The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-04
CHILDREN AS ACTORS.
Little Prodigies No Longer For
hidden to Go on the Stage.
REVIVAL OF THE CHILD DRAMA.
Several Precocious Youngsters Have
ring Tours Through the Country.

NEW York, Aug. 29.-fSpecial Core.
spondence. I'm the last few months the
name of Eibridge T. Gerry has been con-
stantly on the lips Of every one in any way
connected with the stage. As president OF
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children he has waged an uncom-
promising war against the little tots"
who make living on the stage. The
managers of the theaters throughout New
York state rebelied, and with the lst day
of September the new law allowing the
children to sing and dance in public went
into effect. and now every one is wonder
ing what Mr.. Gerry will do about 1t. AS
all road companies are made up in New
York managers have fought shy OF plays
in which there were parts for children,
but now the country may look for q re-
vivai of the child drama in all Its forms
aud phases.
In anticipation of the effect Of the new
law La Regaloncita, the little girl who
was the original cause of the agitation,
has bought play, as have also Little
Tuesday, Gertie Holman, Wallie Eddinger.
and host of other more or less well known
juvenile actors.
La Regaioncita, whose real name is Mill
dred Ever. is just years of age. She was
born in Santiago, Chilli, and lived there
until about n year ago, when her home
was destroyed by fire and the family fled
to America to escape the insurgents. who
were then in power. On shipboard Mill
dred displayed her first terpsichorean abili-
ties, and kept the passengers and sailors
constantly amused hy her wonderful dane
ing. No one had seen anything like it,
and no one could make the little lady
keep still for an instant. She was always
on the go, and as she neared New York
the cold northern air seemed to stimulate
her native activity. One thing distressed
her greatly--she could not speak a word
of English, and it was some weeks before
she could play with the little Americans.
In New York the little savings of the
family rapidly melted away, and DR.. Ever
returned to Chill to resume his practice
Mrs. Ever remained in New York with
her five children. of whom La Regaioncita
was the eldest. Things went from bad to
worse, and it seemed impossible for the
little family to keep their heads above
water much longer. So one day. when a
weli-known manager, who saw La Regal
oucita dancing about the house, offered
her 500 week to appear on the stage,
here the trouble began. Mr.. Gerry heard
of it and wrote Mrs. Ever that Mildred's
grandfather, the Rev. DIR. Ever, was his
warm personal friend, and he could not
think of allowing her to disgrace an hon.
orable name by going on the stage. From
that moment the fight was on. La Regal
oncita was taken to the. theater, and two
agents of the society were there to take
the child in custody the moment she APP
peared before the footIights. There was
no performance. but the energetic
manager threatened to bring suit
against Mr.. Gerry unless every child was
withdrawn from the stage in New York
city. The next night Lillian Russell, at
the Garden theater, received a telephone
message from the president of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
that she must stop the twenty odd chill
dren in her company from singing and
dancing. The beauty of the opera was