New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
PEOPLES ADJUSTMENTS.
More Important than industrial
Education, Says John Collier.

''AI the exhortations that can be made and al
the laws that be passed won't break the sro
Of Tammany as long Tammany controls ths
peoples amusements." said John Collier, % us
Peoples Institute IN a talk before the WOran's
Forum. No p West 44th street yesterday after
noon. Mr.. Golfers talk was preceded by discus
sion the need OF Industrial education and hs
began by saying that Industrial education Couf
take of itself because the whole trend Of
the age is toward industrialism: what need over
sight are the peoples amusements-
''Puritanism in a seedy FORM" he said. has
condemned amusement; but will have amuse-
ment for our natures are largely emotional An
cient Greece recognized the value OF the theatre.
much that holidays were granted the people
that they might attend the best plays In the
Middle Ages the Church managed the aEusernsnts
of the people largely. and they had definite puT-
pose In New York City we see the amUsernents
controlled by private interests and the worst Dso
pie provide them
The plays in the standard theatres are Wit
messed by about one hundred thousand persons each
night: the plays in the cheap theatres. the rank
melodramas worse are witnessed by three hun
dred thousand persons each night At least sew
enty-fve thousand children look upon these rank
plays every night; FIVE thousand Children are taken
to the standard theatres
Go some night to OF the moving picture
shows that flourish IN the lower part OF the city
down among the shadows; note the crowds. the
people waiting 10 get in-uhe interest. the ex-
traordinary vividness about It all Why. the set
Elements are watery. transparent things beside
the moving picture shows, some OF which are VIE
all of which, nearly bad In their effect. es-
peciaIly for children. Some OF the people go 70
the settlements. OF course; but do they fight 70
get fn-wiII they steal money to get in. as they
sometimes will 20 get IN the moving picture
shows?''
Mr. Collier estimated that about hair the shop
girls went to the dance halls and that many girls
spend at least s. a week out OF their small wages
in going these places Most OF the girls get
liquor at these places he said. and IL IS where
so many meet their ruin Yet they 60 through 4
natural desire for amusement. and no good arnuse-
| ment is furnished them
| The Mayor recognized the need for recreatien
when q little while ago, petition was presenter
10 him asking that the street festivals OF the lIai
ians be suppressed He refused. and very wisely
Mr. Collier argued that instead OF spending alS
more money on Industrial education. people Wh0
care for the welfare OF the race had better iaAs
hold of the amusements. 1t would pay IN a ons.-
| ness sense" he said Model picture shows. weil
conducted dance halls would pay Why. one oI
the most popular picture show places IN the CITY
l fs conducted by mana Heidelberg gracuaIe-o--
he got down in the world and became re9lI4t
Bowery bum. Then he got hold OF this picture p-1l'
and began showing good pictures-thlnss 1-o"'
Shakespeare things from the Bible. ana accom-
uanied them with the lectures which lis ed-ta'-
ena bes him to give The place has proved rs - -
vaticn and II Is simply thronged with Peopls o-'
the people don't want bad amusements' ou- Olts-
they can get nothing else.