pass without spoiling, it was affirmed they had no
mills to grind it in Russia, that the peasant knew nothing about corn,
that they could not change their habit of living, and therefore would be
unable to make use of it, if received. One of the leading business men
of the country went so far as to write that we might as well ship a
cargo of pebbles as a cargo of unground corn. Hence there was a degree
of satisfaction to see the entire cargo, with the exception of a small
quantity referred to loaded in the rain, come out of the ship in as good
condition as when it was put in the hold, and to find in our journey in
the interior that the peasants even needed no suggestion about grinding
it in their windmills, which were amply sufficient.

But when the little corn that had heated was sent to Samara with the
suggestion that it be used to feed the cattle, with four additional days
in the hot state in the cars, and this was still used by the peasants
and called _good_, it removed any doubt that might be forced into one's
mind that a starving peasant would die rather than eat a food that he
was not accustomed to.

Referring back to St. Petersburg, after our list had been made up for
the general distribution of the cargo, Mr. Hilton carefully went over it
and said, from his personal knowledge of the people to whom the
consignments were to be made, he would be willing to personally
guarantee that 80 per cent of everything sent according to the list
would be honestly and faithfully distributed, just as the donors wished,
and he further believed that the remaining 20 per cent would be as
faithfully handled.

My trip to the various places of distribution, widely separated and at
unexpected times, confirmed Mr. Hilton's belief that the entire cargo
could not have gone through better hands in any land.

To be able, after such observations and inquiries, to give this report
is a satisfaction that repays for all the anxious care and
responsibility naturally felt with such a charge.

To add to this, the deep gratitude expressed by