Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-03
BY CARROLL BINDER.

LENINGRAD. u. S. S. R.-Com-
munal living is the order of the day in
Leningrad as 1t is In every Russian city.
From to 80 families share each of the
mansions which once housed a single
noble or rich merchant family. Some
times two or more families share a
single room in one of those appropriated
establishments. Occasionally one dis
covers A. shabby outcast living In the
basement or clubhouse of a mansion he
once owned. Like most urban Russians.
Leningraders take their principal meals
in common dining halls or restaurants.
1t Is not surprising therefore that a
group OF American engineers, several of
them from Chicago, should be living
communistically" in communistic Lem
ln9rad. 1t is very superior and pleas
ant sort of communism-that of a
bourgeois American club rather than
the rough and tumble Russian variety
which these non-communist American
technicians practice in Leningrad. Their
clubhouse In what used to be an aristo-
cratic center of pre-revolutionary st.
Petersburg is one of the most delightful
ana hospitable spots for Americans in
the Soviet Union. There the traveller
fortunate enough to have an introduce
ton will be RECALLED with a meal such
as money cannot buy him today In Rus
sias uniformly inferior eating places.
There he will hear familiar American
college songs, see familiar American
periodicalS-and be asked or told the
latest gossip about Peoples Gas COM
mon and Al Capone.
X 4 X X
The Is members of the staff of the
Freyn Engineering Co., $40 South
MtRhi0nn HhtnnnA ,,l.N
helping the bolsheviks convert Russia
from farm into workshop by draw
ing up plans for $500, 00O, 900 worth of
iron and steel plants, enjoy probably
the highest standard of living in Lenil-
grad Engineers are the most valued
members of Communist society. They
live better than anybody else in nom
offcial Russian life, and their children
have q brighter future than any other
class In proletarian society. The
American engineers who counsel Rus
sian engineers and have the task of
training Russians for practical admin
istration of the gigantic iron and
steel mills now being built are willingly
offered the best to be had In the
U. 8. 8. r.
That means juicy steaks when the
Russian brain worker Is allowed only
100 grams of meat daily; butter ad lib
| when the Russian gets only pound q
| month; sheeting for the beds when
for hours to get their ration Of calico.
Trus, these good things of life are
sometimes obtained at the price Of a
slightly damaged cook or maid.
X II HK
When Leningrad housewives behold
Freyn Club servant carrying away
huge parcel of butter or roll of
sheeting they wonder whether the sup
ply will hold out until their turn. and
they suspect the successful purchaser
OF some unlawful conspiracy with the
salesman. Their frayed nerves spur
them to a little direct action, until the
official order authorizing supplies for
the Americanski" Is flashed upon them
by the assaulted servant.
But, even for the privileged, house,
Keeping in Russia is a task requiring
| clever wits and endless patience. Only
one who has himself stood in cues to
| obtain the whereWithal of meal can
, appreciate the two repasts OF "Ameri-
can" proportions daily served diners at
| the Freyn Club.
Food inevitably becomes the chief
theme of any discussion OF Russian
life, but the Freyn Club has other fea-
lures which distinguish 1t from the rest
OF Russia. There Is a fine hand ball
court and a photograph, with an up
to-date collection Of American Jazz
records, which quite captivate Russian
visitors. Radio has proved disap-
pointment thus far. Russian programs
are rather dull, as even the Communist
press complains, while foreign stations
90 not broadcast at the hours Lehh-
graders are free.
For recreation there is q cabaret two