Those who were fortunate enough to
seize a paper ran home with it to read it to the family, those who were not
gathered around one of the many bonfires, made from the wooden imperial
eagles, crowns, and other insignia of royalty, to listen to the reading of
the news, usually by a student. The part played by the students during the
revolution has not received the attention it deserves. When all others were
hiding or excited it was the students who took charge of the leaderless
soldiers, found food for them, collected money for their welfare, and
told them what to do. It was interesting to watch with what deference the
soldiers looked up to them and hung upon their words. This importance was
not wholly lost upon the students, both men and women, and they read the
proclamations as if they were tablets of law handed down from heaven.
After the reading came the discussion. One of the favorite topics was the
comparative bloodlessness of the revolution (something like 169 killed and
1264 wounded) which proved that the Russian Revolution was superior to the
French or any other. Having started in this vein the discussion turned on
the mighty and noble deeds Russia was going to do now. Just as it once
freed Europe from the yoke of Napoleon so will it now liberate her from the
militarism and barbarism of William and give freedom to all the world, to
all nationalities, races, and creeds.
Pages:
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85