ere do you house those who remain here?"

"Well, we accommodate them in the Jewish school, in private homes, in
rooms hired for the purpose. But here we met with a new obstacle. Our
town is situated on the left bank of the river Dnyepr. Now a new order
was issued to the effect that the deported should settle exclusively
on the left bank. We had trouble enough, I warrant you. Fortunately,
the local authorities have shown us some consideration and postponed
the second deportation.... But to entrain worn-out people and send
them anew into the unknown,--it is painful even to imagine it. Think
of it: to grow accustomed to the place, to the people who take care
of you,--and then again a train, a flashing of a station, and the
final outrage of the arrival. Many say: 'Better to die than to resume
our road again.'

"But we are forced to send them further, although nowadays it is hard
to place the deported; all the towns are crowded, the congestion leads
to diseases. Here, too, we have had several deaths...."

"Tell me," I said finally, "but you know, at least approximately, why
these people are deported? It is impossible that this should be done
for no earthly reason, simply because they happen to be Jews...."

How great was my repentance that I put this naive question! I shall
never, never forget the eyes which turned on me. There was in them a
burning pain and another question: "Yes, for what crime? If we only
knew it.... Perhaps, you will tell us? You are a Russian, you are in a
better position to know...."

I got up quickly, shook hands, and left in silence, with a feeling of
repulsion for myself and shame for my helplessness....

* * * * *

THE HOMELESS ONES

_Sergey Yakovlevich Yelpatyevsky is a popular writer of
realistic, and humanitarian tales and sketches. In his youth he
was exiled to Siberia, and in 1910 he was imprisoned. He was born
in 1854._

THE HOMELESS ONES

BY S. YELPATYEVSKY

I

A party of Jews was brought to the province of Tavrida. Officially
they are called "the deported"; the newspapers refer to them as "the
homeless ones." At first came three thousand Jews from the province of
Kovno. They were followed by Kurland Jews, and now about seven
thousand Jews have been settled in the government of Tavrida. Other
parties are expected....

They had wandered a long time before they reached their new place of
residence. Obviously, the auth