resulted in the opening of many shops.
Milliners, wigmalxers and corset shops
never closed--that was a concession
which the soviet government made to
the women Of the city. Florist shops
also were maintained Scattered food
shops and small restaurants are reop-
ening slowly, but the majority Of busi-
ness houses still are boarded up
There Is no evidence anywhere of
political agitation, no -umor Of sur
prising political 6urries, such as char
acterized the first year Of the Bolshe-
vik regime. Youthful Bolshevist sol-
diers patrol the quie- streets and tho
people Of Moscow laugh at reports
from Helsingfors, Copenhagen and
Stockholm that famine refugees are
moving upon the capital ind threatens
ing the government.
Moscow has heard little as yet con-
ttlilIS the DlVpbStI lduDIt Ititl.
The full text of the soviet agreement
with Herber. Hoover has not yet been
printed by Russian newspapers, virtu-
ally all of which are posted on dead
walls and not circulated. Consequent-
ly the general public does not know an
advance party Of the American relief
administration was expected in Mos
COW.
Leo KaIneneff, who Is directing So
Wet relief negotiations with DR. Fridt-
jof Nansen and other international
Red Cross officials, who arrived In
Moscow Wednesday, is preparing to
facilitate the movements Of the Ameri-
cans, who Will 90 to Petrograd a@d
the Volga region Immediately upon
their arrival for the purpose of pre-
liminary survey.
Meantime Moscow's seven or eight
hundred thousand short-rationed citi-
zens are making the most Of the bright
days Of late summer, trying to forget
the long, cold winter near at hand,
which threatens to re the worst yet
experienced.
1t is next December, January and
February which Moscow contempIates
with horror Though not rich agri-
culturally, the Moscow area has good:
crops of grain, vegetables and fruit,
which make the situation in the CAPT.
tai good temporarily for those who
have money or supplies or manufacture.
ed articles to exchange. There is lit,
tie chance of getting more food when
the present supply is exhausted