She realized that she had put back on and fastened the bracelet and brooch previously taken off for the night.
“And everything is twisted into an attack on us. They raided the stockbrokers’ quarter on Ilinka and found seventy Jews without residence permits—so the rumor goes around that the brokers are Jews to a man. If there’s no small change, the Jews are to blame. If there are food shortages and prices are high, it’s because the Jews are hoarding. Now there are these unfair charges against Rubinstein and the sugar refiners. Suppose some people are individually guilty—they should be brought to trial individually, without any of this poisonous talk about the Jews always being to blame for everything. Whatever happens to the Russian state the Jews have to take the rap.”
She was carried away by a passion more powerful than any she expressed on the stage.
“Of course, we were always downtrodden, and it’s always easier to deflect the people’s wrath onto us, away from the real culprits. And of course the Jew-baiting atmosphere of so many years is bound to have its consequences. The Beilis case isn’t over and done with yet—the wounds it left are still too fresh. You can see the idea clearly enough: use the Jewish question to split society, which is united in rejecting the government. Now they’re fostering anti-Semitism in the army as well so as to turn the discontent of the troops in the same direction. They’ve shamelessly whipped up this spy mania—even searching synagogues for concealed wireless telegraphs! They’ve evacuated people from Kurland, Kovno, and Grodno provinces like bailiffs evicting defaulters, the old, the weak, the sick—you hear terrible stories. Put yourself in their place, Alina Vladimirovna, just think what evacuation means: torn from your hearth, with just a day or two’s warning, deprived of the possessions that make life livable, hustled off to some place on the Volga, or even a Siberian village. Where can you find a home? What are you to eat? How will your children grow up? They let the traitor Sukhomlinov out on the town—and the Jews are bogged down in rural exile. Worse still—refugees are put to forced labor, a new form of serfdom is being introduced, people are no longer their own masters.”
When she thought of the position of the Jews it was not just the cruel cuts, the heavy knocks, the sharp blows to the body that hurt her, but the lightest finger laid on a single hair—she would start in anticipation before it was touched.
“This spy mania is particularly painful to me because it is connected with the most insulting of all the humiliations we have to bear—the accusation that Jews are cowards. That brother of mine, Lazar, of whom I am very proud, formed a Jewish Self-Defense Group with some other youngsters in Kiev in 1905, got a big thrill out of going on night duty with a revolver, and discovered for the first time what a marvelous feeling it is not to be afraid, to know that if you die—you’ll die fighting!”
Susanna, in her nightdress now, and about to put the light out, could see no lurking mockery in Alina’s clear eyes, and so grew still more confiding.
“Our history tells us that our men could be lions. In public life everybody can see it’s the same even today. In the army the opportunity doesn’t arise—but when it does they’ll show what they’re made of.”
And as she was blowing out the lamp: “Not only doesn’t it depress me, I’m proud and happy to be a Jewess! Of the same stock as those talented, spiritually strong and—brave people. Yes, brave! Good night.”
It was her only reason for traveling around with that excruciating troupe, to ridiculous concerts that took her away from her family, with wearisome journeys and uncomfortable overnight stops, to recite things her silent semi-literate audience did not always understand—her determination to repay honestly her debt to the war and to the army, and to refute arguments against the Jews. Each according to his powers.
[10]
(A GLANCE AT THE NEWSPAPERS)
“ROMANIAN SOLDIERS! I have summoned you to carry your banners beyond our frontiers. The nation will glorify you throughout the ages!”
Now that Romania has made its move, the road to the Balkans lies open. Nor can the end of treacherous Bulgaria, now hemmed in on all sides, be long delayed …
“The left flank of the Russian army is now completely secure against surprises from any quarter,” Lieutenant General Brusilov told a correspondent. The spirit of the Romanian army is magnificent. General Brusilov is confident that Austria will not be able to hold out for very long, and the war may end in August 1917.
