The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-06-05
" A Practical Socialist.

Inc LONDON correspondent OF the Kart
Observation-Disclosures movement which
'-A1 boon set on foot in" london, which
--r.vpromises to become popular and beneficial
to the poorer classes. 1t is called 1.-THE
Peoples Entertainment society," 1t is de-
music halls and public houses, the chief
,ysena,emahts go. r'@1
Amateur musicians, we'll known in
London society, and often Il star profess
.2S44H w indPlayto all who may come
s6d listen. These performances take
place i9 the poorer quarters of the me-
, tropolis. in any large room suitable to the
fIoros> and admission is'by ticket, free
~ Is men, women and children: AS MANY
tickets are distributed as the place will
incl hold: On Saturday evening five or six Of
= '.".Itheae entertainments take place in differ
-, ent districts, and though at the begin
= ming the people who had never dreamed
bctoSe Of having such chance Of spend
'?5 A6& "a e3dhing, in RATIONAL and :agreea-
!, {! BILE manner. played shy antagonism, as if
an enemy in the way of a duty-impelled
wordy rcformer lurked behind, and they
would have none Of it; now the eager
=! ~: ness to get hold Of ticket, and the new
vi 'pocket handkerchiefs that are visible, and
=. +" the neater dress, the cleaner and kindlier
Il faces that show up from time to time, and
:, tho transference Of the entertainments to
, larger halls reveal the progress of the
work; and then its influence is lifting into
~ something better the lives Of the very poor
. The originator of these entertainments for
~ the people is an accomplished young man
belonging to the upper classes and wealthy
~' Mr.. Charles G. Bethue. Not everywhere
= = '::'can q wealthy young man be found
i7sa,. who chooses thus to spend his spare time,
his energy and his money. 1t is Mr.. Be-
,,,r, !. thune's idea that the two extreme classes
a. i He thinks that the attraction Of good
In, .. mpsic, and good rotations from artistic
:! performers will do more to supply the
=; ii, required social counterbalancc than any
- amount Of sermonizing, and he thinks
.'n I,''the benefit will be- all for one. If
,,,' .sympathy be high qualification and
openhandetlness merit, and personal
sacrifice d high virtue, some practical
" knowledge Of poverty and its depressing
influences in the hearts Of those who are
IT, privileged by circumstances and wealth
;, ;. to confer benefits, will not be wasted.
III, Mr.. Bcthune begins at the bottom of the
- y" ladder, and the first thing he offers is a
!, bit OF sunshine in the way of amusement
as freely given as the warmth of the VERT
= able sun. The first movement was a
,.~",. mere sudden impulse, that of Offering tea
..:' and buns to small group ound a mar
-. ket stand in the Westminster, district, a
to-. place we'll known. for it's poverty and
md which. is situated across
,AlIi;ht the river opposite the celebrated abby.
From this beginning has grown strong
and we'll directed society with such
-" namss on the committee as earl and
coontess Of Northesk, Lord Reay, Lady
.:.,, .Cogtts Lindsley, the Lev. r. w Forrest
Arthur Sullivan, the Musician, Staurt
g. ",' rn' 6rthley''; - prominent batrister
.rf : nd many others. To the promoters, and
=" their friends, and the artists who assist in
i, o, fe chA1itAble undertaking be it said, that
II rim music and recitation, and in all res:
y y, poets, they are as painstaking and as res.
H. a.; Fsctpl as if they stood before crowned
heads / attended one Of the Saturday
evening meetings lately and was held in
the midst Of the men close to the stage,
.i.,H Next to me on one side was middle.
4 s., aged Nottingham with an old fashioned
,,'n,. stove,pipe. hat, pulled down, straight and
s.--lt1ong on his head, and intended As fix.
turs for the evening. This concert was
i: the first he had attended, because, as he
told me, his employer, q master-builder
had not been able to get tickets for NIL