The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-13

WY about it or not I'm Just
 V tlckled to death to know that our brave Alabama man, Capt. Emmett Fitzpatrick of Camden has been released from the Russian prison, where he has been confined for several months.
 I don't even know Captain Kilpat- rick by sight-just by reputation-and more especially the reputation of having been prisoner in one of those awful, terrible, dark, cold, smelly" Moscow prisons, which spell misery with a capital "M."
 Some time back when I read of Captain Kilpatrick's incarceration along with that of my old-time friend, Capt. Merian c. Cooper of Jacksonville, Fla, I was tremendous ly interested In the situation.
 read most graphic statement given to the metropolitan papers by Captain Cooper regarding the condi- tions of his own and Captain Kilpat- rfck's capture and of his perilouR and spectacular escape, and Captain Kilpatricks lesser fortune in being able to make getaway" and l couldn't help thinking of the sorrow full homes and the aching hearts Of those near and dear to these two nice boys-back here In America, proud of the splendid things these heroes had done yet heart sore over the out come of their efforts In behalf of suffering humanity.
 Always, to my way of thinking. Russia has spelled the very last word in cruelty and injustice. suppose this has largely been the fault of the Russian literature I've read. Even in the Russian music I've heard there is a strain of the cruelty and the cal iousness of the Russians-the Rim sky-Karsakov things; the Tschai- kowsky symphonies (some of them) {; the big, heavy, numbering. Russian "overtures" and intern ezzos" os"--except when the Russian composers drop into 'Hthsomeness" in their "Tarantel- les" or dance music and their lighter veins, there is nothing so big and heavy and "high-sounding' as their works.
 Those books of other days, "Flot- sam and Jetsam." picturing Russian life; the peasant stories of Anton Chekov; the works of Tourgeniv, ana Dovesteosky and the others, seem all to reveal cruelty and hardness. while history gives us no broader latitude than that granted to the sovereigns of Russia, the very name of Czar conveying hardness" and egotism and self-centered assurance.
 The passionate, amorous, proclivf- ties of the Russians on the one hand and their passionate cruelty on the other, with no interim, make an im- pression on my mind at once lasting and unpleasant
 Whatever the Russians do, it seems to me they do 1t harder and more cru ely than any other people; when they love they love harder; when they hate they hate harder; there Is no middle pasture" as it were.
 I recall such an amusing little story which was told of the late Mrs. Van Rensaeller Cruger of Washing ton and New York (afterward Mrs. Frank Chance), the well known au- thor of "A Diplomats Diary" "Puri- tan and Pagan" and other interest ing novels.
 1t seems that Mrs. Cruger made a tour of the world which lasted over several years. She visited every country in the world, knew people everywhere, and was entertained most sumptuously.
 When she returned to Washington a little coterie of her friends gave her welcome home dinner party
 There were some 24 guests, an epi- cures repast was served, wines trapped" to the nth degree, many world famous literary people being among those present" at the wonder ful party.
 During the course of the dinner Mrs. Cruger was telling of her de- lightful experiences abroad, finally declaring:
 And, my friends. speaking of lovers, why. the French are marve- lous with their ardor and their pas sion. the Italians are wonderful with their fervor and their seriousness but one doesn't know what 1t is to be really loved untip one has been loved by a Russian. Then it is either to surrender or die"
 There was a slight pause when one of the clever wits at table said naive ly to her:
 50 glad you have returned to us Mrs. Cruger."
 Sparkling repartee, say I; what say you?
 At any rate. back to Captain Kill patrick and his release.
 The thing that struck me as so very pathetic about those six Americans who have been released from those awful Russian dungeons is the news from Reval of their starved condi- Hill, who was with her in the east, is now the guest of Miss Alice Peizer at Skyland, N. c. Ar;.s Erapces Rrady of Tuscaloosa