Evening star., 1933-05-07


laughing; no one but the young smiling.
Not many automobiles were to be seen.
A child threw a stone and a man shook
his fists at us as we drove to the hotel.
The Russian girl beside me said:
This Is what they are saying: The
bourgeois have food; they come here to
look at us, the animals And another
says: Why should they ride when dig
potatoes all day and have not enough to
eat?'"
AS we walked into the hotel, some of
the spectators surreptitiously felt the
clothes Of a man of the party, and said:
II didn't know there was cloth like
this in the world. His suit must have
cost 500 rubles. Would you say 100 for
. the boots? No. 200 Look at the thick
soles."
These prices were breath taking.
Nearly 500 for good boots. More than
$225 for good suit. We were not sur
prised later to be charged 81 for bottle
of beer and, 81 to have suit pressed.
We could pay, but we wondered how
people managed on wages of $50 a
month.
AT dinner we felt again the cost to
~ Russia of the Soviet ideal in the
attitude Of those of our party who
already had met their relations. They
were subdued; not a gesture among
them, talking little because of spies
among the walters. One woman had as
guests couple just married. Their eyes
were intent on their food They said
there had been no meat and no butter
in Leningrad, except in the hotels for
foreigners, for three weeks. The bride
had tried for two years to get an apph-
cation filled for cloth for dress. Her
husband, who, being a Communist, had
various privileges, bought at minimum
cost, mans suit, and somehow it had
been made over into a wedding dress.
The skirt was narrow, and scars Of
sewn-up pockets showed, but the girl
was proud of it. The husband had been
living in dormitory while she shared
room with two girls. Another married
couple, going on weeks vacation, had
lent the pair their room. Afterward they
would have to go back to their pre-
marital arrangements until they could
find a room. This might take months
since all the large cities in Russia are
overcrowded. Homes cannot be built:
the money goes for machines.
I had been told in New York that Rus
sian touring was well organized. I was
told that there was a paucity Of auto
busses, but that there were some 800
cars, hundred of them in Moscow, each
with a chauffeur. But the organization
sounded better than it worked-at least
for our party.
When we inquired into sightseeing
plans, we found that rigid routine had
been arranged and that the Soviet would
not keep its promise Of letting US go
where we pleased. Six Of US had not
come to visit relatives; we had in mind
specific places and projects. As we were
paying from SIS to $40 a day, we wanted
to make the most Of our time. We IN
tended to visit the palace Of the late
turned into museums, a childrens village
and rest homes for the workers. I'm
possible, the Soviet said; that would
mean cutting out important sights IN
Leningrad or delaying the other members
Of the party. Not at all, we said; let
the observation-disclosures 60 to Moscow
while we stayed In Leningrad Impos-
sible; no autobus could be spared at
Moscow to meet the train, 20 there would
be four hours Of walking. Very well;
we were in good training. impossible;
impossible. We had been told that
parties Of as few as five could be formed
With q guide, 20 we asked 10 be separated