The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 15, 1925, Page 10

RUSSIA TODAY! Official Report of British Tra ‘sorted and classified. (Continued from Y esterday’s Daily Worker ) | Dramatic schools and dancing colleges are now amder Gov- ernment control; young workers from the factory art- schools are, one source from which pupils are encouraged. Most of them, however, enter as children and receive a general educa- ton as, ‘well as specializing in dramatic art or.dancing as the ease may be. * ‘ With the. exception of one theatre in Leningrad, all are run at a loss and receive a subsidy from the State to make up the deficit. The bne self-supporting theatre in Leningrad is quite the most interesting result of the optional art schools mentioned above. This theatre is entirely run and managed by the industrial workers themselves. - Most of them still work their six-hour day in the factory. . They have none of them received any other training than that offered by the Trade Un- ion optional art schools. ...The productions at this theatre have hitherto been confined to what are termed Revolution plays. These plays, mostly written by workers, depict various phases of the Revolution, and are a most curious mixture of tragedy and humor. The Russian equivalent of Bairnsfather’s “Old Bill” is a constant character. ; Sueh plays are usually staged without scenery, or only with the merest indication such as used in the old-fashioned arlequinade which used to follow every children’s pantomime. he’ dréss of the characters are also mere indications, such as a sword for an officer, a rifle for a private. The highest talent in acting and elocution is, therefore, essential. This form of post-revolution dramatic production is much in vogue, and has been brought to the highest form of per- fection by Meyerhold in Moscow. At Meyerhold’s Theatre only wooden screens on ball-bearing runners are used to indicate the scenery. There are no footlights, but a strong limelight is thrown on the actor while speaking, or on whom the audience’s attention should be fixed at the time. The rest of the stage and the auditorium are completely blacked out. The whole play is worked at the speed of a cinema film, and in this manner there is no limit to the number of scenes which can be gone through in one act. The attention of the audience is held the whole time, the effects are extraordinarily realistic, and the cost of production is fractional. Meyerhold himself described this form of staging very aptly: “You do not require illustrations to a novel. The general atmosphere of the story and the most sketchy description will qgpnjure up in-your imagination the scene in’ which the’ events pair ch reader imagines a. different picture,.but it .is ilways one that pleases him and is in sympathy with the story as he reads it. Everything is in the writing. The same with my plays, everything is in the acting.” Under the nationalization scheme every provingial: town now has its national opera house and other theatres. These are all under Government management or sub-let to local authori- ties. They are not exclusively served by local talent; any artist serving the State is liable to be called upon to serve in the provinces and so provide the provincial public with exhibitions of the best talent in the land. ' The price of seats in most theatres is about the same as in Tsarist days. A worker, however, on presentation of his cer- tificate, obtains a reduction according to his category. Thus a worker may obtain a seat-in the gallery at the opera for a sum amounting to 214d. or a stall for under a shilling. It ig too early to judge whether the Revolution will bring forth any really great exponents of the arts. It is, however, certain that the new system of education is granting the very greatest. opportunities for self-expression to a naturally artistic and emotional people. ‘ Art Collections m2 Much might be written regarding Russia’s ‘collection of art treasures in the museums and public galleries. These, how- ever, have been extensively reviewed and written on by experts in the past. It is satisfactory to realize that rumors circulat- ed in the European Press regarding their destruction or sale may now be classed with the most of the other information re- ceived from certain quarters regarding the situation in Soviet Russia, | As a matter of fact, the collection has been increased to an almost unwieldy proportion by the nationalization of private colloctions. Jewelry, plate, pictures, furniture, miniatures, ar- mor, china, tapestrics, sculpture, arms, altar-pieces, books, and manuscripts in vast quantities are still stored, uncatalogued, in the large attics and cellars of the museums and many of the famous country seats and town homes of the nobility which have been turned into museums or educational establishments. , A large stuff of experts and artists is busy. sorting and dasdloguing this heterogeneous mass. Those specimens of spe- gial value are added to the former collections in the existing muscums and gulleries, Furniture, pictures, and art treasures found in many fmmovs homes znd palaces now converted into museums remain ag they were found. In the musuems of Len- inyrad alone there are over 50,000 pieces of china waiting to be catalogued and inspected. Over 5,000 pictures haye been con- centrated in the great Hermitage Galleries and are now being A wonderful collection of ikons and reli- gious pictures hes been centralized in the Museum of Alexander Il, where a large expert staff, many of them foreigners, are en- gaged on restoration work, Many of these ikons and holy pic- tures have been found to date back to before the tenth ard eleventh centuries. It was found, however, that some had been repainted several times and, in some cases, with an entirely different design. The work of restoration has now removed the later Russian designs, and the original work of the Byzantine artist has been revealed. So far the results achieved have been” marvellous, and the experts declare that when the work:is: fin- ished Russia will possess a collection of early religious art which will be, unrivaled in the world. In all.egases when identification has been accomplished only the finest specimens of art treasures are placed in the chief mu- seums, secondary specimens are sent to complete the collections in the provincial towns. Avowed reproductions, of which many thousands posed as originals on the walls of their former own- ers, are sent to the art schools which are springing up all over Russia or used for decorating the walls of public buildings. There