Part 2 (1/2)

[A Letter to the Russkia Vedomosti, No. 231, P. 2, Oct. 8, 1914.]

The population of Poland has been forced to experience the first horrible onslaught of the wrathful enemy. All points within the sphere of the German offensive offer a picture of utter desolation. The people are fleeing in horror before the advancing enemy, leaving their homes and their property to sure destruction. An uninterrupted line of arson fire s.h.i.+nes on the sorrowful path of the exiles. Their fields have been devastated and furrowed by the trenches, their animals have been taken away, their savings have been wasted, and all their chattels destroyed.

The prosperity of millions has been destroyed and men have been turned into homeless beggars without a morsel of bread.

The flight of these people is beyond description. One cannot fail to realize the stupefying horrors of such a deep and overwhelming national calamity. The strokes of fate have come down upon the people of Poland with a most merciless cruelty. Shall we gaze upon these horrors with indifference? Can the Russian people remain neutral witnesses of the sufferings and privations thrust upon the population of the devastated country?

The Russians are making heavy sacrifices for the war, but in these historic days we must speed up our energies still more, we must double and treble our sacrifices. Let us not forget that despite all our sacrifices, despite all our sorrow and alarm we are not deprived of peaceful work, we have not been drawn into destruction as the people of Poland have been. Without further delay we have to hasten to their aid.

A widely organized social aid must be brought to the fleeing people. We must provide them with shelter and food. These victims are flocking to the central provinces of Russia, to Moscow, and they must be a.s.sisted up to the time when they shall be able to return to their country. It is necessary to ascertain the degree of their distress and to help to provide them with the necessities of life in places already cleared from the enemy by the aggressiveness of the Russian Army.

Of course, the main duty in the regaining of the prosperity of Poland lies with the Government. Only the Government is able to stand the expense of millions required for this task, only the State through its legislative organs is capable of creating the social, economic, and political conditions making possible the reconstruction of the civilization of Poland. But we also owe a duty of help, a sacred duty of immediate sympathy to those stricken with disaster.

To carry out our task we need funds. In submitting this problem to the Russian people, in calling upon it for the solution of this tremendous and pressing issue, as far as possible, I herewith forward my little contribution of 10,000 rubles for aid to the people of Poland suffering from war.

A. KONOVALOV,

Member of the Duma.

Moscow, Oct. 7, (20,) 1914.

Note.--Konovalov's appeal met with a most generous response. Not only individuals and charitable a.s.sociations came forward with funds and food, but a large number of Russian cities organized permanent aid committees for the benefit of the war victims in Poland. Street and house-to-house collections were organized, and considerable funds have already been collected. Not only Russians, but also the Armenians, the Jews, and other nationalities of Russia have shown a deep and substantial sympathy for the Poles.

Prince Trubetsko's appeal emphasized the political side of this campaign of succor, while Mr. Konovalov has given prominence to the human side of it. Prince Trubetsko's appeal follows.

I AM FOR PEACE!

By LURANA SHELDON.

I am of New England! A daughter of mountains, Wide-stretching fields, broad rivers that smile With the sun on their b.r.e.a.s.t.s. I am of the hills-- The great, bald hills where the cattle roam.

The peace of the valleys still clings and thrills, And the joy of the tinkling fountains, Where the deep-creviced boulders pile.

I am of it, New England, my home!

The tenure of conflicts, the feeble thriving, Are lore of the past. Now the giant peaks May sleep and sleep. Their watch is ended.

The beacon towers may crumble and fall.

So well have my people defended-- So well have they prospered through striving-- Today her triumph New England speaks In the mantling calm that envelops all.

They have come to New England, the woeful invaders.

The hills attracted, the valleys lured; They have sowed their seeds of disturbance and fear.

They wrought for destruction, but all in vain.

They were told that order was master here.

The hills turned censors, the streams, upbraiders.

No war of men should be fought, endured!