Salt Lake Telegram | 1929-04-28 | Page 26 | Gangs of Waifs Disappear from Russian Streets

Gangs of Waifs Disappear From Russian Streets Rescued From Various Cities by Social Agencies During j Past Year MOSCOW April 20 Home P AP Home Homeless less children who used to infest Russian cities working in gangs gan s sand and thieving or robbing pedestrians are arc rapidly disappearing As s a consequence consequence con con- I sequence one may maJo traverse some of or orthe the side streets now at night with reasonable expectation of ot arriving home without losing ones one's watch or purse In 1928 1028 there were about of these waifs in various cities About were picked ed up by various various various va va- va- va rious organizations last year and placed in institutions to be trained In useful work fed and cared for until the they have lost their gang gang in in- in More than were rescued rescued resu res- res cued u d from th the streets of Moscow alone For years ears the waifs were an unsolved unsolved unsolved un un- un- un solved problem Most of them lost their homes and parents in the civil wars and revolutionary rIghting fighting but some took to the streets by choice and these proved the most recalcitrant Attempts by the commissIon commission com corn mission of education to reclaim them by ordinary Institutional methods failed because when the youngsters grew tired of routine lives li they merely ran awa away A special committee appointed last year ear has had success with communes of work vork Four of these centers were opened opened opened-In in Ros fibs tOY tov Orb Orlo the district and Sand The Orb Orlo commune commune com corn mune for example owns a factory in which boys are taught to make harvesting machines In other places the they are trained as locksmiths locksmiths lock lock- smiths boiler toiler makers malters and in similar sim similar aim sim- ilar lIar trades