In the Social Storm: Memoirs of the Russian Revolution By Boris Yelensky Chapter 9
Chapter 9
When the meeting of the Economic Soviet opened, all the delegates, with the exception of a few of the Bolsheviks, were in a depressed mood. Only the most urgent matters were taken up, after which it was decided to call a special general assembly of the Economic Soviet with, in addition to the delegates, all activist workers from the factories and shops invited, as well as the executive committee of the Political Soviet. Our own group met in special session to discuss the developing situation. It was the consensus, by the way, that under the present conditions my presence was more important in the city than in Abrav-Durso.
A few days later I left for Abrav-Durso to close out my post as chairman of the Internal Affairs Committee and to help select a successor for the post. On the day of my arrival, a special meeting was called, attended by the entire population of the community. I had expected that the one-time “elite” would be pleased with my departure from Abrav-Durso; but to my surprise it was precisely that element which most regretted my leaving. Indeed, the entire assembly was a source of surprise and gratification. I had not expected anything of this kind from people who were becoming acquainted with the philosophy of anarchism for the first time in their lives and who had lived so far only under a regimented Czarist regime. The expressions of regret over our departure and the words of praise addressed to me were cordial and sincere and they gave me a keen sense of satisfaction at having been able to accomplish something of value during the time I had spent there. I recalled that during the first days of our stay there a few workers had manifested anti-Semitic sentiments, while others had even instructed their children not to play with our son, at that time three years old. These same workers now asked for the floor and acknowledged their “sins” against us and expressed the wish that we might come to live with them in Abrav-Durso.
The assembly chose a new Internal Affairs Committee and called for it to meet the following day so that I could turn over all administrative matters to the new chairman. The gathering lasted until quite late, as the audience simply hesitated to leave. I could sense that these people were reluctant to renounce the new order of things which had made them independent and equal members of a libertarian society. Apparently I symbolized for them all the gains they had made and this was their way of expressing their regret over my leaving.
The following morning, the newly-elected Internal Affairs Committee met and I turned over all business matters to the new chairman, and at the same time went over some of the functions of the committee and gave them some words of encouragement. Above all, I urged them not to allow themselves to become intimidated in the event that the once-privileged element should try to regain the upper hand; this must not be tolerated. I assured them they would receive assistance from the city whenever they needed it.
The mood at this session was the same as at the previous day’s meeting. When it came to a close, the new chairman announced that he was inviting the entire membership of the committee to his home for lunch. When we arrived there, we found a banquet spread out and, in addition to the members of the committee, a number of the active workers and even the wine expert, Widell, were gathered. (After the Second World War, I learned from a son of Widell’s that he had been liquidated as a “counter-revolutionary” when Stalin perpetrated his mass murders.)
I must admit that I had no idea where so much food and drink came from. The guests grew more and more animated from the wine; there was no dearth of speeches and several uninhibited confessions about their feelings regarding my Jewish origin. Even though I had become a little groggy myself from a generous intake of wine, my head was clear enough to remember that the very same evening a special meeting would take place at which the new committee was to submit a report about my instructions to them and where I would bid them farewell. I therefore proposed that we break off the banquet and, if any liquor remained, it should be consumed after the meeting. My proposal was accepted and, since a few hours remained prior to the meeting, the crowd took a siesta on the freshly-cut hay.
The mass meeting was carried out in the same mood as that of the previous day, and the leave-taking was most cordial. In such a small community there are few secrets and it was common knowledge that we had had a banquet at the home of the new chairman and that, after the meeting, the remaining food and drink would be consumed. When I returned to the home of the chairman I found a considerable crowd. Outside stood several tables laden with food and drink. A number of workmen with their wives arrived, everyone bringing something to eat and a couple of bottles of wine. It soon appeared that the entire population of Abrav-Durso was present.
I don’t know to this day how late the crowd remained - nor how I managed to get to my own bedroom that night. I only recall that at seven the next morning the automobile which was to take me back to the city arrived and that when the chauffeur came to awaken me I had a powerful hangover. When I was able to clear my head somewhat I found that, near by my bed were standing three large bottles of wine and a case containing bottles of wine and champagne and another case of foodstuffs. As I prepared for the journey the chauffeur poured two large glasses of wine and assured me that this would alleviate the hangover somewhat.
Since I was uncertain if I would ever have another opportunity to visit Abrav-Durso, I asked the chauffeur to drive up to the highest point around, from where I would gain a panoramic view for the magnificent surroundings. The entire area was surrounded by towering mountains and deep valleys, a landscape of exquisite, breathtaking beauty.
The road leading away from Abrav-Durso had become known as “the road of the drunkards,” partially of course because of the main industry of the area but also because nature herself was intoxicating in her splendor in the area. The air was filled with the fragrance of the wild flowers which grew in profusion all around the road, which wound and curved in serpentine fashion. Nevertheless, our car sped onward at breakneck pace, and only the firm hands of the young driver kept us from the abyss below.
Still in a semi-somnolent state, I began to draw up a mental balance sheet of what had been accomplished during my brief stay in Abrav-Durso. The basic question to which I sought an answer was whether or not the average person of that day, brought up under a feudal-capitalistic system, could transform himself, as well as his environment, overnight as it were, and become a pioneer of a new society built on a foundation of freedom and equality. We had been told repeatedly that we were utopians; so I searched for an answer as to whether or not Utopia can be attained here and now with persons who only yesterday had no conception of what “Socialism” meant ( to say nothing of “Anarchism”).
Through my mind raced images of what Abrav-Durso had been like when I first arrived there; when it was one of the numerous estates which the Czar’s family owned throughout Russia, and on which bureaucratic officials kept the workers in a state of semi-serfdom. With the exception of a handful of the residents who may have had some connection with the clandestine revolutionary movement, the mass of the people had no notion of that movement; yet these self-same workmen, innocent of what was going on around them, had succeeded in a brief period of time in setting an example for the world - that under suitable conditions of freedom, a human being can become a free designer of his own life and that of his fellow man, and also assume full moral responsibility. In other words, when “anarchist utopia” is given a chance to assume reality, political blackmail loses its influence on the masses at large.
When we reached Novorossiysk, I felt assured in my own mind that my labors at Abrav-Durso had not been in vain. I was convinced that the noble experiments in Abrav-Durso and in Novorossiysk provided proof to the world that, fortified with good will, one can construct a new social order founded on freedom.