Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-18

tcnsity and In lightning-like Russian
she detained for q couple Of minutes.
/ then asked her to tell me in English
what she had said and the translation
reduced simply to this: IF were of the
Soviets I would not have to live in
Hardin" Then she asked me what !
thought of the Soviets. I responded
with a grimace OF rejection and distaSte.
She smiled gleefully and thrust her
hand across the counter and shook mine
with fervor.
That Is the reaction one gets on every
hand. These people are still hoping, in
most cases., for the restoration of the
old regime, in some measure or form:
but others admit sadly that there is no
hope for the recovery Of the old ways,
that the old Russia is gone forever. The
best they can see ahead is that Russia
will slowly redeem itself from comnu-
niSm and present eventually an orderly
system of life that respects the rights
of the old ariStocratS and their sup
porters as well as of the peasantry.
How can there be a revival Of the
old Russia" sadly asked young woman
in one Of the cabarets we visited,
beautiful creature plainly of the better
type, educated and refined, pitifully CIT
Of harmony with ner environment. 80
much has been utterly destroyed. so
much has been swept away forever be-
yond recovery. So many are dead. The
very ground has been plowed deeply in
destruction. The old Russia is gone,
not to be redeemed"
Efforts Plainly Futile.
Still they work. secretly and openly,
for the defeat of the Soviets. Yet their
not be too fragrant in their political
agitationS, for the Chinese do not want
Hardin to become a hotbed of intrigue
of counter-revolution. Much as the
present regime in China distrustS and
dislikes the Soviets. after their bitter
experience with what Is known as
"Borodism." after the agent Of Moscow
who infected South China with COM
munistic ideas, 1t does not care for any
outbreak In the north between the Rus
sian factions.
But the intrigue is not confined to
the Russians in Hardin. There Is con-
slant play and counterplay Of Chinese
factionism, and of Japanese influence.
Hardin is a bit out of the range of
Japanese interests" at present, though
one never knows when frontier" may
be advanced. Yet Japan has undoubt-
eddy an interest in whatever happens in
the north. Its consul general at Hardin.
who was present at a delightful dinner
given III Jul NOLtOA al IAtc JdSiO SAuo
on the second night of our stay, is rated
as one Of the most skillful diplomatic
agents Japan has today in the field.
With all this intrigue and all the mis-
cry, Hardin makes itself gay. 1 use
this form of expression Intentionally.
There is evident a forced attitude of
pleasuring. How can it be otherwise,
with everybody watching everybody
else? The cabarets, running, under
stand, until and and o'clock in
the morning. did not test this
schedule personally. needing sleep far
more than so-called diverSion-are in
truth sad affairs. The performers are
doing their bit to make a living. The
patrons are trying to forget the serious
ness of life in daylight hours. The
strangers are having the time Of their
lives" at heavy cost.
Hardin may be the Paris of Asia"
but the title does no credit to the CAPT.
tai of France. 1t Is a remarkable city
in its newness and growth. Manchuria
is a remarkable land in its richness OF
soil and forests and mines. 1t is, be-
lieve, destined to play large part In