The Washington herald., 1909-02-25

When the play was ali learned and the
costumes-donated by more afiuent folk
had been finally donned, the theater was
opened on Saturday evenings for the old
and young and again on Sundays, espe-
cialIy for the children Of the city. Each
child present had a ticket given him by
some school, and this he had turned in
with ; cents as the price Of his adnis-
sion. The people Of the Ghetto. Little
Italy. and other homes OF New Yorks
poIyglot people, saw these plays with
pleasure and with understanding
The first impulse Of ali childhood Is 70
make believe. 20 pretend, 70 people the
workaday world with wonderful things
that 90 not exist 10 the naked eye. In
congested New York there is little for
the imagination 10 feed on, yet 70 the
children OF the more congested places
Miss Herts opened up a new world For
these children, who had. perhaps, never
seen a tree OF flower that did not grow
in Washington Square, she chose AS
You Like It." and as the parts were
learned and the play progressed, the fer
tile child-mind turned the tiny stage into
a real forest OF Arden. For the while the
din and dust Of the streets outside were
lost 70 ear and eye. and hand in hand
with Rosalind the tired little children
wandered far in q new world.
Educators and social workers claim that
the children Of the slums, the street
grown ones. are keenest and quickest
when Il comes 20 Tearing a new thing.
The officials Of the library near the
theater testified later that there had never
heen such q demand for Shakespeare
in the history OF the institution. and
when "As You Like L." very cheaply
bound. vas brought 10 the theater and
Put on sale for the convenience Of the
players and the audience, the copies dis
appearer with a fattering rapidly never
known 70 the Observation-Disclosures novel.
usually believed to be the favorite on the
East Side.
Neighboriiness Is a Characteristic OF the
poor. As soon as the theater vas being
remodeled under Miss Herts' MANAGEMENT
"a new stage being put in and some
scenery sdded-everybody wanted 10 10 of
use Oldest members Of the family. came
10 help with the scenery or the sewing
or the costumes. while the younger ones
were Tehearsing their parts. Others. came
10 ask TO be allowed 10 do something. and
the whole neighbOThOod was aroused TO =
personal interest in the theater ana irs
plays The first play ever produced there
was Little Lord Fauntleroy." and TIE
children OF the tenements liked Il They
liked the manly little fellow and learned
from his thOughtfulness and respect for
ali about him. a lesson that had never
been taught them before. either by pre-
cept or example. To those who know
and understand children best II has been
revealed that in every child there IS
frsnkness. courage, strength and A love
OF the beautiful in sll things. and that
these traits only await the proper oppor-
tunity for their development The Child
ren's Theater had given this opportunity
10 many
As each actor IS not only allowed. but
encouraged TO interpret the part as he or
she thinks IL should 5e, there IS little az
fsctaton on the part OF the players. there
e much earnestness and much natural
grace. With the responsibility resting On
them they have become great students. The
Librarians are petitioned for pictures
showing scenery OF costumes, the man
Rers Of some beloved teacher are IN
consciously assumed as suited TO the part.
ard when The Forest Ring was being
rehearsed candidates for the parts Of the
bears saved their pennies and rode out
10 Central Park TO spend long hours In
the Zoo watching the bears. incidentally