Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-19
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
By CONSTANCE DREXEL.

BY CONSIANCE
WASHINGTON. Dec 19.-What about
Russia for whose distressed and starving
people the House of Representatives has
just voted $40, 900 600?
What about that land which has been
cut off from the rest of the world for
seven years and from which nothing but
tales Of revolution and horror have ena-
mated?
1t is very seldom one meets a person
who has penetrated beyond that veil Of
mystery and comes back to tell the tale,
but here in Washington has arrived
bright American girl In her late twenties,
a product Of several American unfver-
stiles who was II Russia until Nov. IL
last, tic day she left Moscow.
CHARMING THOUGH
JUST FROM RUSSIA.
Meeting Lucy Branham of Baltimore,
It is surprising to talk with any one
looking so we'll and normal. But per-
haps that is because Miss Branham
stopped on the way home to buy few
little dresses in Paris. Besides when
one has childish blue eyes and fluffy
bobbed hair Of golden hue, how else can
one look but charming and attractive,
even If one has just come from the starry
ing areas Of Russia?
Anyhow, Miss Branham's story, as !
see it, is intensely interesting from two
points o. view. First, for its picture of
conditions in Russia today, and, second,
as an example of what the modern, young
American girl may do in apparently the
most nonchalant kind Of a way.
Miss Branham, who Is a graduate Of
Barnard and received her NJ. A at Johns
Hopkins in Baltimore, has been working
for a Phi. D., and also teaching history
at Columbia University. In order to OBJ
tain more material for her thesis, Miss
Branham went abroad last spring, spend
ing several months in England and Ger
many. 1t was in the late summer the
first news Of the Russian famine leaked
out Miss Branham long has been inter
ested in Russian relief and applied to go
into Russia. After some difficulties she
managed to obtain permission and ar
rived IN Moscow.
There she met Ludwig, c. A. X. Mar
tens, formerly agent of the Soviet govern
ment in the United States, but sent back
some months ago.
MARTENS HIGH IN
RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.
Mr.. Martens is an official under the
supreme council OF national economy in
charge Of Russian resources and is head
Of the metalurgiral department with raw
materials from mines and factories man
ufacturing those raw materials under his
supervision. He spends much time IN
the field and succeeded in obtaining per-
mission for Miss Brennan to accompany
a mission to the mining and Industrial
districts In the Ural Mountains which
separate Europe and Asia. There is a
present per cent decrease IN the metal
urgical industries because the govern
ment owning the factories and paying the
workers in part with bread, clothes and
other necessities. has had to cut down
all payment considerably because Of the
famine.
But it was on the famine districts /
asked Miss Branham to lay stress. She
went down with a unit Of the Inter
national Friends Relief, largely supported
by British and American funds. She met
Anna Haines of the Philadelphia Friends.
Miss Branham also met, while in Russia,
Raymond Swing of the New York Herald.
Miss Bessie Beatty and Miss Ernestine
Evans, among others.
The famine area consists of twelve CUB
ornia (cOunties). making what heretofore
has been known as the granary of the