russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第14节
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rotting。 In another three years we shall have all the buildings of Moscow
tumbling about our ears。〃
Some one else joined in with a laugh： 〃In ten years we shall be
running about on all fours。〃
〃And in twenty we shall begin sprouting tails。〃
Meshtcheriakov finished his soup and laid down his wooden spoon。
〃There is another side to all these things；〃 he said。 〃In Russia； even
if the blockade lasts； we shall get things established again sooner than
anywhere else； because we have all the raw materials in our own country。
With us it is a question of transport only； and of transport within our own
borders。 In a few years； I am convinced； in spite of all that is working
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RUSSIA IN 1919
against us； Russia will be a better place to live in than anywhere else in
Europe。 But we have a bad time to go through。 And not we alone。
The effects of the war are scarcely visible as yet in the west； but they will
become visible。 Humanity has a period of torment before it 。 。 。 。〃
〃Bucharin says fifty years；〃 I said； referring to my talk of yesterday。
〃Maybe。 I think less than that。 But the revolution will be far
worse for you nations of the west than it has been for us。 In the west； if
there is revolution； they will use artillery at once； and wipe out whole
districts。 The governing classes in the west are determined and organized
in a way our home…grown capitalists never were。 The Autocracy never
allowed them to organize； so； when the Autocracy itself fell； our task was
comparatively easy。 There was nothing in the way。 It will not be like
that in Germany。〃
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RUSSIA IN 1919
AN EVENING AT THE OPERA
I read in one of the newspapers that a member of the American
Commission in Berlin reasoned from the fact that the Germans were
crowding to theatres and spectacles that they could not be hungry。 There
can be no question about the hunger of the people of Moscow； but the
theatres are crowded； and there is such demand for seats that speculators
acquire tickets in the legitimate way and sell them illicitly near the doors
of the theatre to people who have not been able to get in； charging； of
course； double the price or even more。 Interest in the theatre； always
keen in Moscow； seems to me to have rather increased than decreased。
There is a School of Theatrical Production； with lectures on every subject
connected with the stage； from stage carpentry upwards。 A Theatrical
Bulletin is published three times weekly； containing the programmes of all
the theatres and occasional articles on theatrical subjects。 I had been told
in Stockholm that the Moscow theatres were closed。 The following is an
incomplete list of the plays and spectacles to be seen at various theatres on
February 13 and February 14； copied from the Theatrical Bulletin of those
dates。 Just as it would be interesting to know what French audiences
enjoyed at the time of the French revolution； so I think it worth while to
record the character of the entertainments at present popular in Moscow。
Opera at the Great Theatre。〃Sadko〃 by Rimsky…Korsakov and
〃Samson and Delilah〃 by Saint…Saens。
Small State Theatre。〃Besheny Dengi〃 by Ostrovsky and 〃Starik〃 by
Gorky。
Moscow Art Theatre。 〃The Cricket on the Hearth〃 by Dickens and
〃The Death of Pazuchin〃 by Saltykov…Shtchedrin。
Opera。 〃Selo Stepantchiko〃 and 〃Coppellia。〃
People's Palace。〃Dubrovsky〃 by Napravnik and 〃Demon〃 by
Rubinstein。
Zamoskvoretzky Theatre。〃Groza〃 by Ostrovsky and 〃Meshitchane〃
by Gorky。
Popular Theatre。〃 The Miracle of Saint； Anthony〃 by Maeterlinck。
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RUSSIA IN 1919
Komissarzhevskaya Theatre。〃A Christmas Carol〃 by Dickens and
〃The Accursed Prince〃 by Remizov。
Korsh Theatre。〃Much Ado about Nothing〃 by Shakespeare and 〃Le
Misanthrope〃 and 〃Georges Dandin〃 by Moli=8Are。
Dramatic Theatre。〃Alexander I〃 by Merezhkovsky。
Theatre of Drama and Comedy。 〃Little Dorrit〃 by Dickens and 〃The
King's Barber〃 by Lunacharsky。
Besides these； other theatres were playing K。 R。 （Konstantin
Romanov）； Ostrovsky； Potapenko； Vinitchenko； etc。 The two Studios of
the Moscow Art Theatre were playing 〃Rosmersholm〃 and a repertoire of
short plays。 They； like the Art Theatre Company； occasionally play in the
suburban theatres when their place at home is taken by other performers。
I went to the Great State Theatre to Saint…Saens' 〃Samson and
Delilah。〃 I had a seat in the box close above the orchestra； from which I
could obtain a view equally good of the stage and of the house。 Indeed； the
view was rather better of the house than of the stage。 But that was as I
had wished； for the house was what I had come to see。
It had certainly changed greatly since the pre…revolutionary period。
The Moscow plutocracy of bald merchants and bejewelled fat wives had
gone。 Gone with them were evening dresses and white shirt fronts。 The
whole audience was in the monotone of everyday clothes。 The only
contrast was given by a small group of Tartar women in the dress circle；
who were shawled in white over head and shoulders； in the Tartar fashion。
There were many soldiers； and numbers of men who had obviously come
straight from their work。 There were a good many grey and brown
woollen jerseys about； and people were sitting in overcoats of all kinds
and ages； for the theatre was very cold。 （This； of course； was due to lack of
fuel； which may in the long run lead to a temporary stoppage of the
theatres if electricity cannot be spared for lighting them。） The orchestra
was also variously dressed。 Most of the players of brass instruments had
evidently been in regimental bands during the war； and still retained their
khaki…green tunics with a very mixed collection of trousers and breeches。
Others were in every kind of everyday clothes。 The conductor alone
wore a frock coat； and sat in his place like a specimen from another age；
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RUSSIA IN 1919
isolated in fact by his smartness alike from his ragged orchestra and from
the stalls behind him。
I looked carefully to see the sort of people who fill the stalls under
the new regime； and decided that there has been a general transfer of
brains from the gallery to the floor of the house。 The same people who in
the old days scraped kopecks and waited to get a good place near the
ceiling now sat where formerly were the people who came here to digest
their dinners。 Looking from face to face that night I thought there were
very few people in the theatre who had had anything like a good dinner to
digest。 But； as for their keenness； I can imagine few audiences to which；
from the actor's point of view； it would be better worth while to play。
Applause； like brains； had come down from the galleries。
Of the actual performance I have little to say except that ragged
clothes and empty stomachs seemed to make very little difference to the
orchestra。 Helzer； the ballerina； danced as well before this audience as
ever before the bourgeoisie。 As I turned up the collar of my coat I
reflected that the actors deserved all the applause they got for their
heroism in playing in such cold。 Now and then during the evening I was
unusually conscious of the unreality of opera generally； perhaps because
of the contrast in magnificence between the stage and the shabby；
intelligent audience。 Now and then； on the other hand； stage and
audience seemed one and indivisible。 For 〃Samson and Delilah〃 is itself
a poem of revolution； and gained enormously by being played by people
every one of whom had seen something of the sort in real lif
