Los Angeles Times Aug 31, 1905; pg. II1
Select Fair Girl as Their General
Molokane Colonists will go Whithersoever Pauline Gold Leads Them. She will Locate Their Plantation in Southern California.
A leader for the local Russian settlement has arisen in Miss Pauline Gold, a handsome, black-haired dashing girl whom the peasants lovingly call their “Little Mother.”
Whithersoever she leads they will follow.
Another batch of big bewhiskered men with their wives and little children arrived a few days ago and the tribe gathering in Los Angeles now numbers between 900 and 1000.
On the faces of each there is eager anticipation and the latest news of the movement to plant a colony somewhere in Southern California is eagerly awaited, and at the word of the “Little Mother” the great trek will begin.
Down on East First Street, between Vignes and Kearney streets, the host is encamped and every available shanty, tent and cheap lodging-house has been utilized, as the temporary abiding place of the men who have left their “bleeding Russia.”
Since January of this year they have been gathering and the last cohorts of the emigration fro the frozen steppes are coming to the Golden West.
During these months the great question has been the choice of a leader. Many there were who would, with fair promises, offer their aid, and, for pay, lead the men to the Promised Land.
But the Russians are suspicious, and while not possessed of the quick mind of the Anglo Saxon, are nevertheless exceedingly shrewd. They thought they saw through the schemes of “pretenders” and, right or wrong, refused to follow.
They have suffered much by land and sea, they have endured privation that few men would willingly suffer, and they have left their native land rather than take up arms in a cause in which they sympathies were not enlisted.
Here in Southern California they have gathered, not as a charge upon the people, for above all things the Slovenian scorns to beg or even ask aid.
“We can work for all we get,” said a big husky fellow, the father of eight children, yesterday. “We do not want something for nothing; we will earn our bread and also the money to take us away.”
The dream of the Russian immigrant is the foundation of a colony in Southern California, where he may till the soil and earn a living.
The scheme for the establishment of a colony in Mexico has failed. This was definitely stated yesterday by those who are in touch with the affairs of the Los Angeles colony.
The great problem ever since the arrival of the hundreds of “Molokanes” has been a guide, and now they are supremely happy because this guide has been found in a gentle girl.
Miss Pauline Gold comes of an excellent family. She was born in France, but speaks Russian like a native Her sympathies are with the peasants and her gentlest word is law.
At present the work of the young woman is the care of the sick, as the privations suffered by these sturdy folk has been in several cases too much even for their rugged constitutions.
Part of the company came by way of Panama, and while crossing the Isthmus an affection of the eyes spread in the camp and many were in danger of losing their sight. They are being treated in this city for the ailment and Miss Gold has arranged for their care at local hospitals and at the Medical School of the University of Southern California, on Buena Vista Street.
With the queenly grace the beautiful girl passes from home to home administering to the need of the suffering and giving advice which is always heeded.
The big, brave men would lay down their lives in defense of the girl who is their hope and pride.
The smallest child toddles after her for a word of welcome and the affairs of each household must be told to “Little Mother,” who somehow always knows just what should be done.
Unassuming in manner, Miss Gold will say little about the work she is doing, and from others must be learned the story of her great self-sacrifice.
Coming from a good home, and with a splendid education, for the young woman speaks four languages fluently. Miss Gold is able to do much for the colonists and no business of import is transacted without her advice.
Many of the immigrants are working. Positions have been found for them in the lumber yards, where several hundred are employed, and at various other departments of labor.
Their proud boast is that there is not a lazy man in the whole colony, and they are willing to labor from sunrise to sun down, that they may earn the money that will later go into a common fund for the great migration.
Every plan for the establishment of a colony which has not had Southern California in view, has met with disfavor by the men. There is a strong probability that acreage will be found for them in the Southland.
The men have been brought up as tillers of the soil. Some of them are experts at raising garden products and their present idea is to establish their colony not far from Los Angeles, that a good market may be afforded.
The colonists live poorly and are saving every cent of money. They are most suspicious and reserved and will not talk to strangers.
Sad experience has taught them that even their own countrymen in America will profit by their ignorance when the opportunity offers.
Like the Israelites in Egypt, however, they eat with their traveling garments on and with their staff in hand, ready at a moment’s notice to begin the movement that will take them to their promised land.
There are no faint-hearted ones in the crowd and the sturdy fellows propose to settle where the soil is cheap and unpromising and where few others would care to undertake to plant gardens. They declare they are used to almost barren soil and are anxious to show what they can do toward reclaiming abandoned land.
They are law-abiding, and kind. They are also quick to learn, and day by day are acquiring knowledge of the English language.
The local Health Office is looking after the interests of the Molokanes and bears witness to the power that Miss Gold has obtained over them through her ministrations.