will be very important additions to. the collections of china and. pottery, tapestries and books. The increase of Rus- sian work, both early and contemporary, will be enormous. The Tretiakov Gallery in Moscow is still devoted to Russian painters, and here there have been many notable additions. It seems improbable, however, that the increase in the intrinsic value of the national collection, from the point of view of foreign art, will be as great as might be expected. The deal- ers in Europe appear to have conspired to place their reproduc- tions and counterfeits with the Russian aristocracy. . The most important collection appears to be that of the Stragonov fami-., ly, from which some very fine Rembrandts have been acquired. The collection of Rembrandt art in the Hermitage Gallery is now probably the best and most representative in the world. The palaces of the Tsars and Grand Dukes remain untouch- ed; even the toilet and writing tables are seen in exactly the same state as they were left by their former owners. Stolipin’s great seat in the center of a large park on the outskirts of Leningrad has been thrown open as a museum on certain days during the week. The Trade Unions wanted this wonderful house and park as a sanatorium for the workers, but the Gov- ernment decided that from certain aspects it was of more public value as a museum, and as an illustration of the formal state which surrounded the former Prime Ministers of the Russian Empire. It is remarkable the zest with which the custodians and experts in these museums are working. Most of them are for- mer employes, but some of them were formerly owners of pri- vate collections. Every facility is‘given them by the State to pursue their investigations. The galleries are well heated and open to the public on certain days only. Work, however, con- .tinues all the week and bona-fide students are admitted on‘ all days. The charge for entry is purely nominal. A register is kept at the door in which visitors enter their names and ad- dresses. Careful statistics are kept of the number of visitors, especial note being taken of whether they are local residents or visitors. On all public days large classes of children, workmen, and students, may be seen in charge of a guide or tecaher re- ceiving instruction regarding the exhibits. Many of the classes are often organized parties from the provinces. Printing and Publishing The newspaper press and publication of books, leaflets, ad- vertisements, and posters—in fact, the printed word in any form, also comes under the control and jurisdiction of the Com- missariat of National Education. The two special departments: of the Commissariat dealing wtih the printed word are the Na- — Publishing Department and the Censor (Gosizdat and Glavlit). : Censorship Application for the permission to publish all printed matter must be made to the Publishing Department. In the case of Looks and pamphlets the typed or printed MSS. have:to be pass- _£a by a special Editorial Commission attached to the Publishing Department ‘before final permission for publication. can be ob- tained. The Censor then reviews the book in print after per- mission to publish has been received. In this manner the pub- lisher and the Editorial Commission, not the author, are respon- sible to the Censor. gt Books The publication of books has increased very largely during the last two years. It is everybody’s ambition to write a book tn order to supplement his income. i If the work is accepted a contract is then drawn up be- tween the author and publisher for a specified number of cop- fes. In cases where an author is unable to sell his work to a publisher he may obtain the right to publication by applying di- rect-to the Censor through the State Publishing Department; he can then publish at his own risk or, in the case of some’sci- entific work or work of public interest, he may obtain payment ‘from’ some organization or the State Educational Department itself. The second and subsequent editions of all publications form the basis of a separate contract and price by agreement. Besides the State Publishing Department there are now a num-. ber of private publishers, re: Press Censorship - Hach newspaper is a self-coutained organization with its own editorial staff. There is no obligation on the members of the staff to be Communists, but 2 Government inspector: from” the Censor Office reads through the proofs before each edition goes to press, This official, who is a Communist, acts in very much the same capacity as regards articles and news as the legal adviser retained by most British newspapers, but he has1920. “Who Is British Dé HERBERT SMIT_ years president Yor deration: | President: tion of Great Britair president, 1907. S royal commissions. | national Miners’ Co of school board, We! county council and ¢ for many years. Me ary committee, trad 1913-16, and genera Appointed J. P. in 1 tra) committee, mir central committee, | board. BEN TI 1 of trade unions’ in’ of Dockers’ Uni Ja from the Tea Coo} Laborers’ Union es, A piotieer ofotrade nationally:scContest: tientary “eléctiong.>” Remained dockers* until amalgamation General Workers’ U: ary of Political and partment of Ama Member of trades ui eral council since parliamentary col union congress, 1892 s. * JOHN TURNER, socialist organizatio: timate with foundei socialist thought, 1 Morris, Belfort Bax neers. Closely assoc Kropotkin from 188) to Russia in 1917; 4 hours legislation anc Assistants’ Union. union from 1898 un general secretary a’ in this) pdsition until general council, trad: 1921; re-elected by c to 1924'for period to e ef JOHN BROMLEY of railway trade ur many positions of 1 pointment as brancl sociated Society of I eers and Fireman, © ganizing secretary oO Secretary also of cc Elected general secri_ 1914. Elected memt executive, 1920 an member of tradessn~ eral council,492_ bor party delegat ° times candidate 4 1924. Prominently bor and socialist pro’ years. : s+ ALAN A,iH» FINI United » Patternmak since 1893. Brancl po og Offices. Elect« eral secretary, execi 1913. Elected generz Formerly treasurer, Shipbuilding Trader three years, subseq president, at presen position. Elected to gress general counci each year until 1924 September, 1925, ; *- * : A. A. PURCELE.(. gation). Mem F Union since 1 mocratic federa' ber, Salford. Bo; years. Sectional quently organizer, ‘ Parliamentary cand: ford, 1910. Contes 124, Elected 1923; 8 tor in co-operative Elected to general union congress, 191 year. Elected by tional conference, ‘ president. union congress. eral council. Api American labor companied the