Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-02-15
MABEL EARLE.


There was a reaction, Of course, when the
public learned the facts. No palpable iniqui-
ty stands long against popular indignation
when the public Is once thoroughly satisfied
that 1t is an iniquity, and in this matter there
was no chance for an argument. The reac-
tion took the form Of a Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Children" which was
modelled after Mr.. Henry Bergh's famous So
ciety for the protection Of brutes.
It Is presided over by very wealthy gen.
tleman named Elbridge T. Gerry, who is
equally eccentric and equally conscientious
with Mr.. Bergh. The cause he espoused was
so obviously praiseworthy that the society
found no trouble In procuring the passage OF
numerous laws intended for the protection
Of the little ones, and very little trouble in
getting extraordinary powers delegated TO
its officers in the execution Of those laws.
Among the statutes alluded to was the one
just mentioned, relative to the employment
Of children under sixteen years of age in
theatrical performances and the like.
1t will surprise a large portion Of the pub.
lic-though not those who 60 to the theatres
to know that this law is absolutely dead
letter.
There are more than a hundred children
performing publicly on the stages of the
New York theatres every night, all of whom
are under the age mentioned and many OF
whom are wee, little creatures, hardly able
to speak plainly.
Section 292 of the penal code says: "a
person who employs or causes to be em.
ployed or who exhibits, uses or has in Gus
tody, or trains for the purpose of the exhibi-
tion, use or employment of, any child appar-
emily or actually under the age of sixteen
years; or who, having the care, custody or
control Of such a child, as parent relative,
guardian, employer or otherwise, sells, let's
out, gives away, so trains, or in any way
procures or consents to the employment or
TO such training or use or exhibition Of such
child; or who neglects or refuses to restrain
such child from such training or from EN-
gaging or acting y in theatrical
exhibition, is guilty Of a misdemeanor."
The law further provides that any fines,
penalties or forfeitures imposed or collected
for violation of this provision of the code
must be paid on demand to the incorporated
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children, in every case when the prosecution
shall be instituted or conducted by such a
society.
Now, how is this law observed! Take first
one of the most popular plays of the present
season in New York, "The Seven Ages" 1t
has run for some months and bids fair to
continue on the boards for considerable
time. It abounds in tabeaux and scenic ef
fects, and in the groups, that are arranged
skillfully to please the eyes Of the audiences,
are about dozen little children, from to
or 10 years old. They have little speaking
to do, and they do not join in the singing
with which the play abounds, but they do
dance and pose in the tableaux, and they do
both very prettily. In one scene in the play
o wedding feast is represented. At the back
of the stage is set fight of ten or twelve
steps, down which the bridal couple come to
the festivities. They are preceded by two
little tots under years of age, who scatter
flowers over the stairs. They are SO small
that they can hardly come down the stairs