PREFACE
In America, popular interest in Russia has been much increased by the Russo-Japanese war. The utter inefficiency, incapacity and corruption of the Russian government were made plain to the American people by the war, as the autocracy's lack of regard for all moral considerations had already been made plain by its treatment of the Finns, Jews, Poles and Armenians, and by the persecution of Russia's most distinguished literary men. The inevitable result has been increased sympathy with the Russian people, as opposed to the Russian government; and a growing interest in the great and gallant struggle for liberty which the best sons and daughters of Russia have been carrying on for years against tremendous odds.
This little volume aims to give a glimpse into the thoughts and aspirations of some Russian lovers of freedom, as revealed in their poetry. It includes twenty-five poems translated from the Russian, and four from the Yiddish.
These renderings in verse have been made from prose translations furnished me by different friends. Among those to whom I have been indebted for this help are Miss Annie Seitlen, Dr. Antoinette Konikow, and Miss Bessie Levine. The versified renderings of the Yiddish poems by Morris Rosenfeld are from prose translations made by Professor Leo Wiener of Harvard.
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