Page
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1925 (117)
LAND OF FEAR.
THE TERRORISM THAT RULES RUSSIA.
‘ABNORMAL FANATICS.
One feels, convinced after a few weeks in Russia that only a small minority of the Communists believe in anything but their own power and advancement, writes a Correspondent
"Daily of the Telegraph." Many of the leaders are, no doubt, genuine Commun- ists.
sincerity of Chicherin, for instance, there can be no doubt, he refused a great inheritance in his early years for the sake of his principles, and at that fateful meeting in London, where Lenin split the Socialists
the
THE CHINA MAILT
homicidal maniac kept for the moralisation, especially among the result of his climate, which purpose,
WORSE THAN TSARIĦT TYRANNY. But the tyranny of the Taars was liberty, indeed, compared with the, tyranny of the Balsheviks. Then at least one was allowed to live and trade and work. so long as politics were not touched. Russian broadmindedness, the child of their boundless plains, allowed greater freedom of action thun dots public opinion in Britain. To-day everyone lives in constant dread. Many people never go to bed before two em., NO as to be dressed when the agents come, for that is their favourite hour. It is characteris tic of Russia that the old saying, when a chance silence falls upon a party, it is not that an ungel is sing over, but "a policeman
has been barn."
the youth of both sexes, have pro- seldom permita him to open the duced a big crop of parentless fortochka, or ventilating window. children, who live God knows Only when spring timidly shows how, begging a bit, stealing a bit. itself and the earliest flowers are
the streets sleeping huddled up together hawked about among ruined and uncompleted usually at extravagant prices buildings. To their credit, the can the Russian brighten his Soviet authorities are endeavour- dingy quarters with a sprig or ing to cope with this evil and two of mimosa from the Crimea among the very numerous appeals or lilac from Kieff, to remind him to one's purse when sitting in that Nature is still beautiful... cafes and restaurants the one to which one gives with least reluct ance is the fund for these poor- waifs...
The concentration of the goy ernment in Moscow has led to a shortage of lodgings which is probably more acute than in any other city in Europa. Directly the frost breaks building pro ceeds vigorously.
skeleton structure near the Arbat Intolerance is the keynote of was condemned as unsafe in the the Communist systent, which Tear's days, and a lengthy law might be defined as the very anti-suit ensued. Now the Bolsheviks; podes of the policy of "live and let
the regardless of
architects'
14
POSITION OF WOMEN. The Municipal Soviet exercises a fatherly supervision over its citizens; as in the old days, it is, forbidden to enter or leave tram when in motion, and the fine of a gold rouble for so doing is enforced; penalties, too, are exacted for throwing about those long cardboard cigarette-ends One huge with which Russians are apt to
strew the country, and big recep-. into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks,
tacles, labelled "dla okurok," are he voted with the former. But
placed in all public buildings and not one, looking into his pale eyes
in the streets. But the latter are with that strange glitter in them,
defaced by the shrieking pro- could regard him as normal, live. They loathe Democracy, verdict, are hurrying on its com- paganda, which gets on one's Dzerhinsky, too, produces the for the Dictatorship of the Pro-pletion with all possible speed. nerves until they are dulled; the impression of 11 cold-blooded
letariat is incompatible with the The only comment I heard was: effect produced by this incessant fanatic. "You cannot make re-grentest good of the greatest Thank God. only Communists appeal to the eye is one of in- volutions in white kid gloves,"
will live there, so it will be a good sincerity. he answered a more squeamish
thing if it does collapse." Rooms A rather surprisingly puritani-· acquaintance, and the same spirit
are nimost impossible to secure, cal feature is the "struggle with has carried him through ruthless
and few are worth having. sea of blood as through fifteen
limited
A prostitution," for which an active definite space years in a dungeon for the sake
called propaganda is maintained, visible "plashchad" is allotted to every in great posters. This seems odd, No- when they have tried to abolish The "screwed-up expression
body is permitted to stay in the Christianity, and Soviet marriage person and heavily taxed. of the great Bolsheviks, especially
city unless he can give a good is a mere formula of registration; of Lenin and Trotsky, has often
reason, and many, a family has as easy and inexpensive to undo been commented on, and the
It is told that in 1923 Moscow been deported at a few hours' as to enter. But woman's posi galleries of portraits with which was a gay city, but in 1924 the notice to remote villages in the tion in Soviet Russia is in no way Moscow abounds show this pheno-swing to the left and the econo-Arctic Circle. Few flats or lodg inferior to man's; she serves. meron to bu characteristic.
