The Washington times., 1922-04-16
eoswssa ~ aYssasT.os.4I

sheet was a talented and educated
Russian but his idea OF an un-
emotional government report was
very much like that OF our own
George Creel.
/ used TO tease him about his
passion for such words as "scurri-
lous" In reference to capitalists
or white guards. But II never
made any impression. He con-
fessed he found my cables fiat
and uninteresting.
Besides, my radios to American
newspapers, which were transmit
ted by way OF Berlin. and the gov
ernment bulletin, which was sent
out to the whole world and rarely
wire to London for the Daily
Herald. Everyone OF these tele-
grams had to be read and corrected
by TchIcherin himself, and shared
the unhappy fate OF sitting around
all night until he found time to
do It.
SO many nights my kilograms
went in the waste-basket because
they contained too much American
punch" or a little news value OF
Alit&fNrI WufNAl AA
considered gossip, that for a while
l regarded Tchichertn as Just
fussy old person, and almost for.
got those Herculean tasks hs has
performed in his various inter-
lacing Eastern treaties.
Or, again, IL one reads his cor
respondence with the old and
settled governments OF Europe one
n. -. \. 4. 4.
outclassed his adversaries. No
foreign minister ever inherited a
more difficult post, and no foreign
minister ever stuck to his post
with more dignity and honor.
Can't Strike Balance.
1t was characteristic OF Tchicherin.
as it is of most Russians, not to be
able to strike balance, so when he
did let the bars down he let them
down completely. A few months
ago we were having battles over
adjectives, and now reporters are
given a free hand. Even in Wash.
ington reporters do not dare, to
criticize the Government so openly.
1t is amusing 10 note that the
more freedom they have the fewer
harsh criticisms they find It neces-
sary to make.
Mr.. Tchicherin is bachelor:
women manifestly have no place in
his dreams OF a millennium; how this
came to be Is a secret which per-
haps will never come out. l am
not presuming that there never
was any romance in Mr.. Tchich-
erin's life. Just to illustrate how
wrong would be II did, recall
an incident. which occurred an a
fashionable Stockholm cafe.
Some Americans were discussing
Tchicherin. One remarked that
one often regrets that there is no
room for chivalry in a Socialist
nize gallantry. Another claimed
that while Lenin seems to have
way OF treating women no better
and no worse than men. Tchicherin
simply overlooks the whole feTni.
nine sex; IL he is conscious OF woIn-
en- at all, II is only through a slight
annoyance.
Now when the company had
finally arrived at these Z )ncluslons,
they suddenly became aware of n
very aristocratic old lady at the
next table, who was regarding
them disdainfully through a gold
lorgnette.
Presently she exclaimed in Rus
sian: How absurd you are! MIR
Tchicherin was an old sweetheart
OF mine" So saying, she arose and
swept grandly away, rustling in
her lavender silks and as delicate
as a Dresden China doll.
So life repeats itself, which Is al
ways an Elaine for every Launce-
lot. And Launcelot inevitably de-
serts his lady for some vague
light" beyond the stars.
Many.Sided Man
Tchicherin is a any-sided char
acter. When one sees him on the
street on an afternoon blinking and
confused, with an old umbrella
under his arm, rain or shine, he
appears pitiful and frail and inca
pable. But II one sees him also,
as / once saw him, In an ancient,
resurrected dress suit. at the head
Of a long conference table in a
gold and white hall, under glitter
ing candelabra, speaking In a
flowery and perfect French to the
suave Turkish delegates one gets
quite another idea; he appears fine,
unselfish, determined. Even at
Genoa he holds mis- own.
And II is like him to admire
Secretary of State Hughes. and
call him a fine, hlgh-ninded man"
without realizing that Hughes