FAMOUS “RED SQUARE”

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 3 January 1931, Page 9

FAMOUS “RED SQUARE”

X> IT SSI A is to refurbish her famous “Bed Square” in Moscow. Already the work of turning the temporary wooden Mausoleum of Lenin into a permanent resting place of stone is under way behind a high wooden fence. The ancient cobble stones are to be removed and replaced by smooth flag stones. Permanent reviewing stands aro to be erected. Much of the drama of Russia's grandeur and tragedy has unfolded in the beautiful open in Moscow that has come to be called Bed Square. Formerly it was the scene of public executions, hangings and floggings when the Tsars ruled from Moscow, of imperial proclamations and glittering martial parades. Later it saw bloody revolution; and now the surrounding structures echo the tramp of soldiers of the Bed Army and the footfalls of Soviet workers.

Along one side of the square extends tlie 65ft wall of the Kremlin, pierced by the Spasskoya or Redeemer Gate, over which rises a great cloek tower, 205 ft high. This beautiful tower was built the year before Columbus discovered America. Across from the Kremlin wall are the substantial stone buildings of the Trading Rows with their arcaded sidewalks. At one end of the rectangular space is the twin-towered building of the Historical Museum, and opposite rises the glittering, bewildering mass of bulbous towers and domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, fantastic as the cardboard stage dastle of some eastern extrava-

ganza. Lenin’s wooden tomb hugs the towering Kremlin wall and seems dwarfed by the sheer stone expanse rising behind it. Until the body was removed to the Kremlin to permit rebuilding the mausoleum, the low, simple wooden structure that housed the glass-enclosed body was the world shrine of Communism’ Sentries stood on guard and a

Russia Refurbishing Show Place

double line of visitors waited to enter and look upon the face of the dead leader. • . . Into Bed Square, from the adjoining place of revolution, a constant human stream pours during daylight hours. There arc women in felt boots; clerks in leather jackets; officials, reasonably well dressed, with brief-cases under their arms; labourers in dirty sheepskin coats; slippered girls trudging through mud or dirt, carrying babies and bundles or dragging hand carts behind them.

Along the Trading Bow almost any day stands a long queue of women waiting for the opportunity' to buycloth or overshoes or other merchandise of which there is a limited supply-. Many of the women carry' babies, for such a burden gives them a preferred place in line. Because of this babies arc borrowed or rented by would-bo purchasers who have no small children of their own.

Vendors cluster around the gates leading to and from Bed Square, selling all manner of articles and making sections of the square into virtual outdoor department stores. There are the long Russian cigarettes with a short section of tobacco and a lengthy mouthpiece of hollow cardboard; dried sunflower seeds; candies exposed to the dust; and cheeses cut to order.

Women and boys are hawking feminine underwear and gaudy garters. Near-by are displays of coloiired lithographs. books, shoes. stockings, toys and shoe-strings. -At night, in good weather. Red Square becomes an open air forum. Small fry Soviet speakers gather little knots of listeners about them to explain details of the Soviet plan of the moment; or the square is filled with a sea of humanity while the Government leaders expound the doctrines of the revolution through great blaring loud speakers.