GORKY RETURNS HOME.

Shannon News, 24 August 1928, Page 1

GORKY RETURNS HOME.

’AMOUS WRITER WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS IN RUSSIA AFTER SIX YEARS’ ABSENCE

MOSCOW. Rardy lias an author been honored in his country ivith more warmth and mthusiasm than Gorky was on liis return to Soviet Russia after an absence of six years. The Russians, known for their expansiyeness and “broad na turns,’ ’ showered the writer with earks of attention, devotion, love and honor. Arrangements for meeting him veto lmgun long before his, arrival. A delegation headed by StepanovSkvorzov, the editor of Izvestia, anu Mr, Smidovieii, vice-president of the People’s Commissars, including representatives of students, writers and rade unions, met Gorky at the frou- : er. His countrymen' carried him into rlie Russian train specially sent for him. From there at every stopping place various Soviet and public organist lions met him with music and banners and hastened to express their welcome during the few minutes at their disposal. A triumphal entry* awaited Gorky n ■ Moscow, Voroshilov, Commissar for War; Bukharin, editor of Fravda; Litvinoft", assistant commissar for Foreign Affairs and other notabilities. ■ net Gorky at, the station. Again he vas carried from the train to the automobile. In warm words Gorky wgs •rooted as a sincere friend, a beloved iroletarian writer; but the guost was oo deeply moved to speak. The joy ■ f seeing the country, again and the "aces old and new but equally dear vas too great, he said, and he bogge i e. be allowed to write down his im uessions instead of speaking. Meeting in Opera House. - From the day of his arrival Gorky tas become the national hero of his •omitry. Papers print daily columns ibout him; schools and libraries are being renamed in his honor; exhibitions of his works have been opened in aningrad and Moscow; the State' Pub ishing Society is issuing cheap ediions of| his work. The Moscow. Soviet arranged- a accting in his honor at the State Opera House; over 2500 people tilled he" building. Delegation of factory voipyers came to grew him. The workrs asked him not to go back to Italy. ■“Stay with us” they urged, “and vve shall do everything to make you is comfortable as you are in Italy.”' Gorky was especially moved by an address- of a; woman worker from a textile factory;" who presented liirii in the name of the factory with a portrait of Lenin, and asked him to work with the proletariat till their final victory. She said that she and other women workers who were illiterate before were able to read his works' now. Gorky said that women like this were worth the sufferings of the revolution, that the signs o* new life and forces, which he saw everywhere paid for the past. He’ urged the workers and communists to be less critical toward each , Other and to have more faith in their work and. their achievements. Will Visit Peasants ’ Homes. Gorky is anxious to become thoroughly acquainted with all the newer phases of Russian life. He wants to visit factories, schools, workers’ clubs, homes of peasants and workers, see the changes in their daily life, and travel throughout the country. Russia honors Gorky not only be cause he is a great artist, an old revolutionist, and a friend of the Soviet Government, but also because he is a great 1 proletarian writer, one who sprang from the working class and who, overcoming many material and other hardships, developed into a truly great artist portraying the life of the corkers. But Gorky became a great writer before the Soviet Government

■as born; since then a. truly great pro ■tarian writer has not vet arisen.