The morning times., 1896-04-05
THEATRICALS
Valuable Suggestions for Read
ings, Drawing-rOOm
Plays, etc.

Nine. Blanc, one OF the brightest women
OF the French republic, after a thorough
tour in America, declared that the most
cultivated social CoteEie she found any
where was Ia Gaiesburg. H.; and famous
English author once said 10 me that the
most charming and highly cultivated So
ciety lie had met in America was IN Spring
field. Mass But II either OF these dis
unguiSned foreigners had seen the society
or any one or scores OF cur sna Her cities
under the same conditions that they saw
Galesburg and Springfield they would
doubJfess have passed the same verdict upon
them. Women who go from the most cut
ttyated CITCIes in New YORK, Boston, CIR
CagO or Philadelphia into even our re-
mote " eStern towns are often surprised %
find the women they meet II whit behsud
those they have left, in POINT or culture.
l remember once going from a dlstin-
guished CUterIe IN Boston 20 Grand Rap
ids, Mich, where found that / had very
much more TO receive than 10 give. We
had, for instance, Just begun 10 realize
in Boston that a knO wledge Of Walter
Pater was necessary part Of our mental
equipment. But IN this progressive West
ern town society OF women had been de-
voting the entire winter 10 an earnest. care
ful study OF his works, and were about 10
lay him aside, and take up some prominent
socialist OF whom l had not 50 much as
heard.
As readings always constitute u large part
OF the working plans Of these societies, per-
haps a few suggestions as To addingJ 10 their
attractions may be timely TIE more
ideally aud effectively a subject can be pre-
seuted, the more sure il Is to make q lasting
impression A reading which / attended
a short time ago seemed to realize al that
was possible IN the way OF a fitting environ
ment
As 1 entered the room I was struck by
the air OF luxury, Of beauty. and artistic
adOrnment everywhere present. But the
whole was so arranged as TO give the
utmost effectiveness TO the reading. The
audience was seated in the back pariOT.
which was entirely dark. except for th<
Illumination thrown from the candles an
softly shaded lamps in the adjoining room
Here the mellow lights, the palms. thS
plants and flowers formed an enchanting
bower for the reader, who, exQuIsitely
gowned- stood by small table
From some far-away point came the
sound Of distant music. which kept up a
running accompaniment 20 the reading.
and was selected with the most c0nsum-
mate taste and appropriateness.
The reader mad happily Travelled through
art back 10 nature and carefully Obliterated
every trace OF the e!OCut4OniSt, reading
with the utmost simplicity. ThatSimphCity
and naturalneSs. however. that always owes
its existence TO The hardly-trayeied path
OF art.
The reader bad chosen for one OF her
courses this winter selections from the
works Of Gertrude Hail, devOtmg four read
ings to them
ON this occasion she read Shepherds
one of the SIX stories IN the Far From To-
day series, and Miss Hall, who had been
invited to lie present expressed herself as
being greatly impressed with the charm
ting, the dim light, the simple delivery. the
distant music with its vague suggestions
OF mountain and shepherds, the tuneful
sound OF the pipe, the Introduction or the
minuette at the OppOTJune moment, con-
stituted an ensemble, the spell OF which
was not to be resisted
As summer comes, very prGtty read
ings could be arranged for out Of doors,
selecting spots especially favorable for
pastoral stories, and music in the dis
taHce could usually be easily managed.
Any one who has the good fortune TO
hear Midsummer Nights Dream ex-
quisiteIy read to the accompaniment OF
MeHdelsSOhn's music, knows that few
pleasures in life can equal that delight.
There are number OF pretty Out-Of-dOOr
plays less difficult thaR Shakespeare's Won
deTful sylvan productions that can be easily
aud successfully attempted. Half an
Hour Under an Umbrella, Gilbert'S Sweet
hearts, ''Ruth's Romance" and with
cred Leaves are all written with a view
to being played out OF doors.
And why should not some one revive
the art OF story telling? Ii has long seemed
to me that the right woman might have
quite a career before her in taking up the
ancient custom OF the MINISTRIES. Ina hitting
costume and with effective settings. what
could be more charming than simple story
telling, with NO attempt at studied elO-
cution or strained effects? And il sufn
GENTLY successful one could afford to buy
stories of the best writer's. to which she
should have exclusive right and SO become
in a way a kind of peranlbuEatiBg ma gaZiHe