The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-26


movement, which aims at a new
culture, especially in the theatre,
which is free from Greek or other
influences. II is Madame Kamin-
ev's theory that such a culture,
springing from the workers and
peasants and unspoiled by the i'm
PROJECTIONS and influences of for
mer civilizations, will do much to
stimulate and renew art in gem
eral, which she believes has be-
come decadent.
Marie Andreeva MADAME Cor
ky), who is herself an actress Of
note and was at one time star
in the famous Art Theatre in Mos
COW, had charge of Narodny Dom,
a peoples theatre, which was
started under the Tsar and is con-
tinued under the Soviets. Marie
Andreeva recently made tour Of
Europe to study the theatres.
Theatres Maintained.
But it is Stanislavsly, the di-
rector Of the Moscow Art Theatre,
who has rendered Lunacharsky the
greatest assistance. Stanislavsky
is conceded to be the greatest
stage director in the world. Under
his guidance, all the great Rus
sian playwrights for the last gen.
Grafton have blossomed. 1t was
Stanislav's firm conviction that the
Russian people must maintain the
theatres, hundreds Of theatres, dur
ing the revolution, in order that
they might not find a life of hun
ger and cold too monotonous for
a desire to live. With his brave
little company he has managed to
keep his theatre in the capital at
the very highest pitch. He estab-
lished and kept under his direction
three other theatres in Moscow
and he has put on number Of new
operas. Absolutely nothing seems
to discourage him. The loss of
his personal fortune, which had
been very great, and even the loss
of his beloved workshop which
was turned into Chauffeurs' Club
did not destroy his calm. at is
never Lenin or Lunacharsky, big
men, who are to blame for these
mistakes of the Soviet Govern
ment," he told me. at is always
the little, foolish frantic men.
When they took my workshop,
wrote to Lenin. He did every
thing he could and when he was
outvoted by Kaminev and the Mos
COW Soviet, he managed to get
me another place, really just as
good but lacking the old atmo-
sphere"
Hermitage Collection Preserved.
When the Germans were knock
ing at the gates of Petrograd in
1917 the historic tapestries in the
Winter Palace and the entire Her
mitage collection were sent by dead
Of night to Moscow and stored in
the Kremlin. One day in the win
ter of 1921 called at Lunach-
arsky's office. He was in fine
state of happiness. IL have great
news for you," he exclaimed. "To-
day we sent the Hermitage collec-
ton back to Petrograd-intact!
wonder if you can realize what
that means? wonder if the world
will know how nearly those pre-
cious things came to destruction?
How wonderful it is, after all, that
in another month one can go to
Petrograd and behold everything
arranged as it has been for CEN
turtles.
ayes, there have been times
when I did not think it possible
to save the collection, not because
there were reckless revolutionists
who always brought up movements
to sell one part or another, but
by much worse destruction. Can
you imagine my anxiety when
fighting, actual fighting, was going
on in palaces where the old porce-
lains were stored? We had put
the Rembrandts and other canvases
in the Kremlin cellars, and / was
in constant terror that rats would
gnaw them. Sometimes was
afraid to go down and look. But
l feel that the worst days Of such
struggles are over for US. / am
happy that Russia has demonstra-
ted to the world that Russians are
not barbarians. We have saved
our art in spite of hunger and dis
ease and DEATH"
A Oevout Revolutionist.
Lunacharsky has a rare grace
Of spirit and while he is himself
a modernist and wants to bring
art as close 10 the people as bread,
he never allowed his own feelings
to intrude on the feelings of his
fellow artists. Himself a writer
of note, he has sacrificed his own !.
writing to save art and the ere
ators Of art. A devout revolu-
ZIONIST, he can allow the intricate
DESIGNS Of the Tsardom. the great
black eaeles. insolent against the
sky over the turrets of the Krem-
lin, TO remain. because thev are
part Of the ori~inal designs Of the
old palaces. He can brine him
self to regild the church roofs from
his qcartv funds altho he is not
at all religious. and he could faith
fully gather old ikons and make
Of them marvellous little collec-
ton in one OF the new museums.
n~l.. r..nk on,.II f.aUn LalI