New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-20
STAGE CHILDREN.
DO PARENTS EXPLOIT
THEM? .Ls ga

London Daily Telegraph.

London Daily Telegraph
Naturally good deal OF interest has been
evoked In dramatic and kindred circles by the de-
csion Of Mr. Mead. the magistrate at Marlborough
street on Tuesday. in respect Of an application
FOR a child to take part tn a stage performance
rha request was made behalf OF Mr.. McCabe.
manager to Mr.. Charles Manners. of the Moody
Manners Opera Company. to permit a little girl OF
twelve to perform in ''Madame Butterfly" at tas
lyric Theatre. The child was to be paid fl for
Zach Of two performances during the week. and
Mr. Mead who expressed a general dsapprooa-
,gon of the idea OF parents living on their children
required the appointment or trustee 20 WHOM
the earnings OF the child were to be paid. subject
TO 10 per cent deduction for expenses The~partiea
TO the application eventually agreeing the license
was granted
Ino1,,ries made yesterday among those con-
cerned in the training and engagement OF artists
euc,ted entire agreement with the magistrate IN
thinking that children should not De exploited FOR
the parents gain. That seemed TO be general
proposition with which no humane person coald
he at variance At the same time. the fact could
! NOT ba denied that many parents at the pressnt
time are deriving pecuniary benefit from tne earn
/ ngs Of their children on the stage an0 human
nature being what IT Is. It Is not TOO nucn u sup
nosa that this Is prime consideration with many
:, 4betr desire to get engagements for their little
/ ones behind the footlghts 1t Is not necessary 10
! partIcularize, but cases or young chIdren VINO
must have brought little fortunes 70 their parents
| or guardians by performances, more particularly
on tba variety stage are known to any one who has
/ been at all familiar with the theatre and music
| hall during the last ten years or Whereabouts
These Instances, however. are 50 Few ana rar De-
/ tuean that they need not be taken into account
| tn General Investigation OF the question It Is
admitted on all hands that IL 10 per cent OF the
earnings Of the child in the ballet the pantonie'
/ or even the drama opera. IN most cases. were
| tba maximum allowed to the parent or guardian
| FOR EXPENSES il would practically put stop ID
| thu employment OF children at an age when they
require license. AS it is. many managers. n
Guiding those of some Of the West End halls. no
| longer engage such children regularly, and. as a
matter of course ewing to the difficulties OF COM
\ rvina with the regulations to hours. etc When
there is a chi.ds part to be filed. every effort -
made to obtain diminutive a girl as possible
| above the age limit the result being that she Il
often valued at a premium
DANCING SCHOOLS.
nv far the largest number Of children who ars
| beinr trained in London for the stage-and they
| probably number many hundreds, without goins
| outside the acknowledged schools-are tnose VINO
| are principally receiving instruction IN dancihs-
There are Of course schools at which payment Is
made for this education. but some or the best n
| situations from which members OF the ballet are
! drawn, and many notable dancers have receiver
their early training, are run on klnd OF appreh-
| tfceshiu system The girls are indentured for
term Of years. and If they become proficient enough
| during that period they obtain engagements. and
the trainer receives pcrtiOn-one-tnird' OF II may
| be rnore-of the salary paid SeVeraI OF ues7
/
| ticuIar feeders for certain theatres NO charge
made for the instruction, which may last for Two
wears before child gets employment. and t-sn
possibly only OF a temporary character Except -
so far travelling expenses are CohcelHsD' Us
| pareut Is put practically 10 no EXPENSE y 10
| .r,irir1 and In such cases il would only seem 70
be reasonable that child who may OBTAIN an
| engagement while she is OF an age Wnen Ao7n'7
is required ought to receive the fuI oenenI oL any
money she earns. subject. Of course TO the deou'
80. which the instructor instructress Is en-
titled TO in consideration Of the time oeVo'eo %
| the chld's training and the knowledse InpdT'7u'
and also subject such expenses as the parent 0f
! Guardian may be put to. Undoubtedly tne oleS-
| tior as to how the net earnings Of the child
/ should be reserved for her advantage oIers SONS
dit1cuItes and in more than one quarter ths s1s
/ easton met with the argument that II WOulU %
| another inroad upon parental control and respoA
| ,bTitv AS a class children employed on the
stage are said to be extremely well cared 1or anu
| IL IS urged that they would be deprived OF Ai1HS
| little Injuries, well as CT an occupaIOn "LAN
/ thew thoroughly enjoy If their enaploymenU VIZ
80 ba ont short bv a universal application OF tns
nrineiple which Mr.. Mead introduced Two Gays
| ago The opinion was expressed tnar tne nL15
| trate had gone beyond lis jurisdiction II sIpN
| ing as a condition OF granting the license the az
| st-,ar+ ~ a trustee but q reference TO the act
/ Irder which the magistrate dealt with the cas9
| refutes this view. The section IS very "Aue'
/ drawn for it enables such restrictions and cohn-
| lions to be imposed as the court may ~
before granting a license
1t is true no doubt. that in the general run %
cases parents whose children are employed on INC
| stage before fourteen fifteen years or age HAAS
| little profit out of their earnings, for Whsle
/ fairly high fee is paid 1t Will usuaLy Do OeI -
the employment is very casual; al the sans uH4o.
| there are instances Of parents being renewed IT.
only Of the care and keep OF their Children ous 20
| ceiving payment in addition It is not uaAlO"
| for an adult professional to tour tne pIVs-HS
| with a troupe OF children. and to board cIolns'
educate and take the entire responsibility Oh Ine'
( and at the same time to remit weekly sum -
| the parents. Such example would certain.
| appear to come within Mr. Meads os1nIu'-
| exploiting children for parents gain Inc leas
the parent can do under such circumstances = "
! apply the money exclusively to the welfare o. u
| child