The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-06
Fragments from The Broken Charm"
Free Translation From the Russian of A. Andreyiv
BY VERA and VIOLET MITKOVSKY

Part 1
The soul natures sometimes in
youth and sometimes even in adol-
essence. It is then one begins to feel
the need OF action, to grope for a
pathway; comes the desire to kindle
star, then reach for another, even
brighter Stirring events-wars, rev.
olutions, hasten boyhood into youth,
youth into manhood, and bring old
men to senility.
The native land of two youths, Tro-
pin and Golubovsky, clamped for CEN
turtles in the relentless charmed ring,
was breaking through that ring, not
by cunning more fine or a magic
more potent, but by force, Countless
rising millions trod the new way,
followed it eagerly, firmly, relent-
lessly. With them marched Tropin
and Golubovsky. Tropin, having
glimpsed Truth, followed her with his
heart and mind, nor was he deluded.
Colubovsky, worshipping beauty and
strength, went with his comrade.
In the February revolution Golub-
ovslSy had commanded company in
one of the first regiments to mutiny
and had joined together the units of
the outlying districts of st, Peters
burg. In the October revolution he
again took arms, this time against
Kerensky. He was sincere when he
said, "It is the strength of the Boil
sheviks / love. Strength is beauty
and weakness is ugliness." And the
kindly Tropin answered, "There you
go again"
With eyes smouldering gloomily
in his swarthy face, aged beyond its
years, Eugene Golubovsky would say,
"Now at the front there is no TAX
ing prisoners or giving quarter; I will
get transfer"
It was long time since Golubovsky
had laughed or joked. It was terrible
TO hear him say,
"They murdered my bride on the
Plesetskaia. She was a Communist
They pinned her to the floor of a
tIpin with bayonets."
'"You are cruel, Gene" AS in child
hood, Tropin spoke the words with a
sigh.
Golubovsky was finally sent to
command one of the Red regiments
on the Siberian front. He rarely
wrote to his chum, but Tropin often
had news of him. Soldiers returning
from the front and newspapers told
of advantageous moves led by his
friend and of the two decorations
presented to him for daring.
Commander Golubovsky, the regi-
mental secretary Fakeyiv, and the
courier, Iversov, escaped from the
enemy's camp. 1t was a desperate
attempt, made at night, just as the
train was approaching the rear of
the white army. They were nearing
station. The prisoners, in rags, their
shoes taken from them by their cap
tors, sat with one guard in a dark
freight car. Half-naked, they crouched
together for warmth. The weak, sick
~ dhSylN ISSIu WcIS CudLISI1IlS
and he pressed closer to Iversov, the
powerful twenty year old Siberian,
trying to gain some warmth from the
strong young body.
Suddenly Commander Golubovsky
whispered into Iversov's ear, "Es-
cape" and, without waiting for an
answer, added, "By the throat" The
whisper was still as a thought. Iver-
SOW rose noiselessly. Feet shuffled, a
rifle ratified, and in a second the la
boring gasps ceased. Golubovsky ran
his bayonet twice through the guard
and left it there, pinning him to the
floor. The train whistle sounded-the
station! They jumped from the NOV
ing train. Fakeyiv nearly broke his
leg. He was clumsy and frightened.
They found themselves in the shadow
of the train, half-naked, standing