HORRIFYING DISCOVERY in the garden of the German Embassy in Bucharest: explosive substances, bacillus cultures …
Poor potato harvest in Germany, no bread or meat for a long time. Ringed by an implacable blockade …
There are reports that peasants, because of some totally incomprehensible fear for the future, are not bringing grain to the market but burying it … The peasants must be encouraged to sell their grain. (Rech)
FIXED GRAIN PRICES AND THE PEASANTS’ INTERESTS: The psychology of the village today: peasants are endeavoring to save their grain, on which their whole existence depends, for a rainy day. Only organized intervention can ensure observance of the law on fixed prices.
… telegram from the Ministry of Agriculture. A fixed price for flour is to be established. We have been waiting for this telegram like manna from heaven. It has untied our hands … The establishment of uniform fixed prices makes a flour shortage unthinkable … The rural population must accept this measure with civic courage …
… the grain crisis can be rendered less acute—by lowering fixed prices and introducing large-scale requisitioning of cereals. (Russkie Vedomosti)
Letter to the Editor … At the present time, when prices are continually rising, there can be no thought of leaving life to the mercy of the iron law of supply and demand … Emergency measures to regulate supply, and not the abolition of compulsory tariffs and fixed prices …
… sugar prices up … granulated sugar 20 kopecks a pound …
SAVE THE HARVEST! Teams of schoolchildren … Voluntary pilgrimage of schoolboys and students to the fields … moral rebirth of Russian youth …
(Photographs) “Our soldiers are always cheerful” (two shown with broad smiles). “One who will enjoy the fruits of our victory” (shows a Russian soldier holding a Turkish child).
… Russian prisoners harnessed to the plow ten in line … prisoners made to pull carts to gather potatoes and kale … forced to manufacture poison gas …
How powerfully Germans dominated Russian life. Why were we so inordinately indulgent? For fifty years Russian scholars and Russian artists looked at the world through German eyes, and our decadents still seem unable to come to their senses: although the performance of German works is forbidden (as in Italy and France), various concert artists are gradually raising their heads and showing their spiritual bankruptcy, apparently unable to do without Beethoven and Wagner. The public must boycott such concerts. (Novoye Vremya)
LECTURE ON “THE SOUL OF WOMAN“ … Weininger’s negative answer … Woman as portrayed by Maupassant and Chekhov … in the works of Shakespeare … Tolstoy’s view … The emancipated woman …
AT THE CAPITAL’S CINEMAS
LOVE’S ACCORD, THE MORPHINE GIRL, THE GOLDEN DREAM
FOR SALE: a white lacquered DRESSING TABLE.
SENSATIONAL PRESENT: War games for children and adults, Pestalozzi Institute.
BEAUTY AIDS OF THE ANCIENT HELLENES. Wax and marble soaps.
WOODEN-SOLED FOOTWEAR, cheap and comfortable. From Zemgor workshops.
LOVER OF ANTIQUES PAYS GOOD PRICES for porcelain, pictures, bronzes, furniture.
Situation sought as SECOND PARLOR MAID.
H.M. THE EMPEROR INVESTED with British Order of the Bath, Military Division, First Class, for services to the war effort.
… until our army and the armies of our allies meet in a fraternal embrace beneath the walls of Berlin …
The Russian and Romanian forces have drawn back a little …
From a British journal … “Invincibility of our eastern
ally … traditional Russian tactics … retreat in order to strike more effectively …
British “Tommies” have christened their new armored car with the monosyllabic appellation “tank,” which means “cistern.” These are box-shaped landgoing ships. The “cistern” was fathered by Winston Churchill …
According to the Reuters agency, morale in Germany is now as low as could be … The end of Austria-Hungary is at hand … men of 50 to 60 called to the colors …
… the reporter saw with his own eyes a German soldier with no butter spreading axle grease on his bread … Germany’s position in the third year of war …
From the army in the field … Clubs used by the Germans to finish off soldiers overcome by poison gas. Many such clubs studded with blunt nails have been picked up in German trenches occupied by our forces …
FIXED PRICES. The atmosphere is extremely tense … rural population in Melitopol province has no faith in fixed prices … buyers leave empty-handed …
EKATERINOSLAV … Grain market unprecedentedly quiet. Now that new fixed prices have been confirmed, growers prefer to hold back their grain. Mills are ceasing production because of the grain shortage.
