Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-07-30

| known as the Ger
CD Gle Pigalle, near
Mon tmartre. In
France it will be the Theatre Femi-
niste," which means a theater for
women, by women and in the interests
of women only. There is only one
weak spot in this armor of femininity
and that is the fact that the manager
lis to be man, but the ladies who are
1.-The soul of the enterprise say he will
| not count, as, like the rest of his sex
he will merely be their slave.
Au serieux. though, it is to be a
genuine place for women. The White
theater. where only plays of absolute
purity were to be tolerated, was the
first entrance of woman into the man.
agerial capacity. This victory gave
such confidence to the women that they
were determined to star their own
ideas exclusively, and the result is the
Theatre Feministe. The establishment
is not to be limited. No pent up
France will confine it's powers, and the
ladies OF every country will be at lib
erty to air their grievances, assert
their privileges and defend their inter-
ests through the medium of the drama
or the opera.
For long time the question of man.
agement was discussed pro and con by
the members of the club which had
the project in hand. Opinion was di-
vided, not as to the ability of woman to
take entire charge of every detail, but
as to whether it would not be wise to
have some man to do the drudgery and
let the honor and glory be the lot OF
the women. Finally, 1t was decided
that if a man could be found who
would face the prospect he should be
engaged on the spot. AS the French
man is fond of excitement and loves to
brave adventure, the necessary male
was easily discovered and has already
become the Adam in this otherwise
Adamless Eden.
It is provided in the agreement that
he shall receive instructions from the
executive committee OF the board OF
directors, which is composed OF five
women. Thus far he has accomplished
the unparalleled feat OF pleasing all
FIVE, ard is very popular. The cireul-
ars or advance announcements OF the
theater and its purposes do not bear
the name of the manager, but state
that the theater is under the sole con-
troll OF the board OF directors, composed
entirely Of women. They further state
that only plays treating Of womans
rights will be presented, unless some
especially good play by a woman re-
ceives the Endorsement of the commit
tee.
Another committee Of directors
bears the title of Committee on Plays.
It's duty is to pass on all plays which
are presented to it, sift the wheat from
the chaff. and then submit its selection
to the full board of directors for APP
proval. Each play is to be read
through to the board, and then, to in
sure acceptance, the authoress, or pos
sibly the author, must incorporate all
suggestions of the board. The unk.nd
men who have heard Of this project
say that he who runs and reads may
attend one performance, but that he
who reads will run after seeing a sec
ond announcement thereof.
Aside from the MANAGE, the only
condition under which men can hope
to obtain little scrap of the success
which this theater according to its
projectors, is sure to attain is to write
plays or musical compositions which
will bear on the subject OF woman's
rights. The authors of these efforts
may come from any part Of the world
they wish to, and their nationality will
be considered no bar. The ladies say
that the men will be criticised in that
same spirit OF fairness in which a
woman always considers her own sex,
and therefore they may be sure OF alb
solute justice.
Nine. Loevy, who will direct the for
eign department OF the new theater,
Is very decided in her statements as
to the purpose and probable result of
the enterprise. Heretofore, she says,
the fact that play was written BY a
woman has been sufficient in most in
stances to insure its failure. The only
instances where this has not been the
case have occurred in the United
States. Now this sort of thing is to
end. Women are to have the proceed
ence in at least one theater, and the
men will have to take second place,
II they are sufficiently fortunate to
secure any place at all.