mic distress made themselves felt.ings remind one of civilised upon the General Staff of the Red Bykoff is almost the only promin Seats at the Bolshoi Theatre, Europe. The "paradni," or front army, and the tripe-woman of ent Communist who has the face opern, and ballet cost too much. entrance, is invariably closed, Marseilles has found her modern of an ordinary human being. There are few people in Moscow bolted, and barred. No one can counterpart in the female execu For this very reason, perhaps, to-day who can afford Len, or afford to keep a dvornik, or hall tioners of the Che-Ka. The Com- and because of his moderation. his influence is small, and since he even fifteen, gold rcables for porter, and all use the "black" munist women, endeavour to dis- stalls, which are patronised chief- entrance, or back door. When tinguish themselves from their Kave the Third International some very soune advice on the ly by an occasional member of calling upon an acquaintance it is bourgeoise sisters by eccentri- some foreign mission, a conces necessary to wander about a cities of dress or affection of courtyard, usually immense and masqulinity, which, completely always untidy, to find the trades- destroys their attractiveness to men's entrance, which admits to the eye. It is often hard to tell a dark and gloomy kitchen, and the sex when one sees a young then through dingy passages and person with close-cropped hair,
of his convictions.
number, and means exclusive power in the hands of the minority-another characteristic in common with the old régime. They openly treat as enemies all who
are not members of the far as it suits their purpose, but party; they make use of them so once they have censed to be useful they are better dead.
folly of persecuting the nepmension-hunter or private truders, out of 'exist- ence, he has made himself dis- liked by the extremists. It would seem that the screwed-up face and glinty eyes are symptoms of
abnormality, and no real Bolshe-
vik leader can be regarded as quite normal. Lunin was certain- great man, of tremendous driving power: ye: in the official
dy
bulletin of his autopsy it was an- nounced that, instead of grey matter in his brain, they found green slime.
SWARMS OF SPIES.
from capitalistic Europe, or nepman who has not yet received the usual short notice of expulsion. Yet, as during the terror in the French Revolution
we read that the theatres were corridors littered with boxes, check jockey cap with a huge long crammed, so to-day daring the stacks of old furniture, broken peak, a cigarette end hanging on terror which few see, but every-statues, and musty pictures, all the lip, and the hands deep in the body feels in the air in Russia, recking and never ventilated, to trousers pockets. The figure is the harassed and nervous public the single room that is all that that of a veritable female apache flocks to the theatre and the most families can boast it. This straight from the variety stage. cinemas to forget for a moment is usually over-furnished, and their anxieties and fears. always depressing; an old rug "That Wretch next door threw a may conceal a bed and make it stone through the window while I look like a sofa, but a washstand, was playing a Russian piece on the especially a Russian one, is never piano." an elegant object. Worst of all.is the Russia's dread of fresh air,
Still, the Russian temperament shows itself often enough in laughing faces in the streets, yet this laugh has a hollow ring about it; it is the spirit of "let us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die," that spirit which is truer of the Russian than of any other nationality In Europe, for everybody lives from hand to mouth, nothing knowing, and little caring what to-morrow may bring forth. The only mani I saw in Moscow who, seerned
The extremists now in power have taken the bit hetween their teeth, and miss the controlling master-hand.. None vt the moderate
to be men appear strong enough to check them, and they are capable of overriding any reasonable arrangement made with a.. foreign country by the Government on the grounds of political expediency. Yet the officials with whore foreigners genuinely happy had no legs. come into contact scem not only reasonable, but civil and cour 1eous, their hands, however, are so entwined in the meshes of an endiess tangle of red tape that business is as tedious as it is dif- ficult. Yet this very red tape is necessary as a check, for they cannot trust one another; all are thinking of lining their nests against a rainy day, and survivors of pre-Communistic days are always on
Both had been amputated above the knee. He came atomping cheerfully into a grocer's shop, with a healthy glow and a cheer- ful smile on his bronzed and bearded face. I instinctively drew out a few kopecks, when to my surprise he fished out of a expacious pocket a huge pile of small change, both paper and that not unpleasing "hard valuta" now in circulation, which the lock-out for a evidently his day's takings. chance to recover, regardless of changed it for five and ten rouble of their lost pro- notes, for he found begging a lucrative business, he cracked
means, some
perty.
