Everyday Life in Soviet Russia IN the Introduction to Life
Under the Soviets Beatrice Webb tells us that Mr. Wicksteed first went to Russia as a member of a delegation from the Society of Friends, to do relief work in the days of famine which followed the revolution of October, 1917. Since then, he has spent many years teaching English in various schools and institutes in Moscow, and his description of life there is, therefore, a valuable contribution to the welter of books and articles dealing with the new Russia. Where opinions differ so completely, it is important for people in England to read an account entirely free from political prejudice. They will enjoy it.
Written with a simplicity which disdains journalistic embellishments, Life under. the Soviets describes objectively everyday life in Moscow to-day. There are chapters on the shops, restaurants, housing conditions, railways, education, &c., and Mr. Wicksteed tells us of practically nothing which he has not himself observed. After painting a pen picture of the city of Moscow; with its network of narrow cobbled streets, our author goes on to fill those streets with the kind of people who are usually to be seen in them. This is not merely
padding, for the general appearance and behaviour of people in Moscow (I know this is true because I visited Moscow myself in the early summer) differ very much from our own.
The streets are crowded with pedestrians, who behave in general " as if they were walking about the countryside instead of in a crowded town." Those who do not walk generally travel by tram, and during the rush hours the trams are packed with people to such an extent that occasion..
ally tempers are sorely tried. Mr. Wicks-teed tells an amusing story of an experience of this kind :—
" Once bad temper invades a tram it seems to stop there ' • I only remember once seeing it cured. On this occasion it was directly traceable to the conductress, who was nagging at everyone when there appeared a mildly intoxicated working man. This gave her a chance too good to be missed, and she very peremptorily ordered him off. He replied with the utmost politeness, 1 ask you as a friend and companion to allow me to ride on your tram.' She was however proof against his blandishments and, as he cheerfully but firmly refused to get off, she started blowing her whistle for a militiaman to remove him. No militiaman appeared, and at last she got off to go in search of one ; at this point the conductor of the trailer, not understanding the delay, rang his bell for the cars to go on and the invader promptly rang the bell of our car in response and we proceeded on our way. At the next stop he invited the public on to the tram, saying, ' Come on ! Come on ! this is the day when the Soviet invites everyone to ride without paying,' and when the trailer bell rang he again rang the bell that he had made his own. This continued to the delight of the other passengers until we arrived at his destination when, as no one felt competent to act as his substitute, the tram waited till the conductress, who had followed on the next car, caught it up. In justice to the con- ductress I ought to add that when she understood what had hap- pened she seemed to be as much amused as anyone."
Life Under the Soviets is full of significant stories which illustrate how much the Russian attitude to life differs from our own, and Mr. Wicksteed is able to interpret the Russian temperament with much understanding and humour, because those characteristics which most irritate the foreigner are to him most endearing. For instance, he tells us that an enormous variety of cigarettes, costing from 21d. for twenty to ls. and upwards, are sold in Russia, all of which brands seem to him to taste about the same. The real purpose of these numerous brands, he adds, " is to provide an outlet for the Russian inventiveness in designing new covers nearly all of which are gay and many really artistic, and to minister to the love of change of the Russian public." Again, when describing the Russian boast that, although before the Revolu- tion in matters of education they were a couple of centuries behind us, their methods are now as advanced as any, he says that one must always remember the Russian habit of taking the will for the deed.
" They simply love making plans and having constructed a thoroughly satisfactory plan that's that.' It is said that in the year 1918 there was in Moscow a large building that bore an enormous sign stating that it was the home of the Commission for the Electrification of All Russia' ; on the door was pinned a small notice Please knock, as the bell doesn't work.' "
In his conclusion, Mr. Wicksteed answers the two questions which all visitors to Moscow are asked, " How long do you think the present regime will go on ? " and " Do you like living in Russia ? " There is obviously no satisfactory answer to the first question. To the second, his answer is definitely in the affirmative, the chief reason being " that Russia is a free country, the only free country I have ever lived in . . . I may be a degenerate scion of my Puritan ancestors, but I must confess that my idea of a free country is one in which you can earn your living, otherwise than as a manual labourer, without having to wear a collar and tie, and where you can go to bed and get up when you want to and not when other people think you ought to." Although this may seem rather an odd definition of a free country, it is symbolical of the different sense of values which is to-day accepted in Russia.
In The Challenge of Bolshevism, Mrs. Buxton defines, as far as it is possible to define, the goal at which the Russian Communists are aiming. Mrs. Buxton is a Quaker and a pacifist, and her point of view is, therefore, of exceptional interest. She considers that we in England are all far too ready to criticize the means through which Russia is trying to achieve its ideal, without trying to understand what that ideal really is. Although her appeal is unnecessarily senti- mental, she does succeed in throwing some light on the moral standards of this strange community, particularly with regard to the Communist attitude towards religion.
Ciat SIMPSON.
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