A CHAT ABOUT RUSSIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1379, 28 September 1916, Page 32

A CHAT ABOUT RUSSIA.

M. Alfred Mirovitch and M. Michael Piastro, the Russian musicians, who are giving a series of concerts at the Town Hall, were quite willing to impart some information about their own country. Their accent immediately betrayed their nationality. The talk naturally turned to Russia, and the musicians said that never before had the land of the white bear been so powerful as it was at the present time.

Asked whether it was known in Russia that such a place as Australasia occupied a position on the map, M. Mirovitch replied that in his opinion the Russian people knew more about our country than the Australasians knew about Russia. Prior to the war he had frequently read long articles in Russian papers regarding Australasians and their doings. “Russia to us is a land of ice and snow,” remarked the press representative. “But why?” M. Mirovitch ejaculated, throwing up his hands. “We have a climate just like this. We do everything and grow everything” —“Except pineapples,” interposed M. Piastro, with a smile.

Reference was made by the visitors to the fund inaugurated in Australia by Madame Melba for the purpose of supplying ambulances for Russia. “We Russians are exceedingly obliged,” M. Mirovitch exclaimed, and mentioned that he and his partner had

held two large charity concerts in Melbourne and Sydney, both of which were highly successful in adding large amounts to the fund.

Vodka, the famed Russian national drink, was touched on in the course of conversation. Mons. Mirovitch said from what he could gather the general impression seemed to be that when one visited a Russian village the greater part of the population was found lying in a drunken state on the footpaths. This was not by any means the case, however. Statistics showed that Russia was only fourth or fifth on the list of drinkconsuming countries.

Questioned regarding their views on Australia and New Zealand, the visitors expressed themselves delighted with everything they .had seen, and sincerely regretted their inability to stay longer at Rotorua. Their impressions of Australasia were such that they hope at some future time, not far distant, they would be able to return here. They left Russia in 1914, and prior to reaching New Zealand visited the Philippine Islands, Java, Sumatra, Batavia, and Siam. At the last-mentioned place they performed before the King, and were decorated by that monarch.

Mr. Stanley Grant has been in Auckland for the past few days steadily stimulating interest in the spectacular screen drama, “The Birth of a Nation.”

The whole thing was fascinating, yes, terrible beyond belief (wrote an American reviewer of “The Birth of a Nation”), because you see all of the causes that lead to the Civil War, the bloody struggle in which brother fought brother, and the ghastly aftermath of the conflict.

The Horace Goldin Company leave on Wednesday for Gisborne where they play from Sept. 28 to 30. Napier will be visited on October 2, and Hastings the following night, after which they make a big jump to the South Island.