A TALK ON RUSSIA TO MEMBERS OF LUNCHEON CLUB

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 103, 18 May 1937, Page 5

A TALK ON RUSSIA TO MEMBERS OF LUNCHEON CLUB

Very keen interest was taken by members of the Hastings Women's Luncheon Club in. the talk on Russia, which was given at their meeting yesterday by Mrs H. N. Coleman, of Havelock North. The luncheon was held at the Hawke's Bay harmers' tearooms, and the speaker was introduced to the members by Mrs A. JD. O'Meara, the club president, who also made apologies for absent members. She mentioned especially Mrs G. I). McAlley, and hoped that she would soon be well enough to attend meetings again. Mrs Coleman spent three weeks in Russia, but she told her listencrs that she would not speak about Sovietism at all because it was quite impossU)le to say anything about this when tourists have no opportunity to see things for themselves but are watched on every hand and ' are shown only those things that it is desired that they should see. "When my family and I first arrivedi in Russia we were warned that we would be shadowed everywhere we went,-' said Mrs Coleman, "and were even to be carei'ul.what we said in our ojvn bedrooms because there are often microphones in the corner, "The first day we spent in Leningrad we had our breakfast and were given a guide to show us round. He was a most charming and cultured man and could speak French, English and Italian fluently. Leningrad presents the most wonderful sight withi its hundreds of domes all go|d or gold and blue, and when the sun shines on them the sight is dazzling." Mrs Coleman showed many pictures of the wonderful places which they visited, and as these were hauded round she described them most in'tcrestingly. 'llxe i'ortress of Feter and lJaul Avas one wonderful building they , visited, and they also saw the old prisons. She said that though th© guides tell you much about ihe buildings . they definitely do not like questions. "The cliurch oi" St. Isaacs, now turned into an anti-religion museum, I found most depressmg," said tne speaker. "It is a most beautiful cathedral, but now has many reiigious caricatures. However, when oue criticises the anti-reugious ways of the ilussian people, oue must remember that thejr religion was on^ of the most corrupt in the whole world. "We visited the summer gardens and here saw the most marvelious fountains, which one could never describe to do them justice. Many lovely treasures are to be seen in the numerous museums because the wonderful things which jvere looted from the houses of the nobles wero not destroyed aiid are now being sorted out. The beautiful buildings and palaces'are stiib'to be seen though many huge modern blocks of flats are being efected everywhere. "We visited the palace where the EmpMeror.and Emperess had lived, and also saw Peterhoff , the palace of Catherine the Great. In one of the palaces was a most marvelious amber room, where eVery thing was* built of amber except for a littie corner of blue where there was not enough amber to finish. "We visited many other churches now turned into museums and noticed that always the Royal arms were placed above the Crucifix to signify that the Russian Emperor was greater than Uod." v Mrs Coleman said that they were unfortunately unable to see the Kremlin, but she showed several pictures of the buildings. Many marvelious operas and ballets were also seen during their visit, and though they found everything so very interesting they were qnite relieved when they were safely out of Russia. "When we returned to London," continued Mrs Coleman, "on© of the first sights X saw was a mounted police guard escorting a procession to Hyde Park, there to let these people say anything that they wanted about England, and I thought what an amazing contrast between tlie two lands, England and Russia," Mrs I). W. 'Hursthouse proposed a vote of thauks to Mrs Coleman for her most interesting address, and the members also expressed appreciation. Those • present were : — Mrs A. E." O'Meara, Mrs Selwyn Chambers, Mrs J, C. Tosswill, Mrs JD. W. Hursthouse, Mrs . Lovell-Smith, Mrs Scoon, Mrs E. Millson, Mrs T. A. Hill, Mrs A. F. Glenny, Mrs H. Macdonald, Mrs Miller, Mrs E. V. Simpson, Misses S. Lincoln, M. Brandon-Jones, J. and H. LovellSmith, Calder, M. and E. Treneraan, Heenan, M. Robertson, Holmes(2) G. Symes, J. C. Graham, J. M. Graham, E. Shakespeare, Riley, N, Diamond.