The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-17
The Fourth Tower "A Story

YOU say that your epoch is heroic that time
has passed, that no longer capable,
worn out, that time not, after all, nteres-
ting; but will tell you young people, that every
epoch was heroic people always knew how to die
stoically not only for idea, but sometimes just
like that If it wouldn't bore you, / can tell you
of just such an episode.
By trade l am a painter, and can even make
pictures. Of course one must know how to make
pictures, there places they say, where
that trade is taught but |, with my fifty years,
what had l to do with places of learning? 1t was
in 1905, that year of liberty when party group
appealed to me.
michael Vanitch, please paint the party slogans
red banner, but make the letters in gilt,
please"
Of course 1 did my best. On the black banner
/ painted in Savonic letters, in silver, External
Memory to Those who Fell in Freedoms Cause"
On the red one, I painted in gilt, Long Live the
Democratic Republic, Long Live the Social De-
mocratic Labor Party of Russia, Proletariat of all
Countries Unite" The Bosheviks in those days,
don't let it peeve you, my young people, were all
for the democratic republic. With these banners,
we all went out to make demonstration against
the Black Hundreds We about thirty, with
sticks and pixies and revovers, that wouldn't shoot
a cato say nothing of a man.. especially if his
coat were lined. Well we marched about with the
red and black banners and once the Black Hundreds
surrounded us and nearly threw all our fine fellows
precipice. They had about three thousand
and we as | said before, were about thirty Well,
out of it with hon0rS; some forged ahead
while the others raised their sticks like spears
and the Black Hundreds were frightened. They
divided and let march through. That day
hid the banners in safe place and soon the
police began to catch us-rad after raid arrest
after arrest. They to too, turned every
thing upside down. chopped up the potatoes
in the cellar with their swords. Then they pulled
off the rag mats which my wife had spread, to rip
up the floor, 1 suppose, and jumped with satisfac
ton. The banners, my young people, had painted
in my cottage, the bare floor, and the paint
soaked right through the satin and stuck to the
boards Long Live the Democratic Republic" was
painted in gilt engthwise across the floor, and
crosswise, in large silver letters. eternal Memory
to Those who Fell in Freedoms Cause"
Here" said the sheriff joyfully, "this is the
headquarters of the most important socialists There
it is, word for word like the banners. What more
want? The governor will praise US. Come
on now, get ready"
Well, | got ready and we went, for such long
time as makes me sick to think of. The trial was
eight months later and then was sentenced to four
years and sent to the first annex of the provincial
prison.
From the investigation cell I transferred to
the common one where received better treatment.
This gladdened me, like a breath of freedom. The
others in the common cell all fine fellows,
me at once. There first learnt Marks theory and
Frederick Engels', as much of course, as I could,
with my brain. We had all kinds of arguments,
almost fights sometimes especially with the Social
Revoutonists. The mensheviks usually replied