The New York herald., 1879-03-19
THE CHILDREN'S BALLET.


GARDEN--AT THE ToMBs-oBJEcrIoNs 70
CHILDREN DANCING IN THE ''BLAcK CRooK's-
BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.
During the past week the management of N:blo's
Garden Theatre have received several letters from
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Children
warning them that unless they ceased to employ
children under sixteen years of age to appear in the
play of "Black Crook now being played at that
theatre. the society would be obliged to take steps
to prevent it. as they considered it violation
Of the law to have these children-rocrring to the
twenty-one little boys aud girls who. dressed a.
Japanese come out and march and acton the stage.
The law they claimed that the management had
violated reads rs follows:-
CHArrER l LAWS Of 1876 entitledAn prevent and
punish wrongs TO children
troll ca Who
psyns on musical instramens. p''r,s rope Or wr:
s sss"s er dancing assoSa psss wSss
Or fer in IN n
10 ha o or & o T. so
thersin shall be guilty Of Iisdsneanor amor ,'
itainmenss, nor q the practice Of music -.
ARREST OF THE MANAGKR. -ts
The management did not heed these warnings, and
kept producing the play with the little children
in the ballet. Yesterday Officer Landberg. OF the
society. applied to Justice Smith. at tho Tombs
Police Court for warrant for the arrest of the
aser, Mr.. william A. Multord the proprietor. MT.
Edward F. Starn and the father and mother OF one
of the children. Celia Davis little girl under seven
wears of age. Of No. 80 East Houston street. Mr..
Landberg said that the society had concluded to make
test case The warrants were issued and promptly
executed. In tho afternoon Mr.. Mulford accom-.
panied by his counsel. Mr. A. Hummel. and also Mr..
/. Kralfy appeared in the Tombs Police Court. Mr..
Norwalk Conn., having been received stating that he
was very i'll. Officer Landberg. the complainant:
Mr. jenkins, superintendent OF the Society for the
Prevention Of Cruelty to Children and Counsellor L
l.. DelaReld were on hand for the prosecution The
court was crowded with actors OF every degree
from the comedian to the tragedian to listen to the
case, but they were disappointed as Justice Smith
ordered tina. the examination take place in the
Mr. Humme opened the case by saying that they
ready to go with the defence and the counsel
for the society stated tnai t they were 70
impossible for him to hear the examination, owing
to the latcness of the hour and personal engage
ments. but would put the case down for next Thurs
day morning. Both counsel expressed their willing.
ness to have the case laid over.
As the Justice was about leaving tho bench Coun.
scllor Dclaheld asked Can you stop this Little girl
from acting Tonight
'.No. sir; 1 cannot. replied the Justice.
Mr.. Mulford gave bail for the appearance Of the
father OF the child.
MR.. MuLronp's STATEMENT.
NTs
all of the children live to the theatre. and
those who do not are always accompanied by theI,
parents or severa. OF .. sne cnlcren nsve
who always look out for them They not obliged
to bo ut the theatre until half an hour previous to
their going ON tho stage. They are not on the
stage over two minutes, and soon a. their cos
tunes taken of they at perfect liberty to 90
u,D the play % and % others 3 wait wait ro'f for friends.
know that they all enjoy 1t. and If you could
them in their dressing rooms you would
rta anlV rhrau, vol
pressly to attend to these children and that
harm befalls them They are al az prompt as school
perform their parts. Az to what we pay thoIn. why
that IL nothing to the society but will say that We
pay them great deal better than many Of the broad
way merchants pay their cash boys and girls. who
are on their feet from morning till night do nos
think We IN the wrong, but II they convince M
that we are we are perfectly willing TO right tho mat
ter"
Mr. KIRALrYs sTArEMExr, -.
al sa y who nus u.s. M s os tro T. a.a II en-
ploying these little children. True. IL Is set down
that none such shall be employed but know thss
destitute, and what they is the Of reev-
ing many poor families. In all my experience and
about such matters a. they mako here. The children
do not dance. they simply keep time TO the musics
which is no more than these children did yesterds
STAGE None of the parents maze any obtections.
These little ones are simply framework.
said that he considered that the law passed
tor. such case this aud thought tho charge nm
outrage. .ff
WHY THE SOCIETY TOOK ACTION.
Mr.. K. Fellows Jenkins, superintendent Of the So
ciety for the Prevention OF Cruelty to Children.
when calod upon after the proceedings In court By
q HERALD reporter, said:-"The reason we hays
made this arrest is because tho children used in
the ballet In violation OF lawat ago. in fact. not
permitted by tho statute. We do not charge the
management with sny Ill treatment or cruelty to-
ward these childron but VIC consider that. morally
speaking, they are Ill treated, II the 7th
inst. that addressed the following letter to Mr..
Starin, the manaScr:-
SCompiant has bcen madc this society that c6rtsin
children used IN the ballet OF the BLACK Crook" nov
being performed ut theatre contrary tho laws Ok
this State IL tho performance IL stated to IL di
violation OF law and trust to your well known
courtesy to arrange not 20 necsssA
'"'' ""' H. FELLOWS JENKINS
mo came to this letter. }" continued Mr.. Jen-
kns. "and on the Monday following VIC sent another
communication In regard to AN article published IN
one OF the morning papers bearing on this sub1ect
but notice taken OF this either. On Thursday
aud Friday last, after the performances had been
witnessed by authorized agents OF this society
and tho children had been followed TO their
homes, II found that they did come under
the provisions OF the statute. Therefore,, ON Friday
Mr.. Lewis L. Delaheld, counsel OF tho society. "a.
dressed another letter to the manager warning him
that the performance being In violation OF law must
stop. No attention paid TO this SO We yesterday
instituted the proceedings before Justice Smith, OK
~. % hov