Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-20

OF National organization which ls Ne
coming of growing Importance 10 the large
body Of theaterguers. the Drama League
u America Recently in Los Angeles this
organization was enlarged By LUo mem
bers, the entire membership OF the Friday
Morning club Of Los Angeles applying FOR
membership. The decision Of the club re-
suited from talks given by Mr and Mrs.
william Faversham
The Friday Morning club is a civic. lit
erary and social organization and num-
bers among It's members representative
women q both Los Angeles and Pasadena
and owns beautiful and extensive club
house constructed on the lines OF an old
California mission
The purpose and methods of the league
and likewise the story OF its organization
we're succincty told by Mrs. Faversham.
The Drama club was started at Evans
ton. Chicago by a body Of women. with
James O'DonneH Bennett. the distinguished
critic. as godfather out OK this club the
Drama League OF America is forming, and
out OF the efforts OF these women a new
public is going to be made FOR the actor
The object Of this league is the encourage
ment for the best in ths theater.
From the Chicago club various branches
have grown. In Mlwaukes and other
cities; in fact I believe that IN ten years
great chain OF these clubs will encircls
the United States; that men and women
who are ambitious To do the hne things
Of the theater finely WILL in each city,
find a band Of women who are spreading
good words to encourage those people.
The work OF the Drama club consists in
having a committee. which reads the best
current plays before they come 70 the city,
II possible, or to have a certain number
attend the first performance and report to
the club their opinion the play and pro-
duction. II would be easy for you to have
some OF your members. who are competent
20 Judge and who are unprecedented, criti-
else and forward reports on plays that
they think are worth while. 60 their or
ganization in the next city, and it would
be Just easy for them 70 condemn and
drive from the stage plays that are unfit
for the public 1t Is capable. IL well or
ssnized, OF being the greatest help. not
only to the public, but to the actors and
managers who are worthy workers In their
art
I'm no way IL the Drama club bound
tn support one form OF entertainment more
than another; IL is simply for anything
that is good and worth while in the drama
The women meet, I believe. once a fort
night; speeches and papers ara read by
prominent men and women OF the theater
or by people who have given time and
thought TO the work OF acting. A library
is an important factor in the Drama club
The best plays OF Europe and America are
sought for; they are read at the various
meetings, sometimes by one OF the mem
bers and sometimes by some man or
woman from the outside. Afterwards there
Is discussion as to its merits
When this same movement OF the
Drama league was started in Chicago and
they asked me my opinion Of il. I told
them that I believed il would become not
only the most powerful dramatic club IN
the world, but that il would perhaps II
properly conducted, ill the place OF a
public censor which the drama needs now
and again. You cannot get a censor as
they do in England because each one OF
the states has different laws. and a play
that would be permitted in one may not be
permitted in another But a powerful or
ganization like this Drama league. with
branches in each OF the big cities all over
the United States. viii find itself over
shadowtng plays that are not lit for the
public to see.
"Of course. the Drama league partic-
] MARY aNpedAh 90 me ueCduAe am
woman. and this Is a woman's effort Per-
sonaliy, I feel that wOmans greatest
sphere b that OF service. L think the
Drama league can. in time. become the
prime minister OF the theatsr-going public
/ In America.
Now, this new public that the league
is going to create for the actor will grow;
/ I feel sure OF IT, How can il help but
do that II in each city bands OF clever,
| intelligent women think. read and en-
courage the best that the thearer is going
I 20 give them? That viii make a new taste,
and the actor or actress who wishes to
/ keep abreast OF the times will be Obliged
% respond TO this growing taste Tor better
things"
! Miss Mary z. Holmes. class OF 1895. is
I the chairman OF the committee OF alumnae
! in charge OF the work OF building a stu
dent building at Wellesley college. Miss
Alice Browne o. the secretary. reports
/ that sl2IS6 already has been raised toward
the undertaking. There is also an under
| graduate committee.
Mrs. Harriet NJ King is the owner and
actual manager OF one OF the largest farms
I in the world Her farm is known as the
santo Gertrude ranch. and is near Corpus
I Christi, Tex. It's pasturage is reported 70
afford grazing for Ioa00o cattle. 5000 sheep
and nearly 1000 horses. Mrs. King is said
to keep 2Goo employees busy on her ranch
and find