The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-02-10

Hotel Savoy was one OF MOSCOW
most beautiful hotels, and its location
in the heart of the opera and theatrical
district made it one of the gayest hos
telries in Moscow; a kind of four
story Ritz. The best known singers, ac-
tors, theatrical managers and all other
luminaries of the stage yorid were
housed there.
To-day. only government officials,
largely from the commissariate OF for
eign affairs, located within stones
throw from the Savoy, live there. 1t is
also reserved by the government for
visitors and guests from foreign lands.
The former luxury and elegance OF the
hotel have totally disappeared Gone
is the splendor OF the reception rooms
and lobby. which used to be the favor
tie rendezvous of the stage celebrities
OF Moscow and of their admirers. The
massive leather chairs, the opClent car
pets, silk portieres and crystal chan
deliers have disappeared. The candy
stands and book stalls are there no
more either. and the doormen and ser
wants in gorgeous liyeries, who stood
guard at the doris, have vanished from
sight. Hotel Savoy Is proletarian ho-
tel now Its visitors have to open the
doors and close them by their own eff
forts; they sit on wooden benches or
stand up on bare uncovered floors, and
have to be contented with the light
shed by the lone electric bulb in the
room.
As you open the door of the main
entrance and ascend the few steps lead
ing TO the Office, you are halted by a
Red Army man, gun in hand, to whom
you must exhibit your pass card, your
permit to live in Moscow. This done,
you have to inform the young woman
at the desk, with tbs big ledger, as to
whom you are looking for at the hotel.
You stand there in line waiting until
everything is found to be Legitimate"
and only then are you permitted to ad-
vance.
BY the time l had gone through all
these formalities with the Red Army
Guard and the girl at the desk, and
had climbsi four stories with my bag
up to the room Nuorteva had reserved
for me-theFe are no elevators running
at the Savoy was covered with beads
of perspiratiun. One look at the room
that was destined to be my home dur
ing my entire stay in Moscow, the bed
in that room, and particularly the bed
ding, upon that bed was, however, suf-
ficient TO send shudder down my back.
What a room that was The paper on
the walls and the ceiling was indie
scribably dirty and hung In pieces.
There was an iron bedstead, two small
straw packed pillows, two crippled
chairs and three.legged table in the
room. The filthy looking pillows were
without covers, and the mattress with
out a top sheet. The idea that | would
have to sleep in this bed and on this
uncovered mattress and pillows, almost
took my breath away.
As / stood there in contemplation of
my cherries prospects, ] heard bang
on the door, and before ] had a chance
To say a word, in walked Simeon Ogur-
sky, whom ] knew well in New York,
and fen upon my neck He learned from
Boris Reinstein that was in Moscow
and discovered at the foreign Office that
was stopping at the Savoy.
"You must see that get some
sheets, pillow covers and a blanket !
told him a little later.
Poor ogursky certainly did his best.
He ran from one place to another, to
/ the commandant Of the hotel, the SUI
pervisors. but could not obtain more
than a promise that everything would
be forthcoming tomorrow. For the
first night, he advised me, TO wrap up
the pillows with my top shirts and to
use my overcoat for blanket. He gave
me some additional instructions how to
get along until the following morn
ing. and then took me down to the din
T ing room for supper.
Z The evening meal consisted Of black
bread. three sardines, two small potato
pancakes and two glasses Of tea. Be
I fore leaving the dining room also
obtained a package Of p cigarettes and
box Of matches. ] learned later that
cigarette smokers are furnished BY the
hotel with p cigarettes daily. ] told
oglrsky Of my appointment with Gold
farb for the midnight hour. and be
volunteered 20 escort me- % the lat
tars home on the Sadosaya- And e.
the hour uas nearly u and the dis.