The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-23

company ali the time. For The children
The acting is more of recreation, and
they go through their work with dash
not often seen in their elders
All the actors in the Pollard company
are gradutes from dramatic school il
Melbourne winch gives especial training
to children who have a talent either for
acting or for music. Il was from this
school twenty-five Years ago that the
members of the original company were
drawn. Not only they, but Others who
have Joined since then. have received
their education there. When the age
limit IS reached, the youthful actor IS
passed on to the stage of "grown-ups "
For instance the stage manager of the
present company, now nineteen Years of
age was mp = his fourteenth year the
comedian of the company.
Australia. New Zealand, Tasmania
straits Settlements, Rurmah, China Jan
an. The Philippines, Honolulu and South
Africa are the countries in which these
children and their predecessors have per-
formed before Venturing on a tour Of the
United States. Their repertoire includes
such operas and musical comedies as
he Gelsha, The Belle of New York
"A GaIety Girl, "In Town" "JqtN-
slavery" La Mascotte" ana others of
hke character. Good work is required TO
make the performances compare faVora-
hlN with those given by adults.
The Pollard company has an ambition
10 play IN every country on earth. At
Irst plans We're laid tC perform few
week; in Calcutta. The STAY was length
cned to three months 1t PLAYED eight
months IN Johannesburg in two wears.
Two weeks in Manila was made two
months The intention is to stay in this
country one year 1t is INTERESTING RI
note that in 1882, while a tour of Tnd;o
was being made, Rudyard Kipling then
at Alahabad, wrote a criticism of their
work Tor a newspaper On which he was
then employed.
AT Melbourne a eO~+ &c ...
scnool Is maintained by the managers of
thIS company. 1t is free TO the chill
dren. some 300 of whom are now in at
tendance, most of them from Melho,,rno
ana It's suburbs. To this school parents
OF the middle classes and stage folk send
their children to find out whether thnv
nave any talent for the stage The weed
1ng-Cut process takes two weeks A.
ear for music is the prime reouisita
Every year dozen or more of theSs
stars are graduated into the company.
ana contracts are signed with the mar
entS guaranteeing the best possible care
Of the children and a regular course ~
progressive studies. The parents in their
turn, await the development Of the TAI
emf tnelr child may possess Each chsd
IS Leu, clothed, given two hours Of thest
lcal reheafslGg in the morning and fwn
hours OF schooling in the afternoon. Each
Cnlld IS allowed spending money h1,r
Ilelr salary is held in trust by a bank in
they retire.
When in 1880, it was first proposed 10
make tour outside of Australia. MANY
OF the parents opposed the plan They
were fearful of long trips across the
ocean into foreign lands. or into tha
tropics with their danger of disease
contAglon and epidemic. But these fears
were without foundation. The children
are IN most Instances better cared 'for
liidn IN their own homes. Every one of
them is compelled to write a letter home
every oGnday. In their spare time they
play or follow whatever the hobby thev
have. Some are amateur Dhotogra nhers
Hthefs collect stamps, still others delight
In curioS
fruhably no other theatrical organiza-
tloh IN the world has made as long
Jumps or travelled total greater dis
lance tran these little artists. a record
IoI we've months shows a total of GilG
miles The greatest distance has been
made on trips to Asia, Africa and fhe
last indies. in 1883 Java was made fha
HpJecuVe point of the tour. From then
uhui 1850 they played in Australia In
lhal year their itinerary included Cal
cutta. Rangoon in British Burrnah 90.
iombo, Mauritius. Durham, Pietermaritz-
burs, Johannesburg, Pretoria Kimberley
queenstown, King Wiliiamstown. East
LONDON, Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth
tape IoWn, Mafeking and BulaWavo
AGAIN they went to Hongkong. Man.
and hleto, where the costumes worn II,
the Geisha, were made true in every
particular TO The Japanese eye The seen.
cry was painted there, too, by native AR
lists. ar