The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-27
MRS. NICHOLSS EXPERIMENT.
She Is Surprised the Masses Are Not
Interested in 1.-The Fair Illustrated"

WIS. Josephine y INiCtlOlS Has Dccn tt-
livering a lecture at the Y. M. c. A. Hall
entitled 'The Worlds Fair at Home" turn
ing all net proceeds over to the relief of
the poor. Though beautifully illustrated
and admirably explained, 1.-The Worlds
Fair at Home has not been popular. In
speaking Of the subject yesterday Mrs.
Nichols said:
How to reach the masses has been a
problem that has interested the minds and
hearts of the philanthropic in the large
cities for the past few years. The idea has
grown in the minds of some that If the
working people Were afforded the means OF
pleasures that would be elevating and in
structive, as well as entertaining, as cheap
ly as amuSementS of a questionable char
acter, that they would not only respond 10
any effort to afford them such recreation,
but that they would unconsciously be in
f1uenced so as to find enjoyment in matters
of art in its purity; and, because OF their
enjoyment of these things, become happier
and better. In the practical grind for gain
or our American life, especially in our
provincial towns, it has been found exceed
ingly difficult TO arouse an interest among
people in general in those things that were
purely beautiful and artistic, and the eff
forts of the Art Association of this city 70
gain a strong hold upon this community,
and to secure such substantial support as
would make it possible to have an art mu-
scum here that could be for the use of all
the people, proves that 1t is not a thing
easily or quickly accomplished. 1t is
claimed that the reason that there have
Deen many 2rtlSlS or QiStlnCtlOn In the
old world is because they are bred in an
atmosphere of art; and it is true that many
OF the most famous ones have come from
among the people, as the poorer classes
parable pictures of peasantry life in Brit
tany because he had been one of them in
that life. The child in France or Italy who
IS taken to church or wanders through
parks or gallery, all of which are wide
open to him all day, and every day, imbibes
an appreciation of the beautiful and artist
&c as he looks through the marvellous Win
dows in the church or upon the pictures
and marbles in park or gallery, and thus
artists are born and bred. In regard to the
churches, let me say that until the Prot
estant church learns that wisdom by
the masses and keeps the churches open ev-
cry day for all who may enter and listen
to free music, and learn to be at home
there, no matter what their condition i'm
life may be, instead of opening them one
day in the week, with an occasional service
between Sundays and closing them alright
the rest OF the time, SO that in some OF
them 1t is as much as ones life is worth
to breathe even once a week the stuffy,
mo!dy atmosphere, ministers will continue
10 preach 10 empty pews on Sunday even
ing or have TO close the church for lack of
q congregation, or have union services as
some do, while the people, the poor, who
had the gospel preached to them by Jesus
Christ, and who heard Him gladly. will
still crowd the music hall, where the Vita
tlng atmosphere, in connection with beer
and tobacco smoke. makes them deterior-
ate physically and morally; slip in the side
or back doors OF Saloons, where there is
always warmth and light, and crowd the
t~heaters, where the language may be
siangy, and perhaps vulgar, and the vices
OF mankind often made dangerously at
tractlVe, but where the lights, the cheerful
music, the catchy song and the general
gayety drives away for the time the ankle
TIES OF life and throws a glamor about the
harushlps of everyday existence. IL faut
que lie peuple s'amuse is pretty we'll UNI
derstood by the French government, fer 1t
has been found that if the people do not
dNllSR Themselves Uifh nlG0 .ra ftnt -
harmless they are very apt to do so with
things that are dangerous.
IN London the experiment has been made
or giving stereopticon entertainments with
lectures in places where the people we're
easily reached at a nominal price, and they
nave proved more attractive even than the
musical entertainments For some time
l nave wanted to see the experiment tried
In indianapolis as to whether any such
thing could be made a success. Having at
ended one or two meetings of the laboring
classes and finding that the burden of dis
on the difficulties of life, L wondered
whether they could not be led to forget all
their minds diverted from it all. During the
past week the experiment has been tried in
part. The Worlds Fair with it's macnif-
cent Architectural grandetir and aTfieti.
beauties, was chosen as the one that would
prove a popular attraction. 1t seemed TO
been prevented by lack OF means on ac-
count Of the hard times should never have
MS glory OF the century before them as
an object lesson, presented in such a realis-
tic way that they might be able 10 know
for themselves just how it looked. AS the
entertainments were not to be for gain, the
admission fee was not only made a nominal
one, Just TO cover expenses for hall rent,
gas operator, etc, but as the idea was to
tanned as possible, the Y. NJ. c. A. Hall was
chosen. as that association Is engaged in
the same kind of work; that is, to give the
people that which viii win them from that
which is harmful. The plan of the course
was TO give an opportunity first to those
VINO could not in any case have gone to
Chicago, so a free entertainment was given
TO which the newsboys., the industrial
had been given out. These children and
youth not only showed a keen discrimina-
ton of what was highest and best, but even
when nOisest would become perfectly quiet
when one OF Raphaels Madonna and child
or a picture of Millet's or Rosa Bonheur's
was chosen, and stop and reverently listen
to what was said. especially about the viT-
gin mother and babe.
Evidently there was a good deal of artis-
tic sense and religious sentiment among
the crowd, in which were so many whose
home life Qf they have any has not been
such as TO foster such things. In confer
ence with one of the labor leaders it was
learned that even the small fee charged for
the other entertainments would make the
experiment a failure so far as the poorer
classes We're concerned, whose only ques-
ton under the present pressure was now
TO get bread and clothes for the winter. 1t
was then decided that a second evening (the
last one) should be made Tree for sucn of
these as would accept the tickets which
would be distributed. AS some people who
had been To Chicago and were quite able to
pay a larger fee expressed a desire to come
one evening was set aside for the general
public as a benefit for the relief fund. as
the needs OF the poor of the city seemed TO
be a special subject of discussion at pres
ent. Now comes the curious part of the
affair. In the work of distributing the tick
cts among employees, etc, BY which they
could secure admission at the low fee ar
ranged for them II was found that nearly
every man and woman who could buy
bread and meat (and many bread Only) had
been to the worlds fair ct Chicago. 1t was
simply amazing TO find how many who
seemed hardly able to secure the necessarieS
OF life had made the trip. The question is,
may this not have something TO DO now
with the many demands for help and the
lack Of provisions for the season. AS Tor