The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-04

sy.a A BoIshevik Propaganda Train to Show Wome
. s.@s the New Commul
R1.s
That evening was warned to get into my hole and
stay there. went in at o'clock and at :15 there
came knock.
It was commissar with a warrant for the arrest
of Sergius Michael Trufanoff
He is gone, said my wife; "he left this morning
early"
She trembled and she took up her firm stand over
the trapdoor under which was hiding. The commits
sar went away apparently satisfied that he had
Heard the truth. That same night two of my fol-
lowers came to me with clothing suitable for pill
. grim They helped me dress in rags. old man,
weary with years and travel. Between midnight and
dawn set out, kissing my wife good-by.
"Tilf we meet" said /, desperate at having to
leave her. Poor little lady, your husband spoke too
srashly"
HE never speaks too rashly,' said she who
speaks Gods truth
% So, with many forebodings, departed. The next
morning the commissars returned to examine my
wife further. And then they discovered the trap
door.
"You hid him there yesterday said they loudly
: to the poor woman. You traitor to the new
Y free statei You shall 60 to prison for this!'
Although my wife was guilty of no greater sin
than protecting her own husband, and although We
had three small children, babe not yet year
DID, they took my wife and threw her into worm
had formed the custom of confining women prisoners
for lack of room on land My wife has since told me
,hat the company there consisted mostly of vrtuous
women, good mothers loyal wives and sweethearts
who had chosen such a crowded and nolsome prison
to of shame that had been suggested to them by
commissars in. power.
For ten months my wife was confined there Then
one day came inspection. The Commissar Melipei,
a@civi engineer by profession, the son of a rather
Well-to,do land owner outside Isarltzln. passed
Mretched captves. My wife tells me that day she
feH very i'll and lying miserable couch, her
beautiful black hair down her back. The commits
sar stopped when he saw her.
s. aha" said he, what have we here? Stand up,
my pretty Let's look into those dark eyes of
yours"
! Mime. Trufanoff told me she stood up. She
thought of her children and she wished to live for
their sake. She did not dare to disobey. The COM
nIissar looked at her long.
z-z"What" said he seeing that she gentle
woman, and that his previous familiar address did
not please her, what can do for you madame?"
My wife spoke softly.
7*- II have three children" said She For their
sakes-I would be free"
Next day the came with legal paper which
certified that my wife at liberty to get her chill
dren and take them home again. And she did this.
with overlooking JOY
Fl Now had the commissar ended his good services
house every day. He brought her tea and cakes:
Food in Russia then, and it was no insult
to present friend with such gifts.
Ny wife, gratefully, would make cup of tea, and
the corhmssar would join her. This went on for sew
eral weeks Then one day he came with solemn
legal paper, which he proceeded to explain to her
Madame" said he, Madame Trufanoff, surely
you must have realized my intentions before this.
Lady-dear LADY, want you to belong to me, &c
cording to the ceremony of the new free state. l
have brought you the decree"-
"But" said my wife, IL am a married woman al
ready. l am married to Iliodor. Besides have
three children
e The commissar stamped his feet in sudden rage.
- Listen to the Decree" he stormed. "Of course,
know you have a crazy husband dead, some place.
2 we don't know. Listen, woman!
In moment he had been transformed from an
obsequious lover into tyrant of the regime.
My wife sat still, listening and trembling Melpei
unfolded the decree. This was pronuncamentO
which the Bolshevik government tried very hard to
IS get the people to accept. They circulated it
crety in 1918 1919 and 1920, not publishing it in
the papers, but trying by persuasion to make the
people take to it. have seen these DEGREES many
occasions but Was able to bring one. through