Russian - Activist | February 24, 1909 - May 15, 1949
We are not born all at once, but by bits. The body first, and the spirit later; and the birth and growth of the spirit, in those who are attentive to their own inner life, are slow and exceedingly painful.
Mary Antin
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As we moved along in a little procession, I was delighted with the illumination of the streets. So many lamps, and they burned until morning, my father said, and so people did not need to carry lanterns.
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His struggle for a bare living left him no time to take advantage of the public evening school. In time he learned to read, to follow a conversation or lecture; but he never learned to write correctly; and his pronunciation remains extremely foreign to this day.
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If education, culture, the higher life were shining things to be worshiped from afar, he had still a means left whereby he could draw one step nearer to them.
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In the evening of the first day my father conducted us to the public baths.
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No, the czar did not want us in the schools.
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On a royal birthday every house must fly a flag, or the owner would be dragged to a police station and be fined twenty-five rubles.
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One positive command he gave us: You shall love and honor your emperor. In every congregation a prayer must be said for the czar's health, or the chief of police would close the synagogue.
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Our mothers are racked with the pains of our physical birth; we ourselves suffer the longer pains of our spiritual growth.
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The apex of my civic pride and personal contentment was reached on the bright September morning when I entered the public school.
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The czar always got his dues, no matter if it ruined a family.
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The czar was always sending us commands - you shall not do this and you shall not do that - till there was very little left that we might do, except pay tribute and die.
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