Was
"Silly fellow | Now he will bear you all the pluiter."
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In Russia the individual dares jokes with the salesmen, laughed Drastic Economy vary little. Spies swarm every- uproariously,
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Finance Votes
CONTENTS
Page.
Paga
He
Domestic Occurrence
1
Rubber
14
Leading Articles
14
National Day
14
Cheung Chau Notes
14
4
Harbour Notes
Local Soccer
*15
4
Bowls Interport
15
密 Mooncake Feast
LR.C. Tourney.
.15
6
Aberdeen Shop
15
"University" Men
Not Open
.16
6
Peace Delegates
16
Dollar Interests
6
Lawn Tennis
.16
whistling a
Lorry Death
Local Cricket
17
Blind Home
17
C.C.C. En Fete
18
Lawn Bowls
18.
Levitzki Recital
Gambling Charge: Alleged Bribery Rugger Match. Strikers Killed?. Judicial Enquiry Unruly Conduct Swatow Position Suspect Arrested, Cadets Pay, $3,000 China's Tariffs ·‚ H.K.C.C. Meeting
19
19
20
Seized Vessel The Share Market Salyingpun School
Trade Loan Peace Moves
Peking To Help? "Floating Fish"
The leaders spy upon into his pocket, and stumped out: each other, and the powerful into the street, "Ogpu" spies
cheerful air. On Foreigners are watched, and the
FORLORN CHILDEEN. inquisitive spoon-fed, so that it is
If the other beggars in Moscow very difficult to form a genuine opinion. In the hotels the com- cheerful city, indeed, for scarcely as merry, it would be a ings and goings are registered,
even on the Galata Bridge at as well as interesting conversa--- tions. As a rule this is done Stamboul can one, see so many without attracting attention, but in the capital of Bolshevism; and maimed and distorted beggars es Occasionally a elumsy fellow, when eavesdropping, will betray are a perfect nuisance, and it is not all are cripplas; ragged boys himself. foreigners, and if foreigners visit impossible to buy a packet of Russian friends it is certain to cigarettes at a kiosk or come out bring suspicion upon them. The of a restaurant without being postal censorship is an
old persecuted by a batch of these im Russian institution, and it is cer- portzuate young ruffians. I was tain that the Bolsheviks have con- and made inquiries, as I thought Motor Danger ...
surprised at this phenomenon, Sui Yik" Arms inued this legacy of the Tears hat under the proletarian régime Swatow Position with many other of the worst all the poor were provided for Local Rugger fentures of the old régime, and it is unwise to write from abroad to more paying game, than wicking Motor Smash
| I was told that many found it a}]||Train Bendita -. For in destroying the old while others could not produce the River Gunboats system, while washing away inch indispensable "dokument which King's Park that was evil, they have left us so doar to the Russian official No Threats Another characteristic feature Is Blind Home
friends in Russin."
HKC.C. Season Local Olympiad C.S.C.C. Meeting School Cricket Share Dealings Swatow Improves Peace Delegates Volunteer Sport Rescue Tuga!!
shaken the one chief characterisatorded by the swarms of for Heavy Loss tic of Hfe in Russia through her Jorn children. The years of Honam history and that is fear; the main feature that la comman", both to social disturbance, mortality | | |19 13 Tây emong parents, and general de Yarn Ma
Taarist and Communist MuscOVY
Nowy thank there is nu personal
· safety, any man or woman may
be arrested and even banished fr FOB STIFF,
old days, although capital pos
ment was in theory Doral,
could
Diver's Death Holiday Racing
Motors Collide
Local Opera..
Opium Traffic
10-
Stolen Wood¿
10
10
Third Coup... That £3,000,000
Canton's Admiral Fanling Golf Food Ships Letter Delays Judicial Inquiry. Chen's Progress *Sul Yik's Scenes Held Up Ships. Coules Mokruette Interport Bowls Sapita
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