Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-22
lNDI CHANT STUDENTS
They Do Not Like Their Treatment by the
Principal of Martyr College
What Was Said mt n Meeting Held
Last Evening Prof. Edgerly's
Methods Strongly Criticised.

There was a rehearsal last evening, given
by number of students and graduates of
the Martyr Dramatic College, that was not
down in the prospectus of that institution,
which Is also known as the Shaftesbury
College of Expression and sometimes as the
American Academy of Acting. 1t was a re-
hearsal, not Of one of the plays In which
Prof. A. Webster Edgerly promised to give
instruction, but of the grievances Of the
students against the principal of this insti-
| tuition. The meeting was held in small
hall at Metzerotts and was In response to
an advertisement calling for the students
and the alumni to get together in order to
tell what they thought of Prof. Edgerly.
About forty young people were present. a
dozen of whom were young women.
According to the stories told by the Diff
ferent speakers Prot Edgerlys announce
ments of his recent commencement, held at
| the Academy of Music, said that the gradu-
ating class was by long odds the finest that
had ever attended the college, but after the
performance. which played TO a packed
house, Prof Edgerly gave the members of
the class to understand that they did not
deserve diplomas. and the next day he
started for Europe. In the opinion of the
disguised members of the class his scheme
was to compel them to come back for an
other term in the college next year. 1t
seems that the course consists of two years
work, but, 1t is said. if a student pays tut
ton for the two years he can get his d.
ploma at the end of one. The case of one
young student was recited last evening
who, 1t was said, had given the two years
tuition money down and received his d.
ploma within three months of his matricu-
lation. The meeting last evening was pre-
sided over by Mr. William L. Mowrer, a
young man who resigned from a govern
ment clerkship IN order to devote all his
time to Martyr College. A young man with
smooth face, who combs his hair as
though he were eligible for the position Of
first walking gent in any stock company.
officiated as secretary, and there were a
number OF others who dressed and acted for
star parts with great success but who testi-
fied in tragic tones that no graduate of
Martyr had ever got position in any the
atrical company on the strength Of their in
structors Recommendation.
Faculty ON Paper.
Altogether 1t was a most unique per-
formance. The chairman began the meet
ing by reading extracts from some Of Prof.
Edgerly's books on acting and facial ex-
preston, to show that he was not the au-
thority that he claims to be. Then he took
up the matter Of the catalogues Of the col
lege. with the statement that two different
sets were issued, one for home and one for
out-of-town circulation. The latter con-
tanned a most imposing list OF names of
people who were said to compose the faculty
of the college. The chairman read letters
from some of these ladies and gentlemen,
in which they denied that they had ever
given Prof Edgerly permission to use their
names. or had any connection with the col
lege.
ed against the absent principal. who Is said
to have combined in his one personality
the positions of president faculty. instruct
ors and board of trustees. number of the
70 IN rod hot fhAxr bod
college for the purpose of pursuing certain
studies in which they were interested and
for which they paid liberal price, but that
very little instruction was given, and many
OF the courses mentioned in the catalogues
were never referred to at all In the college
For example, Mrs. Webster Edgerly is put
down among the faculty as instructor in
bird notes, representations and recitations
one OF the students stated that on one oc-
casion he had tried to take q lesson in the
f1rst essential to dramatic success, but that
Mrs. Edgerly said she hadn't the slightest
IDEA In the world how to make a bird note.
Medicine and Books.
After awhile the discussion became de-
cidedly heated. and there were some things
said about the college that Prof Edgerly
would probably never agree to. One inter-
esting young man told of Prof. Edgerly's
business ability in buying a common recipe
for hoarseness at 10 cents a box and then
after changing the color and the box, re-
failing 1t at 50 cents as the greatest pana-
cea on earth for all the ills that mortal
mesh is heir to. His connection with the
Ralston Health Club which promised eter-
nal life to all Its members who bought one
or Prof. EdSerly's books, was also taken up,
and the statement was made that the price
OF the book was 500. Only one volume is
known to have been sold and the DUR
Chaser. IT was said, claimed that the book
was lifted bodily from the pages of Huxley
and Darwin, and while 1t went largely in
70 the matter OF evolution, had nothing to
say about longevity.
Among those who took an active part
In the discussion Of Prof. Edgerly's meth
DDS were Rev. c. c. Morhart, Rev Frank
lin J. Miller and DR.. Charles T. Caldwell.
whose names appeared in the list Of the
FACULTY without their knowledge or con-
sent They said a number Of pleasant
tnings about the absent orator. although
they admitted that he had done many
things they could not condone.
They Freed Their Mfnds.
Mr.. NJ. W. Howard, Mr. F. c. Gideon.
Mr.. F. A. Barber. Mr.. William Hunt, all
had things to say. criticising the manage.
ment and the pretensions of the institution
The performance was rather an irregular
one. and the services of a stage manager
were badly needed, but IL the actors ever
display as much earnestness and zeal ON
the stage as they did in the role of prose-
cutors they are pretty sure of dramatic
success. AFTER they mad all said all they
wanted to, business began to drag a little
and one of the speakers came to the rescue
with motion to adjourn. There was no
definite action taken. the chairman, who
seemed TO be the prime mover in the move
ment, said that their only purpose was to
secure publicity for their sad complaint
Business is in the hands of committee.
consisting of Mr.. Mowrer. Mr. T. c. Gideon
and Mr.. c. A. Harbaugh. and they prom
Use that there will be another performance
OF some sort in the near future with new
attractions and entirely fresh scenery and
costumes.
GREAT FIRE IN LONDON.