By "Smoy"
Shanghai, Feb.
Qualitatively and quantitatively, Shanghai is today second down the list of the centres of Russian emigration the world over. As regards the general welfare of Its Russian community, Shanghai, where most Russians are employed in other than manual Tabour, even takes the frst place away from Paris. But in one respect the Paris colony has the: pull over the local one—the best brains and the flower of talent is still there, This has been proved again by the failure of the local community to exploit the medium of broadcasting as it was exploited Paris, where on the first day of the New' Year the voice of the famous. Journalist' Lev Lubimov gave all Franco a picture of the lite of Rus~ sian' emigration during 1998. The Broadcast was, of course, made in French; in Shanghai it would have be made in English.
So comprehensive was its informa. tion that it was listened to with interest not only by Frenchmen but by Russians themselves, Without going into polities, It can be said that Russians in emigration are proud of their country's past and believe in its future, They are before all else Russians, and in that thought find justifeation for their ard life in emigration. And their overwhelming majority they plage confidence in their ultimate return to their homeland.
What rule, then does Russian emigration play in the history of the country that save birth to it? Again leaving out polities, It can be said that because the remnants of White Army, when they left Russi took with them the flower of Russian cultural circles, Russian culture today wields a considerable influence in France, in the whole of Burope—and in Shanghai. If there are 100,- (000. Russians who have not adopted foreign citizenship living in Paris, there are no less than 200,000 living In the Far Enst, Notable Russians Written in emigrant passports have PO! boon names of world-wide fame, Chaliapin, Aina Pavlova, the com= poser Glazunoft, the recipient of the Nobel Prize for literature Ivan Bunin, Igor Sikorsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, the Grand" Duke Nicolai Nicaolalevitch—all these people were emigres. So much has been written of Russian generals working. as chant. fours and. watchmen and Russian. uchessex forced to become modistes fond manicurists that the impress has gained currency that all Russian venerals are chauffeurs and all coun= {esses modistes, Nevertheless there mistaken shame in being engaged in, honest work of any sort. The play "Tovarich," which Adolf Hitler went to see three times, gives an awry but touching picture of this.
But Russians never harp on their poverty, 'Not here Is the sum-total of emigration found. Tt is quite erroneous to think that Russian Unions and Societies, whose name is legion, exist solely' to carry on charity work. Seasoned Russian military unions stand in imposing array under their old colours, singed by the fire of numberless barites and looked upon in. exile as almost sacred. Russian youth has taken to sports and time and again wins victories on many fields, Russian selentists today work in" many foreign universities. Metalnikoff the biologist! Rlabushinsky the mathematician, Vinonradsky, Makhonin—these are names known to the whole sclentife world. Russian artists have captivate. ed Paris and America, Russian music and ballet wield a big influence over the artistic world today, about which much has been written that to repeat. it would be boring. Grecharunoff, Platigorsky. Sergei Lifar the world's best ballet-dancer, Alekhin, the. world's chess-champion, Bogoluhoff, the champion of Germany, Tara. soft, the young man who in 1999 received the prize for the best novel written in French—the list 1s a long tone. Russian emigration has its own Newspapers, magazines, schools, churches, hospitals, All this goes to show that in spite of the dificult surroundings—often poverty-—in which it finds "itself, the spirit of the 'Russian people' and Russian culture sti lives in Russian hearts emigration.
Russian Rockefeller Mr. P."P. Batolin, "The Russian Rockefeller" isin Shanghai. Before the Revolution it, was he who started the unification of Russian Industry into cartels and trusts. Working In conjunction with Stakheey, he owned forests, cotton-fields in. Turkestan, fisheries in Kamchatka, oil-fields, railways, windmills, steamships, con: trolled Banks and was half-owner of the most widely-circulated newspaper in all Russia. When during the civil war he went om a trip to Japan he was guest of the venerable Baron Okuma, while before that he was entertained at timm by David Lloyd George, then Prime Minister, Jand carried away with him the most pleasant impressions of Mr. Mac-Kenna, with whom he was carrying on negotiations. Dr. Wirl, Chancellor of Germany in 1922, the period of the new economic policy, proposed JBatolin as the ceonomlc dictator of Russia, and Kremlin gave attentive car to his suggestions. The comtmissars Rykov and Krasin were even sent specially to Berlin, and Ameri can capitalists favoured the plan and were willing to support it. Mr. Batolin has just returned from a trip to. Harbin, Mukden and Hsing King. "He has slayed in Tientsin for over six months, and Is at present en route to Tokyo.
Last Friday the throe foremost Russian actresses in Shanghai. Mme. L. Kniajeviteh, Mime, V. V. Panova and Mme. M. Kokoreva, left for Harbin to Join a troupe headed by Mr. VT. Tomsky. 'The theatrical season in Harbin begins on February 10. Tt is held possible that the troupe may later make a tour of Japan. 'The Bohemian Club "Khlam" gave a farewell evening to Mme. Panova, who is not thinking of returning' to Shanghai for quite a long time. Included In the varied pro gramme was a sketch entitled "The Soothsayer" written specially for the occasion by Mr. J. Miller and participated in by the actresses Teaving for Harbin.
Professor's Lecture 'On Wednesday February 8, Prow fessor G. G. Telberg is leaving for 'Tsingtao, where he has been a real~ dent for_many years. His final lee~ ture at the ex-Officers' Club dealt with "The Life and Exploits of Prince Sviatoslav -Igoreviteh" who. ruled Russia from A. D. 987 to 912 and who is counted one of the most amazing builders of kingdoms history. He brought under his sway the north-eastern portions of the sent Russia, wrested from the nomads the southern steppes with the sources of the four important rivers" Volga, Dniepr, Don and Dnlestr, marched with his army to the Dunal regions, conquered Bul-{atin and fell victim to the intrigues. of the Emperors of Byzantium. The brilliant lecture gave many new discoveries of contemporary his forlans, The club's hall wax packed. After, the lecture Professor Telberg was the quest of honour at dine On Friday February 10 the sports club. "Sokol" will stage an open International Competition in gymnas. les, which was always popular among Russians and which was en~ couraged specially in military acedemies and regiments, Emigres Must Register 'The Russian Emigrants' Committee reminds the colony that all Russian emigres living in Shanghai must register themselves in the Passport Bureau of the police of the Munlcipality of Greater Shanghai before March' 1, 1999. "After that date the Bureau will register only those able to give weighty reasons for their failure to submit their names before the end of February, and will exact a fine. 'The Emigrants' Committee likewise Informs that parties dis~ regarding this notice cannot count on the assistance of the Emigrants' Committee at any future time.
Mr. Jacob Grakhovsky has made appeal through the Russian press who served In the ftussion Army during the Great War and saw action at the front, suggesting that they form a Union. The aim of this union would be to gain further knowledge of each other render mutual assistance.
Auxiliary Detachment Seven years have passed! since the Russian Auxiliary Detachment of the French Police was formed in 1992. Every. private in this detachment today receives a monthly salary of }$54, Including board and lodging, Whereas in the past the salary for a private was $44. With increasing service, the salary is increased. A [Corporal who has seen more than 4 'Years of service receives more than /$80, while a Sergeant after four years of service receives $100. The regiment does duty in the Concession Lut no longer has to do so. in barracks, as cooking and cleaning the quarters' is in the hands of a Chinese Staff, Pifins and dinners both consist of three meals, while on holidays. the table Is improved. Captain L. Mf. Adamoviteh (a former General. the Russian Army), Commanding. Oflicer since the Detachment's founding, has done a lot to make its members carry out their duties "in ex, emplary manner and to look smart while doing so. Many men have to @ate received medals for valour.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.