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and they really have developed a remarkable organization。 I was shown
over their headquarters on the Tverskaya； and saw huge maps of Russia
with all the distributing centres marked with reference numbers so that it
was possible to tell in a moment what number of any new publication
should be sent to each。 Every post office is a distributing centre to which
is sent a certain number of all publications； periodical and other。 The
local Soviets ask through the post offices for such quantities as are
required； so that the supply can be closely regulated by the demand。 The
book…selling kiosks send in reports of the sale of the various newspapers；
etc。； to eliminate the waste of over…production； a very important matter in
a country faced simultaneously by a vigorous demand for printed matter
and an extreme scarcity of paper。
It would be interesting to have statistics to illustrate the character of
the literature in demand。 One thing can be said at once。 No one reads
sentimental romances。 As is natural in a period of tremendous political
upheaval pamphlets sell by the thousand； speeches of Lenin and Trotsky
are only equalled in popularity by Demian Biedny's more or less political
poetry。 Pamphlets and books on Marx； on the war； and particularly on
certain phases of the revolution； on different aspects of economic
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reconstruction； simply written explanations of laws or policies vanish
almost as soon as they are put on the stalls。 The reading of this kind has
been something prodigious during the revolution。 A great deal of poetry
is read； and much is written。 It is amusing to find in a red…hot
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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RUSSIA IN 1919
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