russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第31章
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revolutionary paper serious articles and letters by well…meaning persons
advising would…be proletarian poets to stick to Pushkin and Lermontov。
There is much excited controversy both in magazine and pamphlet form as
to the distinguishing marks of the new proletarian art which is expected to
come out of the revolution and no doubt will come； though not in the form
expected。 But the Communists cannot be accused of being unfaithful to
the Russian classics。 Even Radek； a foreign fosterchild and an adopted
Russian； took Gogol as well as Shakespeare with him when he went to
annoy General Hoffmann at Brest。 The Soviet Government has earned
the gratitude of many Russians who dislike it for everything else it has
done by the resolute way in which it has brought the Russian classics into
the bookshops。 Books that were out of print and unobtainable； like
Kliutchevsky's 〃Courses in Russian History；〃 have been reprinted from the
stereotypes and set afloat again at most reasonable prices。 I was also able
to buy a book of his which I have long wanted； his 〃Foreigners' Accounts
of the Muscovite State；〃 which had also fallen out of print。 In the same
way the Government has reprinted； and sells at fixed low prices that may
not be raised by retailers； the works of Koltzov； Nikitin； Krylov； Saltykov…
Shtchedrin； Chekhov； Goncharov； Uspensky； Tchernyshevsky；
Pomyalovsky and others。 It is issuing Chukovsky's edition of Nekrasov；
reprints of Tolstoy； Dostoievsky and Turgenev； and books by Professor
Timiriazev； Karl Pearson and others of a scientific character； besides the
complete works of Lenin's old rival； Plekhanov。 It is true that most of
this work is simply done by reprinting from old stereotypes； but the point
is that the books are there； and the sale for them is very large。
Among the other experts on the subject of the Soviet's educational
work I consulted two friends； a little boy； Glyeb； who sturdily calls
himself a Cadet though three of his sisters work in Soviet institutions； and
an old and very wise porter。 Glyeb says that during the winter they had
no heating； so that they sat in school in their coats； and only sat for a very
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short time； because of the great cold。 He told me； however； that they
gave him a good dinner there every day； and that lessons would be all right
as soon as the weather got warmer。 He showed me a pair of felt boots
which had been given him at the school。 The old porter summed up the
similar experience of his sons。 〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃they go there； sing the
Marseillaise twice through； have dinner and come home。〃 I then took these
expert criticisms to Pokrovsky who said； 〃It is perfectly true。 We have
not enough transport to feed the armies； let alone bringing food and
warmth for ourselves。
And if； under these conditions； we forced children to go through all
their lessons we should have corpses to teach； not children。 But by
making them come for their meals we do two things； keep them alive； and
keep them in the habit of coming； so that when the warm weather comes
we can do better。〃
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RUSSIA IN 1919
A BOLSHEVIK FELLOW OF
THE ROYAL SOCIETY
At Sukhanov's suggestion I went； to see Professor Timiriazev； the
greatest Russian Darwinian； well…known to many scientific men in this
country； a foreign member of the Royal Society； a Doctor of Cambridge
University and a Bolshevik。 He is about eighty years old。 His left arm
is paralysed； and； as he said； he can only work at his desk and not be out
and about to help as he would wish。 A venerable old savant； he was
sitting writing with a green dressing gown about him； for his little flat was
very cold。 On the walls were portraits of Darwin； Newton and Gilbert；
besides portraits of contemporary men of science whom he had known。
English books were everywhere。 He gave me； two copies of his last
scientific book and his latest portrait to take to two of his friends in
England。
He lives with his wife and son。 I asked if his son were also a
Bolshevik。
〃Of course；〃 he replied。
He then read me a letter he had written protesting against intervention。
He spoke of his old love for England and for the English people。 Then；
speaking of the veil of lies drawn between Soviet Russia and the rest of
the world； he broke down altogether； and bent his head to hide his tears。
〃I suffer doubly；〃 he said； after excusing himself for the weakness of
a very old man。 〃I suffer as a Russian； and； if I may say so； I suffer as an
Englishman。 I have English blood in my veins。 My mother； you see；
looks quite English；〃 pointing to a daguerreotype on the wall； 〃and my
grandmother was actually English。 I suffer as an Englishman when I see
the country that I love misled by lies； and I suffer as a Russian because
those lies concern the country to which I belong； and the ideas which I am
proud to hold。〃
The old man rose with difficulty； for he； like every one else in
Moscow； is half starved。 He showed me his Byron； his Shakespeare； his
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RUSSIA IN 1919
Encyclopaedia Britannica； his English diplomas。 He pointed to the
portraits on the wall。 〃If I could but let them know the truth；〃 he said；
〃those friends of mine in England； they would protest against actions
which are unworthy of the England we have loved together。〃
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RUSSIA IN 1919
DIGRESSION
At this point the chronological arrangement of my book； already weak；
breaks down altogether。 So far I have set down； almost day by day；
things seen and heard which seemed to me characteristic and clear
illustration of the mentality of the Communists； of the work that has been
done or that they are trying to do； and of the general state of affairs。 I
spent the whole of my time in ceaseless investigation； talking now with
this man； now with that； until at the end of a month I was so tired （besides
being permanently hungry） that I began to fear rather than to seek new
experiences and impressions。 The last two weeks of my stay were spent；
not in visiting Commissariats； but in collecting masses of printed material；
in talking with my friends of the opposition parties； and； while it was in
progress； visiting daily the Conference in the Kremlin which； in the end；
definitely announced itself as the Third International。 I have considered
it best to treat of that Conference more or less as a whole； and am
therefore compelled to disregard chronology altogether in putting down on
paper； the results of some of my talks with the opposition。 Some of these
took place on the same days as my visits to the Kremlin conference； and
duri
