, 1923-02-18
ONE YEAR IN A PRISON S%%
MARKED BY MURDER AND PLAQUES

the former governor of Moscow.
DJunkovski: the former president
(ober-procuror) OF the Holy Synod.
Samarin; several priests; the former
editor OF the ZemshtchiHd, Gllnka-
Yantchevski, a very old man; the
former governor-general OF Irkutsk.
Kniazev. a half paralyzed old man.;
a brother of Admiral Skrydloy, Gen.
Skrydlov with son and wife; the State
Attorney. Wiper, who had acted in
the Bells case; Gen. zubkov; the
gendarmery colonel, C~herniavski: the
former encouragement of Galicia,
Yevreinov: and the representatives OF
the Polish. DANISH. Swedish, British
and other diplomatic missions.
The overwhelming majority CT these
people were old, neglected looking
men. who had in man. Instances lost
all human semblance, reeking with
vermin, emaciated and starved, AMI
unable to stand on their feet from
weakness and all hat they had suf-
fered. They would 'tremble before
every keeper, not to mention the high
err authorities: they would throw
themselves with beastly nervousness
upon the food which their sympathetic
neighbors often turned over to them.
Some of them were simply disgusting
in their attempts 10 repudiate every
thing by which they had lived and
which they had professed all their life
long, in their desire to find a well
sounding excuse why they had served
as gendarmes, spies or ""provocateurs."
why they had preached Jew batting
or organized pogroms.
Makarov Well Known CynoSure;
In Calm, Dignified Reserve
There was but one person, n of
the few who contrasted favorably with
the rest, both in having retained his
human dignity and in candidly avow-
ing his monarchist convictions-that
was the former Minister of the In
terror and afterward OF Justice, A. A.
Makarov. To be sure, in his hatred
and contempt for Nicholas II. he did
not yield to the rest of his fellow
sufferers; but this contempt for tho
miserable, spiteful. petty minded and
distrustful ~autocrat he not only re-
Trained from displaying, but carefully
concealed it from those about him.
and only with persons who impressed
him with'their decency would he share
bis confidence about the life of the
Emperor and his talks with him.
His meeting with Kamenev was
characteristic of the way he bore him
self. Kamenev. in company with
other "dignitaries." visited tho Blu
tyrki Prison after the Socialist cells
had been fired at during a Socialist
mass protest. Like all "Caliphs for
an hour" which tho Bolsheviki feel
they are destined to be, he was
anxious to have a look at the dis
tinguished prisoners. Now. when
ever professional Cheka leaders like
Mantsev (president Of the Moscow
Cheka), Peters. Messing and others
used to come to the prison every one
OF them would consider 1t his duty
to express his surprise loudly, in the
presence of Makarov: what. Maka-
row herel Hasn't he been shot yet?
Strange!"
They could not help knowing, in
view of their official position, that
Makarov was at the Butyrki. and, as n
matter of fact, no sooner would they
enter the gate than they would ask
the commandant to Show us Maka-
row and the other Minister'S Ka-
menev, as a cultured" and liberal"
official. found it necessary to veil this
brilliant Joke" somehow, but could
not entirely refrain from it either.
Makarov. straight as an arrow. his
hair white as snow, leaning on a cane,
would usually observe perfect silence,
in calm dignity, at these remarks of
the Cheka executioners. With Ka-
menev. however. who addressed him
personally. he exchanged the follow
ing few words:
Are you the former Minister OF the
Interior, Makarov?" begun Kamenev
with a solicitous ring in his voice.
YES"
do you know that your Cabinet
associates have already perished?"
Eyes"
"You-you understand that there
can be no idea of your release" But
I am not asking you for anything"
Kamenev became confused and
stammered out:
But I shall try. as far as pos
sible. to make your stay here easier"
II thank you"
OF course, as is usual with him,
Kamenev never even lifted a finger
to make good his promise.
As for the talks OF tho Socialists
with the authorities. they were of a
far different character. Here comes
Peters to the cell OF a Socialist pris-
oner with a great deal OF ceremony.
with two bodyguards at his sides and
the cringing prison commandant ahead
OF him.
II am the President of the Moscow
Revolutionary Tribunal. Peters. Is
there anything o wish of MOP"
What have you to say in your de-
fense?" is the soornful question he
hears in reply to this, n he dis
appears, confused. with his retfnue.
In other cells could be heard perfectly
unmistakable cries: get Quit Hang
mani" and similar explanations. How
ever, all this happens only in certain
more or less privileged cells. The ma
iority OF the prisoners, herded to the
point OF suffocation in sitting, damp.
filthy and vermin infested cells. were
covering fearfully whenever the au-
thorities were visiting, afraid TO say a
word nbDut tbafr funppaafhla ro,,atfinpa