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Norwegian； two Czechs； a German and myself to visit his trains； together
with Radek； in the hope that Radek would induce Lenin to visit them； in
which case Lenin would be kinematographed for the delight of the
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villagers； and possibly the Central Committee would； if Lenin were
interested； lend them more lively support。
We walked along the 〃Lenin〃 first； at Burov's special request。
Burov； it seems； has only recently escaped from what he considered a
bitter affliction due to the Department of Proletarian Culture； who； in the
beginning； for the
decoration of his trains； had delivered him bound hand and foot to a
number of Futurists。 For that reason he wanted us to see the 〃Lenin〃 first；
in order that we might compare it with the result of his emancipation； the
〃Red Cossack；〃 painted when the artists 〃had been brought under proper
control。〃 The 〃Lenin〃 had been painted a year and a half ago； when； as
fading hoarding in the streets of Moscow still testify； revolutionary art was
dominated by the Futurist movement。 Every carriage is decorated with
most striking but not very comprehensible pictures in the brightest colors；
and the proletariat was called upon to enjoy what the pre…revolutionary
artistic public had for the most part failed to understand。 Its pictures are
〃art for art's sake；〃 and cannot have done more than astonish； and perhaps
terrify； the peasants and the workmen of the country towns who had the
luck to see them。 The 〃Red Cossack〃 is quite different。 As Burov put it
with deep satisfaction； 〃At first we were in the artists' hands； and now the
artists are in our hands；〃 a sentence suggesting the most horrible
possibilities of official art under socialism； although； of course； bad art
flourishes pretty well even under other systems。
I inquired exactly how Burov and his friends kept the artists in the
right way； and received the fullest explanation。 The political section of
the organization works out the main idea and aim for each picture； which
covers the whole side of a wagon。 This idea is then submitted to a
〃collective〃 of artists； who are jointly responsible for its realization in
paint。 The artists compete with each other for a prize which is awarded
for the best design； the judges being the artists themselves。 It is the art of
the poster； art with a purpose of the most definite kind。 The result is
sometimes amusing； interesting； startling； but； whatever else it does；
hammers home a plain idea。
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Thus the picture on the side of one wagon is divided into two sections。
On the left is a representation of the peasants and workmen of the Soviet
Republic。 Under it are the words； 〃Let us not find ourselves again。。。〃 and
then； in gigantic lettering under the right…hand section of the picture； 〃。。。 in
the HEAVEN OF THE WHITES。〃 This heaven is
shown by an epauletted officer hitting a soldier in the face； as was
done in the Tsar's army and in at least one army of the counter
revolutionaries； and workmen tied to stakes； as was done by the Whites in
certain towns in the south。 Then another wagon illustrating the methods
of Tsardom； with a State vodka shop selling its wares to wretched folk；
who； when drunk on the State vodka； are flogged by the State police。
Then there is a wagon showing the different Cossacks…of the Don； Terek；
Kuban； Ural…riding in pairs。 The Cossack infantry is represented on the
other side of this wagon。 On another wagon is a very jolly picture of
Stenka Razin in his boat with little old…fashioned brass cannon； rowing up
the river。 Underneath is written the words： 〃I attack only the rich； with
the poor I divide everything。〃 On one side are the poor folk running
from their huts to join him； on the other the rich folk firing at him from
their castle。 One wagon is treated purely decoratively； with a broad
effective characteristically South Russian design； framing a huge
inscription to the effect that the Cossacks need not fear that the Soviet
Republic will interfere with their religion； since under its regime every
man is to be free to believe exactly what he likes。 Then there is an
entertaining wagon； showing Kolchak sitting inside a fence in Siberia
with a Red soldier on guard； Judenitch sitting in a little circle with a sign…
post to show it is Esthonia； and Denikin running at full speed to the
asylum indicated by another sign…post on which is the crescent of the
Turkish Empire。 Another lively picture shows the young Cossack girls
learning to read； with a most realistic old Cossack woman telling them
they had better not。 But there is no point in describing every wagon。
There are sixteen wagons in the 〃Red Cossack；〃 and every one is painted
all over on both sides。
The internal arrangements of the train are a sufficient proof that
Russians are capable of organization if they set their minds to it。 We
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went through it； wagon by wagon。 One wagon contains a wireless
telegraphy station capable of receiving news from such distant stations as
those of Carnarvon or Lyons。 Another is fitted up as a newspaper office；
with a mechanical press capable of printing an edition of fifteen thousand
daily； so that the district served by the train； however out of the way； gets
its news simultaneously with Moscow； many days sometimes before the
belated Izvestia
or Pravda finds its way to them。 And with its latest news it gets its
latest propaganda； and in order to get the one it cannot help getting the
other。 Next door to that there is a kinematograph wagon； with benches to
seat about one hundred and fifty persons。 But indoor performances are
only given to children； who must come during the daytime； or in summer
when the evenings are too light to permit an open air performance。 In the
ordinary way； at night； a great screen is fixed up in the open。 There is a
special hole cut in the side of the wagon； and through this the
kinematograph throws its picture on the great screen outside； so that
several thousands can see it at once。 The enthusiastic Burov insisted on
working through a couple of films for us； showing the Communists boy
scouts in their country camps； children's meetings in Petrograd； and the
big demonstrations of last year in honor of the Third International。 He
was extremely disappointed that Radek； being in a hurry； refused to wait
for a performance of 〃The Father and his Son；〃 a drama which； he assured
us with tears in his eyes； was so thrilling that we should not regret being
late for our appointments if we stayed to witness it。 Another wagon is
fitted up as an electric power…station； lighting the train； working the
kinematograph and the printing machine；etc。 Then there is a clean little
kitchen and dining…room； where； before being kinematographed…a horrible
experience when one is first quite seriously begged （of course by Burov）
to assume an expression of intelligent interest…we had soup； a plate of
meat and cabbage； and tea。 Then there is a wagon bookshop； where；
while customers buy books； a gramophone sings the revolutionary songs
of Demian Bledny； or speaks with the eloquence ofTrotsky or the logic of
Lenin。 Other wagons are the living…rooms of the personnel； divided up
according to their duties…political； military； instructional；