New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-09
FOR NATIONAL ART THEATRE.
Financial Plans To Be Announced Soon
Pleas at Herald Square Meeting.

At the Herald Square Theatre last night me "a
tional Art Theatre Society. grown since lasl APP!
from a membership Of six TO one OF elght hu1u4 Gu
held public reception-otherwise propogahoa
oo.i,-, The theatre was well filed. and the people
seemed enthusiastic over the proposed national ART
theatre Actors, dramatists and the Rev Ihohas
r. Slicer who considers the movement revival
not altogether unconnected with religion, spoke a
good word for the theatre. wha would give he
said. the American dramatst a chance to write MS
best and educate actors and public alike IN the
highest forms Of dramatic art and the classic
drama.
For the building Of this theatre, Joseph L {.
Clarke the president OF the society said last night
that Funds would be collected by finance COM
r,ittee Of vell-known men. who were working out
their plans. Announcement would soon be made
Of their scheme.
Mr.. Clarke declared that. out OF twenty-five hun
dred theatres not one was devoted TO the best In
art There was great commercial enterprise, but
hardly room for art. Some managers tried 10 raise
the standard he said, hut did not succeed because
they DID not choose the right standard Of Ameri-
art He pleaded for theatre where the classics
could be produced-a theatre which would look out
for the American dramatist. We are making
declaration CT independence Of the drama" said he
as our forefsthers did in political affairs"
Mr.. Slicer thought that it was only natural a
minister should be in the first stages of revival
and complimented his audience because it was
looking much fresher than that crowd over at
didn't revive, or survive. his text Was
Good Art and Good Taste which things. he de-
clared were lnseparable. Bad art, said ne
is always bad taste II is only possible 70 ma ke
good art out Of the best in life. There must pc a
reason for art TO continue. There are not bad
people enough in the world 10 keep the stage FER
rranently on a low level ] want to go to TIE
theatre coca sionally. and want TO have theatre
can 10 to. You can't have greater educator thai
the stage; therefore ! make this little plea for a
theatre which viii present the best art. ny the
best artists.
Bronson Howard wanted to know What do we
get out Of lt2' for the managers. the dramatlsts.
the actors and the public. The managers, he said.
should not be expected 10 educate the public. be-
cause they mad themselves to look out tor, but he
guaranteed that they were wiling 10 help. The
ORA mstist he added. would be sure Of having his
NAV Judged irrespective Of its merits as money
eetter. while the actor would have a training
school. ana The public place TO see the classics
ard the best modern products.
sydney Rosenfeld. on the other hand. inveighed
| against the commercial managers in anecdotes
Of personal experiences nc asked for the national
theatre. that the spirit OF the old Nallack days
might be revived when the people might feel a
personal interest in the actors and the parts, ana
might know the best plays well -
Miss Alice Fisher. Robert T Haines and F r.
Nackav told of the great impetus toward higher
dramatic conceptions ana right dramatic progress
the national theatre would be. There was vocal
and instrumental music by Miss Bertha KEENAN,,
pianist: Miss Kay u. Spencer. contralto; Miss
Harriet Schreyer Nalois. vlclinist and Templar