Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

den rake was endeavoring to put it under the soil. After the man was through with his sowing, both man and wife hitched themselves to a one-section harrow and dragged it across the field back and forth. This man told us that all his children had perished for want of food, and that he and his wife were trying their best to produce something to keep themselves alive through the next winter. He had eaten no bread for two weeks, except such as was prepared from ground- up “kurai,” a Russian thistle. | Something had to be done to avoid recurrence of existing conditions, and this help must come from abroad, for the people were too far down to rise again without outside help. There were various opinions as to what method would be the most advantageous, some advised buying horses, others suggested buying tractors and plows, besides several other plans that were advocated. BIRTH OF THE TRACTOR MOVEMENT Reports of such conditions and needs sent to America aroused the sympathy, first of a few individuals, later of larger groups. Among the first to start the movement A TYPICAL RUSSIAN OUTFIT It is serviceable for all-around purposes. A PLOWING SCENE In the German Colony, Prischib, just to the North of the Molotsehna. TID AMERICAN TRACTOR PLOW IN-ORENBURG D. R. Hoeppner and government officials inspecting the newly arrived A. M. R.traetor and plow. A NATIVE RUSSIAN HOME Preparing the house for winter with plaster consisting of mud and water. This work is generally done by women. SS ee SR RR HF rot ee THREE TYPES OF ARCHITECTURE Native house construction as viewed by immediate neighbors. Mr. Hoeppner in the foreground. DUTCH WINDMILL RUSSIAN WINDMILL A familiar sight in most Rus- Such were used twenty years sian villages. and more ago. ‘julod 010% 91 poqoBer Jsow[e prey sold -dns yvidsoy Ul jusmdinbs oyy, “vissny yIRog “Wpuisqre_ET Twau st sq, QOVINOW LV IVLIdSOH ALINONNGIV RECONSTRUCTION WORK IN RUSSIA 297 was a prosperous farmer near Whitewater, Kansas, who: in his generosity, offered to pay for one tractor and plow. This was taken up by Mr. J. G. Evert, who with his: influential pen brought it to the attention of others. Soom responses came from different persons or groups offering to pay for one outfit each. In a short time there were provisions for fifteen outfits, most of which came from the General Conference Mennonites of the Middle West. Then the Executive Committee for Colonization, realizing that the immigration of the Russian brethren to America was rather distant, became interested, and began to advocate the purchase of tractors and plows. They interviewed the officials of the companies producing the Fordson and the International tractors. These companies, after some deliberation, offered special prices which made the undertaking appear rather favorable. The Executive Committee of the Mennonite Central Committee, met at Philadelphia on June 24, and acted favor