BREAD AND FLOUR are not in short supply in Rostov! The alleged shortage has been created by the inhabitants themselves, who have greatly increased their purchases. Bakers claim that people are taking much more bread than they need … Must be limited to one pood of flour per person.
… Some people ask whether requisitioning would really be so easy. Could we take grain away from landowners and peasants at a price which they consider too low? Would this not cause unrest among a section of the Russian people? However that may be, we probably cannot avoid requisitioning. In a country where elementary honesty and spirit do not exist threats are necessary. (Rech)
In provinces where export of vegetables is not prohibited they vanish completely. Middlemen go around the villages buying up everything they can lay their hands on—butter, eggs, mushrooms, wool—and carrying it off into the unknown …
TIFLIS. Forty wagonloads of concealed grain have come to light here. Some of it has rotted.
PROFITEERING by the Nobel and “Mazut” companies.
PROFITEERING IN GALOSHES
1914 TO THE APATHETIC, OUR COMMISERATION—TO THOSE AGAINST US, OUR RESPECTS—TO COMRADES-IN-ARMS, OUR GREETINGS … our task goes far beyond the framework of contemporary events … must free ourselves from foreign tutelage of any kind … safeguard Russian independence and the nation’s energies …
PATRIOTISM AND HEALTH RESORTS … Chaos at Simferopol station. Hordes of people begging for a lift besiege the lucky few who manage to get an automobile or a carriage …
UNCOUTH GENIUS. In The Barber of Seville, Karakash sang something incorrectly and “Maestro” Chaliapin demonstratively beat time with his foot, then yelled at the top of his once-heroic voice, “If you can’t sing, why don’t you forget about it!” Karakash walked off into the wings, pursued by unprintable abuse from the mouth of the genius.
POTATO CHEESE is almost the equal of Swiss cheese in flavor and nutritional value …
THE RUSSIAN COMPANY “MACHINE GUN.”
Our specialty: MOURNING FOR LADIES, bespoke or ready-made.
Wet nurse, countrywoman, seeks position.
BLOODSTOCK FOR SALE
FOR SALE: SABLE CLOAK
PLEASE HELP! For the attention of kind people! Land surveyor’s wife asks kind and compassionate people for material assistance … in extremely difficult situation, two daughters, deserted by husband … all belongings pawned …
AT IMPERIAL HQ. On the name day of the Heir to the Throne, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Pitirim celebrated divine service … His Imperial Majesty was presented with a benedictory letter from the Most Holy Synod together with an icon of the All-Merciful Saviour.
AUSTRIAN PRIME MINISTER STüRGKH SHOT by newspaper editor Friedrich Adler …
Russian and Romanian troops have pulled back a little in the Dobrudja …
In our time millions of people have got used to living with the thought of death. They die without a word of reproach, fully conscious of the enormous significance of their death … “We shall be no more, but our children will know the joy of the free and beautiful life without sorrow which will come to our tear-drenched earth …”
SCURVY IN THE GERMAN ARMY
CLASS ENMITY IN GERMANY
Germany slanders Russia …
STATEMENT BY RODZYANKO … In view of the discussion in the press as to whether M. V. Rodzyanko should accept a ministerial post, the president of the State Duma asks us to inform the public that no such proposal has ever been made to him.
IN THE BUDGET COMMISSION OF THE STATE DUMA. A plan for the reorganization of food distribution was submitted by the Minister of Agriculture … Broadest participation of sections of the public and of senior plenipotentiaries and their assistants … The Ministry of the Interior has also completed work on a plan for a new law on food supplies. Responsibility for supervising food supplies throughout the empire will rest with the Minister of the Interior, provincial governors, and city prefects.
Tambov. The governor is threatening to requisition grain. In the name of patriotism, the governor calls on traders and producers to report to the plenipotentiary immediately any stocks of salable grain in their possession.
Novocherkassk. Full authority in supply matters is vested in the plenipotentiaries and various consultative bodies and committees, but when disaster strikes, the population turns to the ataman.
