LIFE IN LONDON

We were met at the station by a comrade living in London in emigra­tion, who had a fine knowledge of English. At first he acted as our guide, as we were in rather a hopeless position by ourselves. We thought we knew the English language, having even translated a whole book (the Webb's) from English into Russian, when we were in Siberia. I learnt English in prison from a self-instructor, but never heard a single word spoken. When we arrived in London, we found we could not understand a single word, and nobody understood us. We started going to all kinds of meetings. We stood in the front row and carefully studied the ora­tor 's mouth. We went fairly often to Hyde Park where speakers addressed the passing crowds of different themes.

We learnt a great deal by listening to spoken English. Afterwards, we found two Englishmen who wanted to exchange lessons and began studying with them. He got to know the language fairly well.

We also studied London. We did not, however, visit the London museums, except the British Museum, where we spent much time. But there we were attracted not by the museum, but by the richest library in the world.

We studied living London. We loved to climb to the top of an omni­bus and go on long rides about the town. We liked the movement of this big commercial city. The quiet squares, the rich homes with their shining windows and green lawns, and near them the dirty little streets, inhabited by the London working people. In such districts we went on foot, and seeing these striking contrasts in richness and poverty, we would mat­ter through clenched teeth and in English: "Two nations!"

(From Reminiscences of V. 1.L Lenin by

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