The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-31
(Conclusion)
BY SHACHNO EPSTEIN.

Translated from the Yiddish by
A. B. MAGIL
IT was the October revolution that
tore the sphinx from the face of
Russia. And Gorky, the old Bolshe-
vik, the intimate friend of Lenin,
failed to sense Immediately the i'm
port of the October revolution. 1t
seemed somehow to confuse him-him
who had been the herald of storm in
Russian literature. He cursed the
October revolution and blessed it,
slandered and defended it in the same
breath. With his soul divided against
itself, he sought peace in reminis-
cences of the past, first about Toll
stoy and later about his own life-in
the "Autobiegraphical Tales" and
MY Universities" In these reminis
cences are revealed the great man
and the great soul seeking always
the truth and the meaning of life.
No one has caught the essence of
the personality of Tolstoy, with all
its exalted contradictions, as has
Gorky. Out of brief descriptive bits
and casual comments there arises in
all it's greatness this figure with its
far-reaching prophetic gaze and fatal
nearsightedness. Tolstoy's imposing
spiritual stature stirs Gorky, but Toll
stoyism itself leaves him cold; not
this is the truth and the meaning of
life that he seeks.
And what are this truth and this
meaning? There was q time when
Gcrky found them in the struggle
the toiling masses for new world.
In his "reminiscences he tells how he
arrived at this view But still the
tangle of his doubts remains, until
absorbing himself in the past and
seeking to give faithful picture of
the life and thoughts Of Russia's
struggling millions, he perceives that
his doubtings are without foundation.
Faith in the creative power of the
toiling masses returns to him and the
division in his soul disappears.
His most recent works, such as
"Artamanov's Affairs" and "Klim
Samgin's Life" are patent testimony
that the desire to create the sociolog-
ical novel still pursues Gorky. The
new life has again stirred him and
he has felt upon him the fructifying
breath of the October revolution.
"Artamanov's Affairs" constitutes
a summary of all of Gorky's novels
of the life OF the past, such as "Foma
Gordeyev," "Three" and "The Town
Okurov." The Russian capitalist
class, with all it's national peculiar
tiles, passes through a development
of three generations from the first
stages of its growth until it's ultimate
downfall, the story reaching it's
climax in the last years of the Octo-
her revolution. And in Gorky's eyes
there is no longer a curse hanging
over Mother Russia, but blessing,
the blessing of liberated toll, of the
collective rebuilding Of life upon new
foundations.
The historical significance Of
Gorky's latest works is very great.
With a broad sweep and growing
mastery Gorky is fulfilling the social
requirements of the present. From
distant Italy, whose climate is es-
sential for his weak lungs, Gorky
follows every occurrence in the Soviet
Union and evaluates the great work
that is being fashioned there for all
CT mankind. Gorky has found him
self again and is again serving with
all his powers the proletarian revolu-
ton. His recent letters of greeting
to the tenth anniversary Of the Soviet
Union and his reply to the calumnies
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~~~s~~~~~~<~~~~>>~~
Are you
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