New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-30
CHILDREN ON THE STAGE.
CHARACTERISTIC SPEECH BY JOSEPH
JEFFERSON.
ARGUMENTS AT ALBANY ON THE BILL PEI
HITTING CHILDREN TO SING AND

HITTING CHILDREN TO SING AND
DANCE IN PUBLIC.
Albany. March 2o-The Assembly Codes Committee
cave a hearing this afternoon Oh Assemblyman Mnt-
nachts bill permitting children TO dance ana sing
mon the stage with the consent OF Mayors OF cues
or the presidents OF villages in which the performances
take place. A. NJ. Palmer Daniel Frohman. Charies
Thomas. Henry f. Abbey. j. Wesley hosenq"ess'
Marc Naw. Joseph Jefferson and Mr. severance ap-
ueared In favor OF the bill, and Elbridge T. Gerry
appeared In opposition. .
Mr. Gerry objected TO the BILL he sad, because IL
educated the children for unworthy ehos' lor ."e
song and dance Mr.. Gerry put In eA"'o'"o.
a number Of photographs Of children VINO s,nS a"N
dance upon the stage. Including N'ue i"esN"''
Regalonclta and Rose Newhani
Mr. Gerry said that last year number OF repu'aoe
managers and actors appeared before the Ae'S'"''
and urged that children be permitted upon Tue sAs'
as the exigencies Of the drama demanded II III "a"'
cases from King john down. They deciareo ths'
they had no intention OF opening the doors OF ohie
mus.ums "ciyesn and dance houses TO the little
Children But no sooner had the bill been passed
than hundreds Of applications were made fro1r the
managers OF these places. who declared tha' 'he
moral character OF the place had nothing TO 40 WIN
the legality OF the appearance ID Children Oh ue
stage.
Mr. Palmer asked Mr.. Gerry II he was not STOCK
holder IN the Metropolitan opera iioso'
Mr.. Gerry-I am.
Mr.. PaImer-Dd You not see the balets there q
couple OF years ago?
Mr.. Gerv-t did. with regret. But what object
10 more particularly the skirt" and kindred dances.
Mr. Pamer-You have the advantage OF Inc.
did not see the " Black Crook
Mr.. Gery-If you had you would not nave been
here to-day.
Dr. W. O. Stilman, president OF the Albany society
for the Prevention OF Cruelty 10 Children argueu
against the bill from medical STANDPOINT. =.
Mr. Palmer said that his associates and h'mseii
were here to represent the entire dramatic proicsso
They were here because they believed that sn'e"s
and dancing were a legitimate means OF earning
living and that the stage children Should nave an
onpor,unity 10 take up this profession. Mr. rainier
read the names Of eminent actors and actresses "no
began as singers and dancers. from Agnes boo'h anu
Annie pixley 10 Lolita and Patti lie never saw Gun.
dren more carefully looked after ana ioVnpS 'e"~e
than the children OF the stage. A..
Mr. severance said he appeared on behalr OF the
ncorporated Society for the Protection Of Stage Chii
dren. He said that from Mr.. Gerry's remarks IL
would be supposed that the Legislature WAS asheu "
grant a Wholesale license to vice. III IL couid De '""'
To appear that this result would follow from the eae'
ment of this law, and that II woulo open inc "~''
OF dives and dance hells he would JOIN MT. Terry
| In nrovinp against its passage When tile law was
passed last year the declared Intention 10 niio"
children TO take part In theatrical representations
Ar Cory had arbitrarily removed children from ccrta
theatres Through the manipulation OF some persons
| whom he would not name, the Codes Commi'Fe anu
the LEGISLATURE had been fooled. The law OF 1911 year
The right for children 10 dance and sing
ON the Stage with the permission Of tie Mayor OF
CITY or the president OF village. The present Oil
reorred a notice Of forty eight hours to Mr. Gerry's
society before a license for child 10 appear W
| GRANTED nv the Mayor together with statement oil
the character and length Of the performance Wou0
this throw open the doors OF "dives'i ii IL d'd Mt
Gerrv,s society must be incompetent.
| Joseph jefferson made one OF his character's'ie
speeches full Of quaint touches OF humor. lie S''o
| sa,d there WAS no one back Of him. unless IL WA
satan and we are told to tell him to get brhind M
lie was here solely In the interest OF the Stage CHI
| dram because he himself was :hlld OF 'he s'nHe
| n. wanted TO deny the impression that the s'ag'
| nxcrted a bad effect upon the heiiu =. "a' , r"
| On the contrary the theatrical profession m"s
| healthful one. and c"nduced u iohge'"S' ~
The stage sent few OF It's followers to the asynns
| not ANYTHING like so large proportion o' '''v ~
became insane as Of farmers men "mv ,na ~ viii
omen air and work with their muscles llscau Oa mas
9pe,r brains Mr. Jefferson then instanced 'he Gus
Of actors from the time Of Better,o 70 ne H.
who had lived TO great age ana >, h"d xh" nm,
.,n'd from the stage at ninety years o1 age, ~
turned 10 II again and played shylock when he wa
hundred and finally died when he was nnnurer d'
| "aven Among others he mentioned tiara 'sne
| Wo'dcr whose triumphs would be remembsren' per
hans by the GRANDPA. hers OF the members o ,s ."
| miitee and who could act as well 10" ~ e's"'' o.
she ever did. -, u sro,v,, actors WI,
I'D ,one nnou the stage to sing ana dance III '"r,
ar,,eSt cbildho0d without harm TO themselves ~
himself had gone upon the stage ~ Tradition that
| waars OF age Indeed. there was tr"u'''"" '"~' !"
| lad been carried In long clothes. ..,o,
| Tho committee then went into executive sesS'o"