GROWERS MOBILIZE. Landowners in Saratov province are preparing to protest against the fixed prices set for cereals.
(MISCELLANEOUS) Women are not turning out to work. Money is so plentiful in the countryside that people do not want to work anymore. (Rech)
The supply of butter to Petrograd is not at all reliable. By contrast, there is a butter surplus in the Baltic provinces, but the export ban makes it impossible to deliver it to Petrograd.
The Tula sugar refinery has no raw material, while beets are rotting in Ryazan and Tambov provinces because of the export ban.
KOSTROMA. There is a fuel crisis in this forest kingdom.
POLICE RAID IN ODESSA on the biggest nest of black marketeers in the center of the city … ended with the arrest of several dozen black marketeers, brokers and middlemen.
In Vladikavkaz, Nikolai and Vladimir Zapalov were sentenced by the governor-general to three months’ imprisonment, without the option of a fine, for receiving 700 pairs of stolen shoes.
In refutation of incorrect reports about the kerosene trade which have found their way into the press, the BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NOBEL BROS. & CO. considers it necessary to publish this statement … Stocks of kerosene are not being concealed anywhere, by anyone.
PATRIOTIC AND PROFITABLE. Buy WAR BONDS at 5½% per annum. This is the easiest of your duties to your country, and after the war your savings will enable you to begin a new life.
… woman wanted to steer barge … woman pump hand.
General meeting of SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF THE JEWISH POPULATION … Sanatoria in the Crimea.
FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR STRUGGLE AGAINST GERMAN DOMINATION … Liquidation of German landholdings in southern Russia proceeds at full speed.
GRAND GYPSY CONCERT
KATYUSHA SOROKINA … With the gracious participation of Tamara Platonovna Karsavina of the Imperial Ballet.
LARGE REWARD offered for assistance in renting GENTLEMAN’S APARTMENT.
BEAUTIFUL BIRCH-PANELED BEDROOM SUITE for sale …
LUXURIOUS PERSIAN AND SMYRNA CARPETS …
HOME SHOE REPAIRS—anyone can learn.
Fully trained laundress …
A HIGH-HANDED ACTION. The German and Austrian manifesto on the creation of the kingdom of Poland … without asking the Poles whether they want the German yoke … usual revolting behavior of the German government … on the Russian side the only reason why steps have not yet been taken to reorganize the kingdom of
Poland is that it is impossible to carry out such a reorganization at the height of the war.
… Daily Telegraph: “We are gradually beginning to understand the Russian spirit … The unwavering loyalty for which we are so grateful … Everything which idealistic visionaries vaguely dreamt of … the endurance, kindliness, and chivalry of the Slavs have begun to stand out against the general background of suffering and misery …”
… Friedrich Adler, son of the Social Democratic Party leader Viktor Adler, married to a Russian student, favorite pupil of the illustrious Mach. A passionate Social Democrat … Indicated that the reason for his action was the ban on a socialist gathering. (Rech)
… It is indeed embarrassing to recall that the universal conviction in our country was that military operations would be over quickly, in four to five months. Continuation of the war for more than a year was thought to be out of the question, if only because the German population would die of starvation. But the twenty-eighth month of the war shows that … We have not only experienced an acute shortage of military supplies, we are confronted with the astounding fact that the food supply, in an empire which before the war fed more than one Western state, is totally disorganized.
IN THE BUDGET COMMISSION OF THE STATE DUMA. Speech by Protopopov, Minister of the Interior … “We must not let the noble slogan ‘everything for victory’ turn into ‘nothing for the home front’ … When I was in England … We are late in … Private initiative must be allowed to thrive, because that is where the genius and the resilience of our nation shows itself … Introduction of ration cards would bring all trade to a halt …”
WHERE RUSSIAN GRAIN GOES … At a well-attended conference of plenipotentiaries for procurement of cereals in Kharkov … While Russian cities cannot obtain a single sack of grain huge quantities are exported to Finland unhindered … (Novoye Vremya)
NOVOCHERKASSK. Duty on potatoes no higher than 75 kopecks per pood …
November 1916 Page 18