New-York tribune., 1902-03-26
WHAT THE THEATRE DOES.
JANE adams TALKS OF IT'S INFLU-
ENCES on THE LIVES OF
THE PEOPLE

When the theatre is handed over 70 those who
present only plays Of adventure and the iRnoble
side ot life lose OF the greatest moral agents
possible. Church. school and theatre should work
together as educational forces" said Miss Jane
Adams, Of Hull House Chicago Yesterday at the
conference held under the auspices Of the Charity
Organization Society.
The subject for discussion was ''Anusements for
the People and Miss Adams told how much good
IS being done by the theatre in Hull House. The
dramatic company consists Of amateurs from the
class which the Settlement IS designed to benefit.
ana the plays are censored by the Settlement
workers. that the entertainment is kept within
discreet limits without being deprived of force and
human interest
The dramas often Of a classical and his
rorcal nature Miss Adams said, and plays OF
this character always attract large audiences.
once We gave a version Of The Odysseus' in which
the players We're largely Greek. and the interest
was intense. All the actors had their lines thor
oughy learned in three days, because they We're so
familiar with the story. having read It IN pub
JIG schools, That was early in the history Of the
theatre and since that time the other nationaties
have seemed 10 have an increased respect for the
Greeks account Of their classic origin The
company cleared 500 by the performance after pay
ing for the staging. We wanted them to give half
10 q Greek church and keep the remainder for
future expenses. They refused. however 10 keep
any of ,t, saying that HUH House had given
them the opportunity 20 show forth the honor os
Greece. as they expressed It. they wanted Hull
House 10 have the money"
~ ALL LANGUAGES
Ths different nationalities represented in the
c-mra-y- which is large. ara allowed 10 give plays
81 their own languages. and there are Italian
Bohemian and German plays, well Greek
The English plays are az well attended. however,
Mss Adams stated. as the foreign. all regard
= as = help IN acquiring English.
Miss Adams suggested that Il IS important TO
select PLAYS that are c9uP-eheustIe u the people
composing the audience. illustrating her point by
EoweIss little farce that turns On the dilemma OF
man invited dinner Who was unable TO find
Es evening dress. The audience sat there dumbIy
wondering why the nan could not 20 70 dinner in
one coat as well as arC-her.' she said IT was not
= the least amusing 10 them, because they could
not get the point OF view"
The force OF the theatre. in the speakers opinion
les IN the fact that Il furnishes the only oppor-
t-rity in the life u the ordinary working boy OF
nan 10 get away from himself and 70 life as
others 1--we t.
1t is not quite as bad as it is painted" she de-
ciared. Usually the hero is noble and brave and
and becomes happv eventually and the Tiliain Is
highly ohectioqable, and is generally foiled. The
Miss adams thinks it Is pity that the earliest
should have been so lost sight Of. and believes
thar there should be chesP P.ayhouseS uses. IN ~ al the
under the supervision Of competent and conscen-
tious persons.
THE WHOLE FAMILY SHOULD ATTEND.
A novel point brought out by Miss Adams was
the entire family as large proportion Of the de-
ssrrions IN the lower class after the birth Of
the third child.
They can manage two she said. but the
k!ndneerted door6eepr cannot make II possible for
them manage more than that in their two seats,
50 the husband begins 70 90 alone, and when ne is
separated IN his pleasures from the VIE the most
serious step to another separation IS taken
Mrs sarah J. Bird. OF Zhe . nlle Jo'r Ms
sion. IN Clntou-st.. told how her settlement tries
% teach the children 70 amuSe the parents by llr
little eTtainments given at the settlement She
has instituted neg1borhocd tea parties lnat are a
cakes, ard some II the workers take FioHHS or
Ctrer musical instruments and DrCVICe amusement
while the hostess of the day invites heT ilends ana
gives them her best in the form Of such cIeanl-
ness Of surroundings she achieve.
Mrs. Bird spoke Of The social conditions OF the
locality being inexpressiblv bad. Behind every
girls deliberately trained for the vicious lfe
OF the dance hall We must provide innocent ana
uplifting diversions II we would save them
WHERE TOTS ARE MADE TO WORK.
Mrs P Y. Fitzgerald. Of the West Side Uni
versity Settlement said that the long working
hours OF the tenement dweers prevent them
from having reasonable diversion At reasonable
times. The law permits and children 70
imagine how much energy II mind and body are
leit .or enjoyment after ten hours Of monotonous,
tflndlng toll. A short tin- a bill was intro
yucca IN the Assembly permitting longer hours Tor
nav thrown out, but two days another was
presented that aims 10 introduce hours OF day
M2tE ana ten hours at night Night work Is ut
ssty aboEninable and should not be legahzed, as
y attendant dangers, morally and physically, 70
young women cannot be overestimated-
another bill that has passed the Assembly ana
hllous attack upon the factory law II provides