The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-21

king chances with dramas Of the SIM
Pile lire,
A few years ago, when Reerhohn'
Tree. the English iragedian, was ma
King his first and only visit to the
United States he proposed giving some
performances of Hamlet but the
theatre manager, fearing rows of va
cant seats. natly refused the proposal
But now, since the Peoples Institute
has brought the purveyors OF the dra-
ma and the once neglected common
people" together. Shakespeare is ne
longer scarcerow, and any theatre
manager in the city would be pre-
pared to consider the production OF
one of the old classics tomorrow II
the modern show at present on the
boards of his theatre snould prove a
failure.
The movement so far has been linz
ited in its extent, but now that It is
successful beyond doubt or peradven-
ture, II will be extended to include not
only the public schools. but also labor
organizations, church societies, and
department stores. A general COM
mlttee. of influential membership has
committees. 1t Is planned to extend the
movement In other cities. 1t Is all Il
part Of Director Sprague Smita's sys-
tenn outlined when he founded the
Peoples Institute ten years ago Of
helping his fellow men by bringing
them together in assemblies of all
kinds political religious and intellect
nal. and giving them an opportunity
to better their relations with one an
other.
The Institute represents not revo-
luton, but evolution, It's platform
reads as follows: THE Peoples In
stitute, recognizing fraternity as the
fundamental social truth, democracy
as the highest known form Of human
government and national worth as
dependent upon individual worth, seeks
to promote, through education and the
cooperation Of good men OF all con-
ditions and occupations, the peaceful
evolution Of a society based upon the
recognition Of the interiependence of
man with man" II welcomes the So
cialist as a type OF evolutionist, though
not stamping the seal of approval up
on all he says but 1t bars the anar-
chist. Its work has already spread
beyond the city in the shape of peo
ple's forums One offshoot has been
established as far West as Portland.
oregon.
WHAT the director hopes to have one
day is a big fine room for the Insti-
tute, with club rooms and class rooms
and an auditorium with a seating ca
pacity large enough to accommodate
the crowds that attend the Cooper
Union meetings In its broad educa-
tional work the Institute has the ac-
tive support of the public school au-
thorities; in its religious work, the
support Of the many leading clergymen
OF many creeds, and in its civic activ
tiles the support of public spirited men
in general, including Governor Hughes.
The Institute started with nothing;
it received $500 in contributions the
first year, ana at that time this new
brotherhood of man idea seemed
doomed to pass away; but last year,
although the expenses Of the Insti- /.
tute were S14.500, only a debt Of about
$500 was incurred The late Abram S.
Hewitt vas one OF those who helped
Professor Smith in the beginning.
He it was VINO invited the founder and
his friends to use mis- house as a meet
ing place, and ne also gave the free
use Of the large hall of cooper Union
for the experimental course Of lee
lures and discussions. Samuel Com
pers, of the American Federation Of
Labor has also lent a helping hand
since the first days, doing much per-
s0naIly, besides securing the support
Of organized labor in general.
The Institute is dependent, to a
great extent, upon the annual sub
scriptions Of it's friends, and will grow,
of course, in proportion to their growth
It caters to every wholesome desire.
It's non -sectarian religious meetings
at the Cooper Union Sunday nights
are remarkable for the fact that they
attract crowds Of people who have
practically abandoned the established
churches; and ninety-fve per cent Of
these large congregations are men.
The Institute has successfully under
taken many projects for civic i'm
,provement, and it has welded a pow