The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-18
BY JACK. HOWARD
United Press STAFF Correspondent


PARIS, Aug. 18.-Moscow may
be the center of world turned
upside down" yet it is also the pivot
of a new civilization.
This is the outstanding impress
sion one gains from a visit to this
laboratory of a new human, social
and political experiment. The for
eigner first entering Russia is like
ly to feel he is jumping off into an
abyss about which he is Ignorant
and of which he expects little.
He quickly finds he can not APP
ply to Russia the yardstickS of any
other civilization. Every phase of
life in the Communist capital is new
and different. Transportation, shop
ping, theater going and, above all,
people, are Startlingly interesting.
Try to Get Taxi
When you leave the Moscow sta
ton, you naturally assume you can
get a taxi, but fortune in the form
of a taxi rarely smiles in Moscow.
To supply the taxi needs of this
city of 100000 persons there are
exactly lis rather decrepit cars, and
generally some group of tourists has
gained a monopoly on this mode of
conveyance.
You next turn anxiouSly toward
one of the "droschkes" or horse cabs
and ask to be taken to your hotel.
Th0 driver of the horse-drawn
vehicle will offer to take you to
your hotel, about a fifteen-minute
ride, for the modest sum of about
SO, SO you turn to the next hack
to open negotiations. BY this time
the first cabbie has decided to cut
his offer in half. You tremblingly
climb into the hack and pray it will
at least hold out until you can reach
your hotel
Soldiers Everywhere
Driving through the streets Of
Moscow, one is conscious of the
great number of soldiers coming
and going. They appear to be the
best fed and best dressed men in
Moscow and all are in the pink of
physical condition. They are re-
cruited from all parts of the Soviet
Union. Many racial types are rep
resented in The ranks of the largest
army in the world.
Long lines of people standing in
the streets recall the many stories
of the Moscow bread line. You may
be rather surprised to learn that
they are merely waiting for the
Russian equivalent of Fifth ave-
nue. bus. There are, however, many
real food lines, where people stand
for hours waiting to secure some
commodity which they have lacked
for months.
The Moscow hotels take great
pleasure in extracting capitalist
dollars from foreign pocketbooks.
A room which recalls the Ritz be-
cause it is so different may be had
for $40 with no extra. charges for
flies or less pleasant insects.
Good Lunch for Sc
The food situation is not difficult
for a foreigner, for he can secure
about anything he wants at the
| larger hotels. A fairly good lunch
may be had for about Sc. The
leading Moscow hotel for foreigners
had installed a modern American
Bar to attract the foreign trade
The prices at the bar compare
favorably with those elsewhere in
Europe, according to people who
have made an extensive study Of
the bar situation.
A troupe of Gypsies, in brilliant
colored costumes which are seen
nowhere else in Russia, help to en-
liven the scene for the visiting fire.
man. But unless a ship load Of
| tourists has arrived in Leningrad a
few days earlier and swelled the
number of foreigners in Moscow,
thirty Gypsies on the stage per-
forming for a half dozen guests on
the dining room floor is not an ave-
inspiring sight.
If you are lucky, some Russian
officials may invite you to dine with
them one evening at the palatial
residence Of nobleman Of the
ancient regime.
Elegance Not Lost
While in the house across the
street seven workers families eat
their meal Of greasy Russian soup
and black bread, you are served in
the more elaborate home with a
magnificent twelve-course meal.
The table is covered with gold
edged china of former grand dukes.
Vodka and wine are served from
gold-rimmed crystal glasses. A
waiter, who may have served the
last Of the Romanoffs, now serves
excellent caviar to the Communist
officials and their guests.
After the meal there is no need to
hunt for taxi. A new Packard
sedan which, it is carefully exc
planned, does not belong to an indi-
vidual, but to the foreign office,
takes you back to your hotel.
Life is pleasant and easy for a
foreigner in Russia, but the Russian
has to make the best Of what he has
for there is nothing else for him to
do. The closer he is to Communism,
the better off he is. for with COM
plete adoption of the new faith"
come many privileges unavailable to
the unbelever.
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