RUSSIANS SONGS Philosophy of Revolution

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12199, 25 July 1925, Page 12

RUSSIANS SONGS Philosophy of Revolution

War is devastating; war is enlightening. • It rids the land more completely: than a plague; it causes the young, men to he carried away and to open their eyes to strange things in strange countries. • Thus Russia, whose peasants from time immemorial sang about the Little Father, the Orthodox Church, the priest, the Volga, and other such racy subjects. Their Bongs reflected themselves and their land, uncoloured by any foreign influence. But the war came and the men were sent to Germany and to France, and those who came back had had their minds expanded by fresh thoughts and fresh eights. And they sing new songs. NEW MATRIMONIAL LAWS . Divorce, for example; was not known in Russia until it was introduced by the Bolsheviks If a peasant did not uko lus wife, he just beat her and put ‘Up -with her. Under the" Soviet Government, the local Soviets grant divorces with little ceremony; So the new pea-sant—-the peasant who has seen things r—gmgs: Never mind the village priest If you wish to marry Rippity hop,to the; Government shop. And ask Tor the Commissary. The women have their doubts: Girls, girls, have a care When a wooing man yon meet, Ihore s a separation office Just down the street. -

The new matrimonial laws are qo| without their critics: Marriage bonds were binding, very, In the days of yore. Now a Commissar may marry Thirty times or more. Every Russian village is upside down. The former officials have been turned out, and the local Soviets are controlled by the peasants. Hence the following, which almost recalls W. 8, Gilbert: Yesterday a cook was T, Stewing beans and peas. Now I am a Commissar, Signing my decrees. Mother, mother, make the tea. Boil it in the samovar. Andrew's come to call on me. And Andrew is a Commissar. GLOOM AND TRAGEDY ' v Older peasants, too, have theif songs—songs cf gloom and tragedy c What a nation, what a land! Blood and theft on every hand I Not a cow, not a sheep. Bootleg vodka all knepdeep 1 There are quips against the Column* nists for their attack upon the clergy. Hero is one: A Bolshevist in agony Upon Lis deathbed lay. Hurry up the priest!” he cried* 1 dread the Judgment Day 1“ The Soviet Government has collected and published several volumes of stanzas which have been sung and recited in Russia during the last ten years, and those reproduced here are from the “Now York Times Magazine.”