THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



249 



Photograph by William T. Ellis 



A VOLGA STEVEDORE 



"They heartily bend their backs to unbelievable burdens. Often I have watched proces- 

 sions of them going up steep gang-planks, each man bearing a packing case — a full-sized, 

 full-weight packing case, such as two draymen in America move only by turning from side 

 to side" (see text, page 261). 



one sees soldiers. It is estimated that 

 there are 15,000,000 men under arms 

 here, though most of them are by no 

 means at the front. The unorganized 

 way in which they drift about the land 

 is an endless source of wonder. Seldom 

 are they seen by companies or regiments. 

 Only once, and that was in the big train- 

 ing camp outside of Moscow, have I 

 chanced to see soldiers drilling. It is 

 commonly said that the purpose of the old 

 regime in raising so large an army was to 

 create industrial and economic chaos, with 

 consequent disturbances, which would 

 permit Russia, according to the treaties, 

 to make a separate peace. 



THE SEDUCTIVE INFLUENCE OE EREE 

 TRANSPORTATION 



Whatever was the mind of the old 

 bureaucracy, it has wrought something 

 like a paralysis of industry among the 

 Russian peasants, who, while the women 



work, are enjoying respite from toil and 

 the pleasures of roving from place to 

 place, with free transportation provided. 



Evil propagandists, "exiles" returned 

 from America and from Germany, have 

 greatly demoralized the army. No more 

 fertile field for leadership, either good or 

 bad, can be found in all the world than 

 the Russian soldiers. Of late, however, 

 the leadership has been mistaken. Given 

 a clear vision of duty, these simple, trust- 

 ful men will do it to the uttermost. 



Partings of wives from soldiers are a 

 sad spectacle, witnessed at almost every 

 port of call. There are not many words, 

 and usually only the silent sobbing of the 

 women, until the boat starts, and then 

 there may be a violent outburst that is 

 heartrending to the listener. Much is 

 said of the moral laxity of the Russian 

 people and of the lightness of the mar- 

 riage tie, but the story of true domestic 

 affection is revealed in too manv of these 



