The army, which now consists of young boys, (the regular one is long
ago killed,) without any sense of duty, morals, and discipline, see
their acquired "freedom" in the freedom to go home when they want to.
And so all the trains, all the stations, are attacked and destroyed
by this horde of savages, who kill engineers, if it seems to them the
train goes too slowly, who martyrize the railway agents who tell them
of the impossibility of starting their train, for there is another one
coming toward them on the same track. As this human flood goes home
without any organization, everything is looted and destroyed.
Some months ago I was believing myself to be quite well off. I have
a house in Petrograd. Last Spring I was offered $125,000 for it, but
was advised not to sell and go over to America to have my little girl
become a happy American school girl. Now--I have on hand about $2,000
and no other resources; the house, like other private property, is
being confiscated, the revenue going to the Government, that is to say,
to the private pockets of the usurpers. The Government bonds annulated
(repudiated)--and even if I had more money--believe me--there is
nothing to buy.
Life in Petrograd is horrible--all the criminals, all the workmen,
and demoralized soldiers rob the few cars that still bring some kind
of products. In the very heart of the city, in daytime, you have your
clothes taken off your back literally. Just think that there is no
police, nobody to call for help, for those who would like to help have
had their firearms confiscated, even the officers, even the highest
Generals. All the soldiers, &c., are armed have become highwaymen. At
any moment you can expect a number of them to come into your private
lodging and, under the pretense of "perquisition," take away all your
money and valuables.
Our money is not accepted anywhere abroad. Russia is bankrupt, so that
it is impossible to escape. All my friends and relatives are in the
same awful position. Everybody lives on his last money, even those who
were quite rich. Their money was in Government or private bonds, and,
as they are declared void, where will you get money from? My poor mind
cannot grasp the whole thing; it is too great a madness. My only chance
to save my little girl's life and my own would be to get away from here
and go to the United States. Here, if we do not die in the next months,
we will be slaves, regular slaves, of our lowest classes.