The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-18
SOCIAL IDEAS IN RUSSIA
Theatres and Concert Halls For
Factory Employees.
SCHOOLS AND NURSERY
Many Points for Us to Learn From
Movements Of Industrial Improve.
ment In Russia.

II will surprise many readers to
learn that there are points in the so.
cial and industrial welfare movement
for which democratic America may
look up to autocratic Russia. That
such Is the case DR.. William II. Tol.
man, head of the American Institute
OF Social Service, indicates in his
leading article In the May number Of
the Institutes official publication, So
cial Service.
For instance, at Popoff's factory. not
far from Moscow, there is a popular
theatre with accommodations for
some 700. The plays are given from
TO 10 o'clock in the evening Of fete
days in summer and winter. There
is no stock company, the roles being
filed by the clerks and workmen.
Each play costs ordinarily s64.50, but
the admission is free. The company
chooses the plays, and those found to
be most preferred are by two Russian
authors, while Moliere comes third.
In addition to the theatrlcals, readings
are given in the same building every
Sunday evening from to s o'clock
from works approved by the Minister
OF Public Instruction
Musical evenings are also furnished
by an orchestra and chorus COM
posed exclusively of the workmen in
the factory. A tea-room was opened
in 1895 which contains an organ. a
stereoscope, a billiard table and other
games; also papers and magazines
selected from special catalogue OF
books permitted to be read by the peo-
pie. Admission to the room Is free,
not only for the workmen but others.
At the Norsky Mandatory another
of Russia's Industrial welfare move
ments Is to be studied. Readings are
to be given each Sunday from October
to Easter. Each session is divided
into two parts, the first concerned
with religious or moral works the
second, classic works. The space OF
three years is allotted to Russian his
Tory. with Illustration Of notable
events by means of lantern slides.
Still further example Of Russian
progress in this direction is to be
seen at another factory, where lee.
lures are given every Sunday and
fete day by religious teachers or tech.
nical engineers.
Vladimir F. Gnesin writes for the
same number Of Social Service con.
cerning the great Jaroslaw Mills in
Russia, founded under Peter the
Great. Besides social welfare arrange.
ments such as DR.. Tolman describes,
the company running these mills pro-
vides nursery for the care Of in.
fants whose mothers are Obliged to
go out to work. For children of five
to ten years there is a kindergarten
attended daily by about seven hun
dred boys and girls and for still older
children Of employees there are sew
eral schools in which physical culture
and, for the girls, needlework are
taught, besides the usual school sub
jects.
A society founded in 1897 in ST.
Petersburg was the first attempt In
Russia to aid girls of the working
classes in their hard struggle for life
The activity of this society mani.
tests itself particularly in Sunday as
semblies, which give young women
the possibility of passing their time
on this day profitably, sensibly and
agreeably. Moral instruction Is given
by priest and there are simple lee.
lures on history, geography, hygiene
and art. the talks being ALWAYS illus
trated with lantern pictures.
The society has established two
clearinghouse. one receiving some
forty girls and the other about hun.
dred. On the payment of $3.50 a
month the working girl may have a
bed in dormitory, little wardrobe,
with the privilege Of the parlor and
a commodious kitchen. with cooking
utensils.