Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-12
DUB LONDON LETTER.
A THEATRICAL MISSION AND ITS
METHODS OF WORK.
Visit to the Institution and a Peep Be-
hind the Scenes at its Inmates
and Surroundings.
LONDON, December D, 1888.

called 1.-THE Theatrical Mission" and
desire to keep your readers informed with
reference to the latest novelties led me re-
Gently to take a peep behind the scenes.
The headquarters are in one of the streets
leading out of Covent Garden Market,
within six minutes walk of twenty-five of
Londou's forty theaters. There is nothing
outside to distinguish the building from an
ordinary dwelling house. In fact it is
partly used as such, and the families occu-
pying it are evidently of the true English
type, for was preceded in my ascent of
the stairs by burly drayman with bar
rel of double X on his shoulders. l found
the Secretary, Mr. Courthope Todd, in
small office on the third floor. He was
busy with his books, and another gentle
man present was equally busy devouring
cold luncheon. But both were courteous
and very communicative. Evidently there
is nothing about their work that they
wish to conceal indeed they SCENT d rather
pleased than otherwise at the prospect OF
having the
MISSION BROUGHT lN4O NO1IIEs
As its name implies, this society operates
among those connected with the theatrical
profession. There are supposed to be
about 1000 of these in England, 600
regular actors and actresses, 4, 900 young
women and girls engaged in the ballet, in
chorus work and as mattresses, and 600
men and boys doing mechanical and mental
work about the theaters. Most of these
are employed in London, and few years
ago interest was awakened in them as a
class of people whom it was thought
needed special attention at the hands of
Christian philanthropists, the result being
the organization OF this society. Whether
the male performer is looked upon as being
past redemption, or whether females are
given the preference from the superior at.
Effectiveness which always attaches to love-
" women, | cannot tell bnt the fact is
that the Theatrical Mission has worked
hitherto almost exclusively among the gen.
tier sex, though now it is branching out a
little, having just established
AN INSTITUTE FOR BOYS.
The latter is within stones throw of
Drury Lane Theater. a hslfpenny lone
cent buys cup of tea or coffee, and the
boys can take in any little snack they
please and have it cooked free of charge.
a reading.room is also at their service, and
every day or two, at 3 P. M, some lady
drives up to the place and gathers the
youths together for a Bible lesson. But
this is a new enterprise and is as yet very
indiferently pstronized. To see the Mis-.
sion in its full vigor we must return to the
rooms beneath Mr.. Todd's office, where the
young women and girls are looked
after. The register shows that in three
years the class for whose use these rooms
are intended have made 40 less than IS, 900
visits to them. The apartments are by
30 means as attractive as they should be,
and the fact that so many have sought
shelter there under these circumstances
encourages the belief that if little more
money were spent in the enterprise great
many more would be reached. The
RRFREsHMENT AND READISG-KooMs
On the second floor had been converted
on the occasion of my visit into bazaar for
the sale of fancy work, many of the pretty
articles an exhibition having been made by
the benefciaries of the institution, a few
of whom, very daintily attired and not at
all wanting in good looks, were helping the
ladies to dispose of the things to the few
purchasers present. The children's rooms
are in the basement, and these for the
present are used as place of refreshment
for the young lady artistes. A glance
through the open door revealed a score or
more of these slipping tea and engaged in
animated conversation. They were dressed
for the street, and looked like anything
but objects of charity. The hum of talk
ceased for a moment, and all eyes were
turned toward the stranger, giving him in
turn a good opportunity to scan the faces
of the novel company. There were blondes
and brunettes of all degrees of eoloring-
the coloring not being natural in every
case-and taken altogether | must say
they were cheerful, pleasant lot Of girls
to look upon, with lar
MORE CHARMS OF CoUNTENAECE
Than actresses are proverbially supposed
to possess when not behind the foot
lights. From the interested way in which
some returned my hasty glance, l was
impressed that had my own locks been
more in my favor it would not have been
difficult to strike up a harmless Irritation,
but under the circumstances this was out
of the question, and | retreated as hastily
as possibly and sought a tete.a.tete with
the courteous Secretary, who explained to
me more fully what the Mission was seek
ing to accomplish and the methods of work
employed. The object is to promote the
moral and religious welfare of these girls.
It is felt that they are exposed to great
temptation. After morning rehearsal,
which is generally over by o'clock, they
have nothing to do until the evening per
hut FOr ba CHI
afforded by this retreat, would spend the |
time on the streets, and much of it, per.
haps, in public houses. At these rooms |
they get refreshments at cost price, and |
have wholesome books and papers to read. !
Usually, too, their names and addresses
are ascertained, and this makes it possible |
to approach them in their homes by per-
sonal visits and letters. Each girl whose |
name and address are known is written to
regul ar!y once a month,
UPWARDS or 700 LADIES
Are engaged IN this work, the letters con.
tanning wholesome moral and Christian
advice, expressed, | am told, in the kind
est and most delicate words. The remain
der Of the information | cleaned from Mr. |
Todd respecting this singular organic alton
can be best conveyed perhaps in regular
interview form.
what class OF actresses does your mis-
sion reach : | inquired.
Mir. Todd-It is meant for all classes
but it is only occasionally that We can do
anything with those standing high in their
profession. We work mostly among the
ballet and chorus girls, and the regular
visitors to our rooms belong almost exclu-
sively to this class. But they are very
numerous in London. Last Christmas
Drury Lane employed 1000, and that the
alter will probably have quite as many en-
gagged this year These girls come from
the artisan and small trsdesman class.
They have few home comforts and hardly
any training. About goo OF these use
eur rooms IN the course of the year, and
the Boys Institute has about 200 members.
We have branches also in the provinces-at
Bristol q very effective one, In these
places the travelling companies are visited