The New York herald., 1921-09-18
Life in Moscow Under the Red Terror
Everyday Incidents Described by Former Follower of
Tolstoy Who is Now Bitter Foe of the Soviets.
From the London Dairy Telegraph.

Ddtiv Icis0ropn.
and from the exhaled moisture which
condenses on the cold ceilings and walls
and drsps down. They have been here
since yesterday. taking every precaution
not TO lose the opportunity of obtaining
ticket before the train starts.
If they come too late the queues will
be too long to pass tho booking sfiice
before the train has gone. You know
that typhus is raging and you know
that It Is spread chiefly through lice.
Your heart sinks within you as you
think OF the danger to which these peo-
pie are exposed. The vermin must be
thriving under such conditions. The
people also know the danger. for the
bills-"Lice are your most dangerous
enemies. Beware of lice'-are stuck UP
everywhere but they are tired and sleep
is irresistible.
At last you reach your destination
and from here you have to reach the
village where. you havo focz tJsd, p0ta-
toes are reasonably cheap. From this
station It is a walk OF some fifteen or
twenty miles. You walk along the rail-
way track. You walk for whole hour /;
the snow Is deep. and although you ara
pleased to be In the fresh air again yon
are utterly exhausted. The wind pene-
trates your light garments and you feel
inclined to sit down and have rest at
all COSTS But no, the distance Is great
and you must walk on.
After a long struggle with snow and
wind you reach the village and hnd a
peasant who may be willing to sell a
few potatoes. You enter a low, dim hut
with small windows.
A long discussion follows before ytsu
can persuade the sturdy peasant to sell
you few pounds of potatoes. or you
go with your bag Of potatoes, to catch
train to Moscow AS you walk along
you turn over In your mind what you
have heard from the peasant and what
IS more or less tho opinion Of the whole
peasantry.
He says they want freedom to organ
lie their own life. that is, to trade with
others parts OF Russia so as to obtain
what is necessary for their lfe--"We
have been trying to do what we were
asked to, but nothing seems to come
Of it. We used to do 1t better Of our
own accord. Didn't we supply the towns
with firewood, potatoes. milk, butter and
so on? Now they come and take it from
us just as our former lords did. and
they give us nothing. You can't buy
a button with the money they are CIV
Ing US. There is nothing to buy. We
have no scythes and we can't get them.
We have no nails. What more Is there
to be said?" He waves his hands and
becomes silent.
You see clearly how agriculture suf-
fers from the absence OF trade and In
dustry in towns.
You are glad to be back In your own
little room, although 1t ls dark and
cold. All the packing cases and old
furniture have already been consumed
as fuel and you cannot afford to buy a
little bundle OF wood. You lie down in
anticipation of good sleep. a passing
into a land OF dreams where all good
things are possible. But your nerves
seem to have been played upon too
much and they keep you awake.
Some one rings the bell. Whoever
There Is pause and then another ring.
My landlady. the wife Of n State baker
goes to open the door. "Who is there?'
No answer. but a violent shaking of
the door. who Is there? please
open" There is the creak Of the key
and a stern voice inquiries, Mrs. N. p
yes" ''Is Mr. N. in?' YES" Several
feet enter the landlords bedroom and
YOU hear the continuation of the CONVEX
sation. I'VE have been commanded to
arrest you and to search the place.
Please dress yourselves; "a motor car
is waiting outside" The children, a
boy Of ten and a girl OF eight, begin
to cry and the father tries to pacify
them by telling them that he and their
mother will soon return.