Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-30
PHILADELPHIA MAINTAINS
OPERA FOR FEE3LE-MINDED
Patients Give High Glass Musical En-
tertainments Under Direction
of superintendent

Were you a stranger who wandered
into the theater at the training school
for feeble minded children at Elwyn,
near Philadelphia, and had you heard
the production of "Erminie" as given
there, you would probably have found
it hard to believe that the beautiful
prima donna, with the bell-like voice,
is classed among the mentally defec-
tive; that the tenor is unsound; that
the members of the entire cast who
performed their parts without hitch,
number imbeciles and mentally feeble
children.
For @ number of>.years operas have
been produced at Elwyn under the d1-
rection of the superintendent, DR.. Mar
tin w. Barr, "Erminie" being the most
recent. Visitors who attend the pro-
auctions marvel at the splendid per-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that may be
classed as the strangest operas ever
given, says the Philadelphia North
American.
What lends an element of tragic
irony to the operas is the fact that
often the prima donna imagines she is
one of the greatest singers in the
world; that she lives in an atmos-
phere of exaltation, treats her COM
panions with hauteur and displays all
The tenor considers himself an actor
of superlative talent, an unparalleled
genius. And all the members of the
cast, during the production and for
periods thereafter, actually believe
themselves to be the characters they
impersonate; their own selves are lost
in the assumed individuality, and they
live in fairy world existing in the
village of Pontvert-or wherever the
scene of the opera is laid-hundreds of
years ago.
2 There are a number of interesting
things which distinguish the operate
production at this institution. All the
clothing worn by the cast is made by
the young women; the scenery is built
and painted by the young men. The
orchestra of twenty eight, which plays
the music for the operas, is composed
entirely of feeble minded.
These operas begin the day after
Christmas each year, and nine to
eleven performances are given. From
all parts of the country visitors come
to witness these strange song poems.
They sit and listen, incredulity sue
ceeded by amazement and admiration,
and they leave, the memory of the
production and players haunting them.
They feel as though they had caught
a glimpse of the uncanniness suggested
in Edgar Allan Poe's Doctor Tar and
Professor Feather"
Nowhere in the world, perhaps, eX
cepting in the institution at Normans-
field, England, are operas given ON
such an elaborate scale by the in
mates of such an institution.
No method more picturesque and
wonderful has ever been devised by
which mentally defective minds might
be developed. That these operas have
had remarkable effect in stimulating
the memory of the participants, teach
ing them self discipline and giving
them proper sense of form and color,
is attested by the emphatic declaration
of DR.. Barr.
''Thes effect of these operas upon the
children" he said, lis simply tremen-
development, the opera brings into
play ideas of color, a sense of harmony
and an appreciation of contrasts; it
evolxes the idea of form, gives a con-
ception to number work. The men,
bers Of the cast must learn their lines;
they must study hard. 1t often is most
difficult, so the training is a wonder
full stimulation of the memory.
1.-THE music, too, exercises an excel
lent effect upno them. You can hardly
imagine how Ii awakenS their emo
tions: soothes the restless, rouses their
dormant faculties as well. Above ALL
the opera is splendid means OF self
discipline. The participants simply
must concentrate their thoughts. And
the effect Is almost magical"
Really Live Their Parts
Ermine, the lovely daughter of the
marquis, really believes she is to be-
come betrothed. AS she stands before
the audience she feels, too, here is a
supreme gift of song. For weeks pre-
ceding and after the opera, the young
woman lives at the institution in
veritab2e wonder world created by her
imagination.
Unusually sweet and clear is the
voice of this girl. When the imagined
character fades she still retains the IL
fusion of greatness. There are times,
indeed, when she views the teachers
in the institution with intense hauteur
refusing even to acknowledge their
salutations. While rehearsing for an
opera it occurred to her that charm
ing thing for her to do would be to
stick her tongue out at some of the at
tendantS.
Now, like all prima donnas, she must
be treated with great diplomacy. Had
she been directly reprimanded, 1t was
said, she would have refused to sing.
So it was suggested to her. very gent
ly, that she might appear to better adj
vantage If she desisted. Did she not
think so? She thought it over, and
came to the conclusion that the sug-
gestion was wise.
Sometimes strange freakish whims
obsess her. While 10 and 25 cents-to
be deducted from her salary of Stare
charged for such misbehavior, one
thing usually brings her to terms-that
is the threat that her part will be
given to her understudy. Understudies
are trained for nearly all of the lead
ing parts, so that in case the stars do
not sing satisfactorily they are put
back into the chorus and their places
are filled. 1t is considered a great dis
grace to be thus denoted, and such
threat usually secures obedience.
Commander Peary and his party, returning
famished from their futile dash for the pole in