Evening star., 1932-01-10


wooden, metal and china bowls, and be-
side each bowl was superfluous spoon.
Soup of cabbage, carrots and beets with
out meat stock of any kind was ladled
into the dishes, and chunks of black bread
were heaped in the center Of the table.
This was the meal, despite the fact that
the Soviets were exporting huge guam
titles of the best grade wheat and cattle.
Both the young and the old pay with
hunger for the new factories. One can
travel many hundred miles without find
ing a railway station serving a regular
meal. Gone, too, are the wayside bazaars
of fish, roast chicken, milk and ham
hooks that marked the railway from
Moscow to Vladvostok when iourneyed
through Russia three years ago. At one
fortunate division point in the North
Caucasus 7 had dinner at railway eat
ing house. The food was identical with
that of the farms. Three children stood
by my table. I tasted portion Of the
soup, could not eat it and pushed it away
to light cigarette. Before had thrown
the match away the watching boys, un-
derstanding the significance of the move,
had snatched the bread and pulled the
soup to them. They ate it ravenously
and quickly, dipping the crusts into the
hot water and vegetables.
Red Russia's raiment also shows it's
contribution toward the sprawling fac
tories of concrete and steel strewn
throughout the land. Boots and shoes
are significant barometer of q peoples
well being. And Soviet feet cry out the
individuals wants. High-laced shoes are
the best wear for the fortunate men and
women of the cities who have saved the
$35 or $50 required to purchase pair.
But they must be doubly lucky to have
the best. For, in addition to the price,
they must secure place well up in the
queues of shoppers. Otherwise the linn
tied supply Is often exhausted before
they can reach the counter to make the
transaction.
ONE can stand on Nevsky Prospect IN
Leningrad, or at factory gate In
the Caucasus and watch humbly Shod
feet hurry to a millennium. Rubber
soled, heelless slippers of canvas, leashed
with oft-knotted strings, pass silently.
Heavy, high boots with patches upon
patches thump the cobbled streets. Shoes
cracked and worn beyond repair and
straw sandals below legs wrapped in
rags scuff by. And occasionally there Is
a pair of shiny, trim boots Of excellent
leather. These are almost certain TO be
those Of soldier; for the Red Army Is
as completely equipped as industry.
vi re nj
cities. Caps are the uniform headdress.
A hat, the badge of foreigner, smacks
of the bourgeois IL worn by Soviet.
Shoddy suits Of European cut and gro
tesque fit, khaki blouses in a military
style, and, less frequently, the embroid-
cred, beted blouse and trousers buried in
boots are the best to be seen. Because
neckties require goods and labor to make,
where goods and labor are at premium,
they are uncommon. This drab garb Is
further dulled by unshaven faces. For
shaving takes time, uses steel, and even
for only single shave the Soviet blades
cut poorly. So its practice once week
is deemed adequate in elite Communist
circles
Apparel for women is improvised from
meager stocks. Chic gowns of fine ma
terials have no place in the wardrobe OF
a well dressed Red lady. Extremely short
black skirts, white shirtwaists and red
cotton scarfs wrapped around the head
are the popular social wear of factory
workers. Clerical workers with deter
mined desire for European dress often
can secure cheap suits of old-fashioned
European models and coats of antiquated
style. But such costumes are rare.
Women dress in the nondescript garbs
available. Hats and silk stockings are
rarely seen. The wearing of them is
erima facie evidence that the woman who
IL