the feeble-minded, mentally deficient, are for
the first time in Russia being properly and
humanely cared for. I like to remember in
connection with work amongst children that
many women who have little or no sympathy
with Socialism of any kind, feel compelled to
give their services on behalf of education and
care for the future generation. It is women
of this sort who have materially helped to
organise the “ children’s town ” which has
been set up at “ Tsarkoe Selo ” near Petrograd—a
place that was formerly used as the
Czar's town or village. It is a wonderful
place where everything is done to bring brightness and knowledge into the lives of children.
The Bolshevik leaders are deadly enemies of ignorance : they know their greatest foes are to be found amongst those millions of ignorant illiterates, left as an heritage by the Czardom : therefore they organise to spread knowledge, especially among children. The work, however, of every school and college is heavily handicapped through lack of school materials, pencils, paper, reading and other books. But in spite of this deficiency, many teachers continue to work hard and persevere. Unhappily some teachers are not willing to help : many sabotage the new schemes ; some are hopeless reactionaries ; others are quite ignorant of the first elements of education. Before the revolution the number of teachers
