The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-02
Strangers Songs
TRANSLATED from the Russian of N. Veribinsky
By VERA and VIOLET MITKOVSKYl.

put his hands his hips and took deep breath,
the bass loosened his collar and glared fiercely at
the conductor.
"I.ILI.I u..u..u.used
To loo %. we the gil. Iris"
The choir warmed up, the women grasped their
shawls more tightly, the threw back their
heads the conductor Unexpectedly turned his back
on the choir and fiercey twanging his guitar added
his bronze notes to the swelling music.
"a. "a. "a nd no.o..o"ow,' sang the choir almost
in frenzy
II love old hays" burst from the trembling choir
Curtain, curtain!" called someone angrily from
the first row. and a member of the gypsy commit
tee, Comrade Solodnikov, was seen standing on a
chair with twitching face and making signs to
someone back of the stage
The gypsy committee" met Immediately after
the concert.
Comrades" said Comrade soodnkov in hurt
voice. what sort of popular enlghtment' is this?
Blood is flowing at the front and we carry on like
this! l categorically disagree and definitely re-
fusei"
"That is genre" tmidly began Comrade Frae-
berg. 81 think that this genre shows unmistakable
traces of the old order and definitely extinct means
of production. 1t developed under conditions of
production, in that dark epoch when the Russian
hourgeoisie made holiday in its capitalistic streets
-. But now, being, to a certain extent,
nected with art, I consider it my duty to declare
that in the present instance, if to discuss
the object. we have to do with something that
that is to sayin the sense of certain diverted must
cal talents we here encounter something superla-
lively common, which compels-that $50 to say
l am intellectually Of the same opinion as Com
rade Solodnikov," Fraeberg ended unexpectedly and
blushed scarlet
II too," said another member, "the proletariat
must be educated in the classic spirit"
Yes, but what shall we do with these devils ?"
asked Comrade Solodnikov thoughtfully They've in
fected the whole province"
"Send them to the front, to the firing line" said
Nakorakov desperately
perhaps they coud-along theatrical lines" be-
gan Fraeberg and stopped abruptly.
1t was decided to adjourn till the next day and
invite some responsible comrades.
The president of the executive committee hear
ing of the unsuccessful and fearing another
visit from the gypsies, said to someone the
phone, half banteringly and half seriously:
"Wel1, what of it, if the words unsuitable, the
words could be changed to something revolutionary
but the music-such material-such music, if
handled right, will make revolutions"
perhaps they could do the International, in their
own way, with pep" said Comrade Nakoriakov. "The
cathedral choir is getting too nasal and besides it's
as dead funeral service"
After short exchange of opinion, it was decided
to appoint Comrade Fraeberg to make detailed
study of the repertoire of the gypsies, to develop
anything in it that correspondent to the spirit of the
proletarian revolution, to alter and adapt every
thing, and, when finished to give them another trial
The city was swept by billiards and sunk in
It's inhabitants occupied in searching for
food and fuel and, without money, means of COM
munication skilled workers. carried on in several
departments. work which progressed like light
cart along bumpy road
A rumor was current that the authorities were
attempting to "Bolshevize" the gypsies that their
chief was appointed head executoner and that he
retitioned to be permitted to ak. Mothers
frightened their children with mention of the gypsies
and it openly said that Comrade Fraeberg had