◆ SpookStack

a reasonable quantity of maps. Labora jeuuipment and onstration apparatus for the physics ain.”mathematies d ments were, however, limited and poor in both schools. - we were told with pride that two graduates were studying University of Moscow, a large painting of which forms backdrop of the auditorium stage. This scheol also boa farm and a model railroad. Each class wag required to two afternoons a week working its plot on the school farr we were particularly impressed with the work of the grades, who were being taught irrigation techniques anc applying them on their plots. The model railroad is 4 rather common adjunct of | taiddle schools, but we were surprised to find one in Akrn The Soviet Union is in the midst of the railroad age, and ir in railroading among school children is stimulated by pro . them with opportunity to operate small model railroads one at Akmolinsk included two stations and two kilomet track, with a four-car train running on a regular schedule elder children serve as engineers, conductors, switchmen, s masters, ticket sellers and so forth, while the younger ch do work under their direction and ride as passengers. There is a functioning Orthodox church in Akm built of wood and painted a faded blue, but we did not attracting large numbers of people to its evening services was in sharp contrast to our experience with church atter in other parts of the Soviet Union, and it may have been the pressure of agricultural activity, since our visit occur the height of the growing season. Sewing Machine Villain Several movie houses were playing Russian and Uzbek and were being well patronized. We saw an Uzbek film th been produced in Tashkent and were impressed with its 1 eal quality, if not its story content. The plot related capture by Communist forces of the city of Bukhara in and suffered badly from the stereotyped casting that ha most Soviet art expression in a straitjacket since the revo One noteworthy aspect of the picture was the presence villain’s role, of course—of a Western businessman wh identified only as “the representative of the Singer Com which suggests that the impact of American merchandisir deep enough to be recognized by Central Asian audience after 40 years. Our direct contact with the new lands program itse 36