The Denver Jewish news., 1921-08-03
European Glimpses by
a Denverite
MR.. ABRAHAM JUDELOWITZ
GIVE ms IMPRESSIONS AFTER
A TRIP ABROAD.

Eager to see for himself the condi-
tions of life in Europe. Mr.. Abraham
Judelowitz of this city left here four
months ago for tour of Europe. He
has just returned after having visited
England. France. Germany. Poland,
Lithuania, Latvia and looked over the
border, into Soviet Russia.
Everywhere" Mr.. Judelowitz says,
1.-The terrible marks of the great war
are still plainly visible, and the equal
IL grave signs of the throes of recon-
struction are to be seen on all sides.
now continues. In every land n great
struggle is seen. In some it is
struggle for the very existence of tine
country; in others, it is struggle
for greater power, for aggrandize-
ment,
'England," he says, has an enor-
nous army of unemployed. and is fac
ing serious problems. The working
mans condition however, Is quite
hopeful as the government is sysre-
matically yielding improvements to
him. Living conditions, however, are
very low.
Germany" he continued. has the
most hygienic living conditions. 1t,
too. has large amount of unemploy-
ment, and those who do work receive
small pay and the people subsist on
the smallest quantity of food. All
classes are hampered by conditions.
and live in fear. This talk of revenge
on France" says Mr.. Judelowitz, docs
not seem to be in their minds. They
know they have lost, and are taking
up life's burdens with courage.
I'm Poland, where I passed thru
the Corridor to Danzig. living is in
describably bad. The Polish peasant
is brilliantly triumphant because his
country has taken its place among the
nations. He lives in filthy unhygienic
surroundings. Life is a terrible strug-
gle. He rObs and plumbers his neigh
Dor, and is robbed and plundered in
turn. There are no Jews in this cor
ridor,' 100 miles wide thru Poland to
Danzig."
what chances have the Jews in
the countries you visited for economic
reconstruction" we asked Mr.. Ju-
delowitz.
'Lithuania.' he answered, has
emancipated the Jews. General living
conditions are poor. very poor The
Jews are fairly prosperous as traders.
In Kibati, for instance, town Of B.
900 population, 979o of which are
Jews, they are doing a prosperous
business in cotton goods, linens, and
wool. but the housing and sanitary
conditions are. appalling. Families
live in stables, cellars. anywhere.
Kovno is another city with almost an
entirely Jewish population where con-
an unsanitary disease filled town,
where living is hard. All thru Lith-
uania Jews are turning to productive
occupations, such as manufacturing
and agriculture, besides trading.
KOvno Is one of the immigration cen.
lers of Europe, as is Riga, which is n
still larger place. Thousands upon
thousands of Jews during the war
were forced to move ont OF these dis
tricts and they fed east to what is
now Soviet Russia and South to Prus-
STA. Now they are trying to get back
to the places they were forced to
evacuate. They travel on large wag-
Ons, packed like logs on these trucks.
Mr.. Judelowitz, SIS SO hard that death
has lost its meaning. They are glad
TO reach tis>se emigration centeis'
even tho they are in such ragged.
destitute. diseased. filthy condition
and enter the barracks ready to re-
ceive them. These barracks are large
empty sheds. blocks and blocks of
them, divided into stalls. one for each
family. without furniture, where they
live In their half naked condition.
There is n common kitchen. where the
local Jewish community under the d.
rection of American Relief Agencies.
supplies rye bread, some vegetables
and hot water. Here they live from
one to three or more months before
they are permitted to go on to their
destination, where their sufferings be
gin anew.
"Some cities, among them Shavel,
which had population Of 1900 be-
fore the war and now has 1000. half
of whom are Jews. permits them no
means of making living. They live
only on the charity sent by friends or
organizations. Mitau in Latvia does
not allow them either to trade or
work. Riga. the capital of Latvia,
bars Jews from all business and boy