The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-12-19
LENII CORNER

In the following excerpt from Memories
of Lenin," by Krupskaya published by the
International Publishers, S1.5O), we have
glimpse into the method of work and study
by Lenin and what is particularly strk-
ing, is his profound faith in the masses,
supplemented by strict MARKHAM analysis
OF the objective conditions Editor.
HITLADIMIR 1LYICH had a most profound
faith in the class instinct of the proletariat,
in its creative forces, in its historic mission This
faith was not born in Vladimir Ilyitch in day.
1t became moulded in him during the years when
he had studied and meditated Marks theory of
class struggle; when he had studied the actual
conditions of Russian life; when, in combating
the conceptions of the old revolutionaries he had
learned to counterpose the heroisrn of individual
militants by the power and heroism of class
struggle. 1t was thus no blind faith in I'M
known force, but a profound assurance in the
strength of the proletariat, and in its tremen-
dous role in the cause of emancipating the toll
ers. 1t was an assurance based upon pro-
found knowledge of the subject, and a most
conscientious study of actual conditions. His work
among the Petersburg proletariat invested in
living forms this faith in the power of the work.
ing class.
"The revolutionary movement in Russia con-
tinued to grow, and at the same time correspond
ence with Russia increased. 1t soon grew to three
hundred letters month, which tremen-
dous figure for those days. And it provided
Iyitch with spate of material! He really knew
how to read workers letters I remember one
letter, written by workers of Odessa stone quar-
ries. 1t collective essay, written in several
prinitive-looking hands, devoid of subjects and
predcates and innocent of stops and commas. But
it radiated an inexhauStible energy and readiness
to fight to the finish, to fight until victorious.
1t was letter in which every word, however,
naive, was eloquent of unshakabe conviction.
1 don not remember what the letter referred to-
but I remember what it looked hke--the paper
and the red ink. Ilyitch read the letter over
many times. and paced up and down the room
deep in thought. 1t had not been vain en-
deavor when the Odessa quarrymen wrote Il
yitch their letter: they had written to the right
person, to someone who understood them best
of ALL
"a few days afer this letter from the quarry
workers a Letter arrived from Tanyusha--a
young odessa propaganda who Just coming
out. She gave a conscientious and detailed de-
scription of meeting of Odessa artisans Ilytch
also read this letter and Immediately sat down
to reply to Tanyusha: Thanks for the letter
Write more often. OF great Importance to us
are letters describing the ordinary workaday
tivities We get devilish few of such letters"
"In practically every letter Ilyitch asked the
Russian comrades to supply more contacts. THE
strength of revolutionary organization he
wrote to Gussov sis in the number of its con-
facts" He asked Gussov to put the Bosheviks
foreign center in touch with the youth. There
exists among u.s." he wrote, "a kind of idiotic
philistine, Oblomov-like fear of the youth"
Ilytch wrote to his old acquaintance of Samara
days-Alexei Andreyevich Preobrazhensky, who
was then living in the country--and asked him
for contacts with peasants. He requested the
Petersburg comrades, when dispatching workers
letters to the center abroad, not to send ex
tracts or resumes. but the original correspond
ence. These workers letters told Ilyitch more
plainly than anything else that the Revolution
was approaching was growing We we're already
on the threshold of Nineteen Five"