The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-05-18
$4,000 YOUTHS
SLEEP IN STREET
In Moscow Students Literally
FIGHT for Chance to Learn.
ChlneE PLACE EFERf. NIGHT.

American college students, who 1fo-
auently complain that their allowances
are too small, would learn what rough
| ing 1t In search of an education &C.
tually means were they to come to
/ Moscow.
Investigators for the American 70
lief administration have come across
tragic comedy or comic tragedy In
every nook and corner of the bare,
cold dormitories for Russian youths
At the big universities In Moscow and
In the provinces.
= Last September, when the college
term opened, there were approximate
y $1,000 students registered in the
higher institutions of Moscow. APP
proximately 10000 Of these were ca
pable Of caring for themselves; an
other 10000 were to be taken care of
by the government, but many Of the
other 10000 literally had to sleep In
the streets, because no quarters could
be found for them In the overcrowded
city.
Lodoss In Doorways.
One member Of the investigating
committee found the task Of relieving
needy students almost hopeless be-
cause Of the indefinite address given
BY the applicants. Peter Popov, who
was given q pair Of shoes and was to
receive food package later, informed
the committee that he was rather q
dihicult person to find, because he
slept In q different doorway every
night. Two young men from the cleo
tTical college were perfectly willing
to be called upon, they said, but
doubted that they could be found In
the crowd at the railway station where
they slept.
So much time and energy is spent
trying to obtain food and shelter that
many Of the students find study impos- ,
sible. They are always on the lookout,
for odd jobs that will give them bed,
meal or few million rubles.
Three girls In one Of the universl-
ties sew four hours day for cor
ner to sleep In. After a meal at the
student kitchen at 8 p. m. they attend
their nrst class. Russian universities
always ran to night work, for even In
the old days the terms student" and
poor were synonymous. =
Conditions In the institutions Of
Moscow today are said to be infinitely
worse than those endured by the poor
est. students before the revolutions
Sleeping 40 In a room, some with and
some without beds, many OF these
earnest young seekers after the truth
about science, philosophy or medicine
play balalaikas and sing songs even
when they are hungry.
From Glasses - Bed.
= Two CHEEKY lads owning one suit Of
clothes between them were lucky
enough to find Q small room by them
selves. They arranged their classes
10 that one could stay In bed and
study while the other wore the suit to
the lecture. Another youngster had
three useful possessions, a blanket, a
sack Of potatoes and a geometry.
Wrapped In one, he used another for
4 pillow, while he read the third.
Two girls, taking a mathematical
course, had persistently guarded their
room, but one evening they went out
Tor a moment to buy some food. When
hey returned they found their belong
ngs in the corridor and new lock on
he door. Two young men had moved |
d. -
The urge for education Is stronger
throughout Russia these days, particu-
arly among sons and daughters Of the
working classes, than 1t has ever been |
before, and registration In the higher |
ychools in some cases has increased |
more than 20 per cent.
In the old days at the Russian uni
,ersities there were no dormitories; |
he students rented rooms and paid for
heir own board. Now the government
Q attempting to feed and house stu
Tents, and pays them monthly sub
Idly, amounting approximately to 81
q American money. In pre-revolutiOn
lays $40 month would keep a Rus
ian student in ragged but happy com
ort. .s.
npAETRS SH01 IN RUSSIA