Evening star., 1933-10-22
IKE a ghost arising from a long
sleep. the barred and boarded cid
mansion on Sixteenth street,
. which once housed the resplend-

T IKE a ghost arising from long
sleep. the barred and boarded old
mansion on Sixteenth street
IL which once housed the resplend-
ent plenipotentiaries of the i'm
perial Russian government, is beginning
to bestir itself in anticipation of new
deal
The grilled iron gates at the entrance
to the chancery were changing open and
shut yesterday as messengers, reporters,
photographers and several unidentified
persons conferred with the lone Gus
todian. Alex 1. Krynitsky naturallzed
American. and his attractive black
haired wife.
Newspaper men and other "unauthor-
lied persons" were barred from inspect
ing the gaunt. dustladen interior OF
the once lavish embassy, but it was
said that long rusty hinges are swing
ing again and bare. cold floors are
creaking complaints as Krynitsky and
others invade the musty rooms to ap-
praise conditions.
Before Long Who Knows?
NO no, you cannot 60 in there yet;
the short, mustaChed CUSTODIAN told
members of the press. But maybe be-
fore long everything will be wide open
for YOU. Who knoWs?" He smiled sig
nificantly, but. catching himself, has
tened to assure his intervieWers that
he had received no orders at all to in
dicate what may happen.
Krvnitsky. who came here from Rus
sia in 1917 to buy munitions for the
Kerensky regime and who became a
metallurgist at the Bureau of STANDARDS
after collapse of that government, Is
watching closely Developments pointing
toward recognition of the Sovlets. For
the past eight years he and his VIE
and boy-the latter now student a!
Central High School-haVe had Tree use
of the chancery for home.
The seven-room office annex to the
great four-story stone and light-brick
edifile was erected when the czarist
representatives bought the property IN
1918 from John Hays Hammond. who
only a short time before had acquired II
from its first owner, Mrs. George Pull
man. wife of the sleeping car manutac-
turer. The chancery was offered to
Krvnitskv as home in exchange for
his custodianship by Serge Ughet. who
was financial attache of the embassy
under the short lived Kerensky regime
If the Soviet government should takf
over the embassy. the stewardship OF
the Krvnitskvs automatically would END
Proud of Stewardship.
Krynitsky is not going to worry about
that eventuality until he comes to II
he indicated yesterday. In the mean
time he would have the world know
that he has taken good care Of the ol(
building. In fact. he does not believ'
great deal of renovizing would be re-
ouired to put the 33-year-old, 6O-roon
building in livable condition.
Considering the long time IL ma:
been vacant" he said, the embassy i
in good repair OF course. there II
dust but the walls are protected oy
covering of cheese cloth and the moor
are not bad The building outside
needs a bath. That storm not long age
caused a leak in the roof but l hae
! that fixed
No. he said. no attempt will be made
to put the place in condition for Com
missar Litvinoff's visit to Washington
/ that anyway. He would not be sur
, prised if the ccmmissar paid visit t
| the embassy. however, and ne VIII
strive to have the building looking 1t!
| best under present circumstances.
John. Krynitsky's 15-year-old son
who was born in this country, SPOKE
of the ghost stories" told about tn
| empty building during its long perioe
of abandonment.
Ghost Stories 'the Bunk
There are lots of strange noises IL
there at night" he declared. People
have claimed that the czar's horse!
clatter through the rooms, but that
| just bunk It's natural that the floor
should squeak and the walls crack un
| der expansion and contraction OF th
weather. It's not pleasant place t
be at night. though
The main wrought iron doors swuni
open last July for the first time II
! years to admit Ughet and crew o
workmen for the purpose of removing
some personal effects CT UGhet, who ha