Evening star., 1926-10-31

SoiitlIlucu ITOi1 l HlTu Idg0.l
these friendless youths. who. Russian
charity workers say, will not stay in
public institutions even If placed
there. The foreign visitors wonder
what augmentations to these vaga-
bonds will follow from the destruc-
ton Of home life and loss of religious
influence in Russia.
Going west out of Moscow to War
saw there was a mixed car full of
civilians and Red soldiers, big, good
natured peasant boys in uniform.
After an hour or so of "off side" at
titude such as is usually experienced
by strangers travelling together, the
soldiers and civilians warmed up to
one another and in the conversation
<aar ensued were revealed sentiments
s;..t NAY aid in forming an estimate
&c tSe spirit &c the Russian people.
You are apparently strangers" the
officer of the soldiers said, address,
ing group of foreigners. What
are your Impressions of our country"
I'VE have been we'll treated and
take away pleasant memories of the
Russians"
think Of it?"
II am not a believer in Commun-
ism myself" one replied, and Amer
leans generally are not communists.
But if YOU like your form of govern
ment, that is your affair.
"Capitalism is doomed" the soldier
said, America will be in line next.
Americans are our good friends and
they will not long remain away from
us"
Why do you expect Americans,
prosperous and happy. to give up
what you can capitalism and join
YOU? You have no homes of your
own, work for low wages and are
only free men, if you are Com
munists?"
Peasants and other passengers and
all the soldiers had by this time
crowded around. One man carrying u
sack with tools spoke up:
II build stone walls he said
How much would | get FOR my work
in your country?'
IF you are a stonemason, or any
kind of builder. YOU would get
probably 81 an hour i'm the large
Cities( and more than that in cities
like New York, Detroit and Chicago.
BESIDES. you would probably do like
many Of our workmen do and in time
ride to your work in your own
automobile"
x K . =
The poor fellow was dazed AT this.
lie said he wished he could go to
America, where they make more in
day than he makes in u week.
The soldiers officer chided him for
this remark. and said in an aside that
such talk would lead strangers to
think there was dissatisfaction in
Russia.
4 black and gray whiskered peas
ant. obviously old. but still vigorous,
Joined in the many sided discussion.
A German and New YORK Russian
acted as interpreters.
You are a bourgeoSie. You are not
4 worker" pointing to an American
who was far from dressed up" but
still wore a white collar had sug
seStion of a crease in his trousers
and evidence of a brush to his hair.
We want only workers here"
Shut up. grandpa" the soldier said
vigorously to the peasant. Men can
work with their brains as well as
their hands" This was a new doc
irine to grandpa and the strangers
asked that the old man be informed
that they had all worked with their
hands in their day, and that in Amer
lea man could work with his brains
as we'll as his hands. This so obvi-
ously was getting into propaganda
against Communism that another turn
was given to the conversation, and
the stonemason was asked If he be-
lieved in God, or if he rejected religion
as the Communists do.
Il used to believe in God. but l
don't know now" the peasant said.
The soldier said that he believed in
a God. but he did not think 1t is the
same God that the rest of the party
believes in. The old peasant, who
from the combined effects of vodka
and soldiers sharp rebuke had sub
sided, here came to life and blurted
out: There amt no Cod The soldier
laughed, and as the old man seemed
final in his decree the meeting broke
up with general handshaking. The
red soldier was loyal to his army. not
withstanding his pay amounted to
only $190 a month. But" he said,
they give us clothes and feed us
Well" and that is something in Rus
Sia.
When I went into Russia I So
llcited and received much advice. The
burden of it was that ii was foolish
to take the chances involved in going
into a Soviet country which the United
states has not recognized officially,
ana WltI WHICH iIleie are Ilp ulplO-
matte relations. | was told that in
case of trouble | would have no one
10 whom to appeal, and the first and
only word that my friends would get
would be that final action had been
taken in my case. To the reply that
the British or German ConsulS might
1ntercede / was reminded that there
were several German ConSuls already
in Jail in Russia. and that as for the
British. they were about as popular
as German in Scotland during the
war.
/ was also told that if was foolish
enough to insist on going. for good
ness sake not go in with dress clothes
or anything else indicating that l be-
longed to the bourgeosie This part
of the advice I accepted and took into
Russia only some ''eVery- day wear
IL, apparel, including a heavy over
coat and ample toilet articles. | dis
carded my Europeon hat and wore a
cap that had seen better days. l found
that among all my advisers, former
Gov. Goodrich of Indiana knew more
than the rest. He said he had even
taken a dinner coat into Russia and
dressed as he would have dressed in
any other land, and that there We're
no criticisms. The only dinner coats
that / saw in Russia. however. were
those worn at diplomatic dinners Civ
en- by the British and other foreign
officials.
i; x x y
At these even my neWfound BolShe-
vik friends turned out in great array.
though l have my suspicious that they
carefully concealed white shirts en-
route to the dinner. As an American
I was treated with consideration.
though advised not to go. TO Turkestan
because of local objections there.
The Russian dress includes the Rus
sian shirt and belt of pattern long
worn. sometimes decorated with en-
brOidery about the collar The shirt