The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-07
CHILDREN OF THE STAGE.
Henry Irving Says They're Happy and
Healthy and Morally SAFE.


Sir Henry Irving has given utterance to
some sensible and pertinent opinions con-
corning the employment OF children on the
stage. In 1891 the British Pailiament passed
a law, similar to the one in force in this coun-
try, making the employing OF children on
the stage dependent on the obtaining OF
license, granted by the courts on receiving
sufficient proof that the child is in good health
The law has proven satisfactory to all con-
cerned but recently some eager refor mer
introduced a bill in the House OF Commons
forbidding the employing Of children in
any occupation between the hours OF 0 o clock
in the evening and o clock in the morning
The theatrical managers of London, seeing
the passage of such n bill meant the Danish
ment Of all children from the stage. appealed
to the Standing Committee on Trade. to whom
the bill was referred, and asked that amend
ments be made so that the provisions Of the
existing act might be retained. The COM
mittce rejected this appeal and reported the
bill favorably to the House OF Commons
where it will be discussed and put to vote.
The theatre managers of London held
meeting on May IS at nrury Lane Theatre to
protest against the passage Of the new bill.
Sir Henry Irving presided. and in the course
of the meeting delivered an address which
contained. among other forcible statements.
the following:
81 see that Mr.. 7. W. Russell said it was
monstrous that children OF and years
should appear on the stage for the amuse-
ment Of the public What is really monstrous
is that a rooted hostility to the theatre and
gross ignorance Of theatrical conditions
should be permitted to distort the Judgment
Of Parliamentary committee. We, who are
familiar with those conditions. know that
theatre bears no manner of resemblance
to factory. Child life in theatre is not
child labor In a theatre children are not
swcated; they are petted. Life for them Is
both an education and recreation. i9
Mr.. Russell 1t Is shock ing thing for a child
Of to be a fairy in Sha kespcare but the ehhd
Of would not cAch qnse that dream OF 10y
for all the gloomy pleasures that appeal to
Moreover, to many child that fairy
great artists who have been born on the
sSs s as d va StaF day by
senting to delighted public the, spectacle
Of H ssd Ms2e MRrmf n nay
Robertson and Ellen Terry, whether they
had a terrible time during their infant APP
IKE SIR I" save these
little Andromedas from dragon 81 stage
manager,
trace ba ok TO their earliest venrs the impress
sions which have been NOS, valuable to TIER
H a bel not .nnt I o aq 3ns
employment Of children in theatres if that
employment Interfere! IN any degree with
their general education II IT stnnted their
physical growth. II II cast the gloom OF un-
congenial and unhealthy toll upon their
young souls.
But everybody who has any knowledge
of the theatre. and whose ind Is free ( rom
cant and intolerance, knows that the employ
ment Of children produces none OF these dire
results The hill before Parliament ignores
the real issue 1t proceeds upon the assump-
ton that a child of or suffers positive
harm from work In theatre whereas any
experience shows the reverse TO be the truth
And IT, for the sake Of a cast-iron UNIFORMITY,
this absurd intsrdict Is put upon such en-
ployment, q large number of poor little chill
dren vii, he cut of from the chief 10y. Of their
lives bnnished from their fairrland to the
street. and many "A humble home VIII be I'M
poyerished nv the loss Of the salaries SO cheer,
fully 40 benefcially earned by the small
bread winners. Against such hundering leais,
lation We enter an emphatic protest. " VIII
do no manner OF good 10 the children; II can
not give them any opportunities OF enuch-
ton they do not already possess. SO iar
from securing to them a measure Of comfort
and happiness II will destroy both, and in
stead OF protecting their tender age against
hardships IT. will deprive many OF them
of the only friends they hay" in the world,
To such children the theatre ia truly "a hon-.
school aud benevolent institution AL IN
one and tho measure which d"prircs II OF
that character Will certainly he tie most
errepious and callous niece 81 folly TINT over
called itself an act oil Parliament.