RUSSIA OF TO-DAY IS SHOWN IN PICTURES
May 6, 1932
Large Body of East York Workers Entertained by Illustrated Lecture
The illustrated lecture entitled, “Russia” given by Spencer Clarke in the auditorium of McGregor School on Tuesday night, under the auspices of the East York Workers’ Association, proved to be both instructive and entertaining and the large audience which packed the auditorium to capacity greeted many of the open-minded expressions of the lecturer with enthusiastic applause.
Before showing his pictures, Mr. Spencer in a brief talk, explained many of the details of his visit to Russia and stated that even the most “diehard” opponents [crossed out: must] become effected when a thorough knowledge of the great changes which have taken place and are taking place in Russia are made know to them.
“Most people who are opposed to Russia to-day” said the speaker “forget that it is only seventy years since the serfs of Russia were relieved. They forget the cruel, hard regime of the czars, coupled with the debauchery and tyrannizing rule of the Church under czarism.”
The first picture shown was the map of Russia showing its magnitude in comparison with other countries of the world. “It is almost [crossed out: double] the size of the whole North American continent” said Mr. Clarke, “having one-sixth of the whole of the earth’s surface and though it has a vast population, it is one of the most scantily populated countries of the world” he explained.
The various leaders of the Russian Revolution and of Russia to-day were shown and their characters and work explained. Then followed pictures of various public buildings throughout Russia great cathedrals and churches which the speaker stated were in use at the present time for religious services. Pictures of the interior of one great industrial building showing an auditorium, rifle range, theatre, bathroom, clubhouse, library and other recreation facilities, together with a large cafeteria, designed to serve 90,000 workers. “This” explained the speaker, “is one of the most up-to-date buildings of this kind in the world.”
During a brief intermission, the speaker dwelt upon the social side of Russia, stating that the children had become the real aristocracy of the country—everything humanly possible being done in their interests. He stated that following the War and the Revolution, thousands of children who had been deprived of their fathers and whose moths had been scattered, were roaming the country in mobs. These had all been gathered and housed in homes created out of the palaces originally owned by the czars, the princes and clergy during the reign of the czars, the children being provided with everything in the educational line which would fit them to take their place in society, many of them having since graduated from the colleges and taking an actual place in the industrial life of the country.
One extremely interesting picture was shown of the huge summer palace of the last czar which had been converted into a sanatorium for children. Pictures were shown of the huge bathhouse and private lake which had been built for the exclusive use of the czar and which is now being used by convalescent children.
Mr. Spencer Clarke was accorded for the splendid entertainment.
