The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-03-02
by ISAAC MCBRIDE

by ISAAC MCBRIDE
TT HAS HEEN asserted by many
l travellers IN Russin before and after
the wrr that the Russian peasant IL n
peculiar combination of cruelty and
kindness There Is n great deal ~
truth IN this statement, but the bare
charge ~ cruelty Itself. without any
rlucidatinn. is unfair.
The Russian peasant for centuries
had suffered from fcudal system ~
land tenure which held him IN AFFECT
slavery and oppression lie was not
only condemned from childhood Ia the
most poverty stricken existence. hut
actually lived in fear ~ his life.
The Russian peasants under the
liomanofrS aud for centuries before
we're the victims of the most hurau-
cratic system that history affords any
knowledge vi. not excepting Roman
slavery.
They were treated by the great land
owners like cnttle Their mission In
NE was TO work from sunrise to sun.
set and ASK no questions Never given
any voice In the political life ~ the
country denied even the right to learn
to read and write. their life was truly
life In the depths
with their emancipation as scrfs In
1861. which was accorded M n matter
~ defense against them by their mas
ters. the peasants had great hopes Of
enjoying life to It's full.
They soon learned. however. that
giving them land carried with II So
many BURDENS In the form ~ tnNation.
that far from improving their econom-
&c and political condition, they were
for all practical purposes still serfs.
7 Ike Lands by Force.
The peasants Of Russia have al
ways lived In hopes OF enjoying In
divldual ownership Of land THIS had
been their dream and when the rev
olution came, all their pent up fury
was released and they reached out
and took the land nv force
They brooked no opposition from the
mobiles and when resisted they showed
their fnngs and burned many Of the
manors Il the mobiles True this was
cruelty hut Il was the result Of cen
turtles II cruelty on the other side.
Whatever faults they may have. the
Russian peasants are innately hospit-
able. especially IL this quality most
pronounced In their native villages.
Their Kindness IL spontaneous. where
rs their cruelty. wherever II shows
itself. results from long meditation
over real or imagieary wrongs.
They viii not see another suffer
needlessly II they can prevent H. No
stranger ever knocks Mt the room ~ q
peasant hut In a Russian village with
nut being asked II he In hungry and
desires food before any other questions
are put To- him. II makes no dlffer-
rnce what their own poverty may be;
hey are always ready To share their
meager fnre. They will willingly 60
miles out ~ their way to direct an
absolute stranger to given place and
when offered compensation are highly
embarrassed
Show Keen Rivalry.
II a traveller Is held up over night
md cannot proceed until morning. the
,lllagers all vie with each other for
The privilege ~ Offering whatever com
fort can he given. and instead Of BE-
Ing asked to pay for q nights lodg-
ing he will he given package Of food
upon departing with the blessing OF oil
assembled TO see him on.
q LII Ia SS n.lv
to be observed among the men and
women ~ the village. but Is also true
~ the children. The tales Of self
sacrifice that have come out Of the
volga valley since the dreadful famine
overlook these unfortunate people are
numberless.
II is reported that the American Re
lief Commission is finding II extreme
~ trying TO live up to a selective plan
Of feeding. where practically all the
inhabitants are In dire need Of food.
BY requiring the children 10 eat
their meals In the relief kitchens. the
workers insure against the delivery OF
food To persons who have not been
passed upon by examining physicians.
but the children make many pathetic
attempts to dodge the regulations.
Stories Tug Heart Strings.
One little girl In the kitchen ate only
part Of her bowl OF rice milk and
sugar and asked permission to take
the remainder home to her father who
vas M with typhus.
1T Is really more than care for"
she said II am not used TO having so
much NJ once"
In families where one child II recon
mended for feeding by the doctors
while brothers and sisters are not
given food cards. II Is not unusual for
the fortunate one TO take the others
along 10 the kitchen and carry out 70
them portion NJ the ration. The self.
sacrificing spirit Of the little boys and
girls makes Il dOubly hard for the
relief workers, IN view of the fact
that there is not sufficient food forth.
coming. as yet for all
These unfortunate sufferers must be
and gan ha 10 tho annaaI af a..