The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-01
CLEAN UP The STAGE
WOMEN RALLYING TO RAISE THE
DRAMA STANDARD.
Countrywide Movement Has Its Origin
in InicagO; Dramatic Conditions
in This Country are Much Worse
Than Elsewhere; Now for Con-
certed Effort to Uplift Home Play
house; Celebrate Historic Event.
Especial to The Free Press.l


Chicago, March 30.-Womcn are rally
ing TO raise the drama in the United
States by systematic encouragement
under tie Banners of the new Drama
club which now has members represent
ing lG5 women's clubs of Chicago and
vicinity 1t is the hope that before
long the organization will be national
in scope, with large central organiza
tlon, with local chapters i'll every city
and town i'll the country. The main
work at first will be the arrangement
of study programs for the local chap
ters and the sending out of advice
and information TO all its members.
Matter of Education.
Mrs. y. Starr Best, chairman of the
organization meeting says that the inn
provcment of the stage is Il matter of
educating the public. However much
we may dislike to admit it, she says,
the stage at present is Oh Il strictly
commercial basis, and seems likely to
continue so. We can improve condi-
tons only by educating the public
demand The manager of the theatre
has only the box office by which TO
feel the public pulse. The great public
accepts and tries to enjoy what is given
TO it. If all the womcn's clubs of the
country were pledged to support good
plays and to the reading OF plays, out
side the theatre, studying thcm care
fully for their structure and THEN
Cd difference in the character OF plays
presented on the stage.
Far Worse Here Than Elsewhere
Dramatic conditions in America are
far worse than i'm other countries. 1t
l. time the women rallied to the relief
of the eouutry's stage. We should
appreciate the power for good which
tEe drama possesses, but we should
also he keenly alive to the danger
Inherent in the powerful influence OF
the stage on the public if that influence
is not 4efnobfings uplifting. Cor.
ccrtcd effort through the country will
be a great aid in eliminating the OBJ
jcctonablc from our theatres"
Celebrate Historic Event.
a pageant in Chicago next May in
celebration of the iifticth anniversary
ot the memorable nomination of Abra
ham Lincoln for the presidency in
1860, is proposed by professional and
business men of this city. One week
OF festivities during May is outlined
with a program including parades, Il
great ball which President Taft is to
be- invited to attend, a grand carnival
of sports, acroplanc races and re-
production of the convention which
nominated Lincoln in the famous re-
publican 'wigwam." which it is pro-
posed to rebuild.
The Old "Wigwam."
The historic "wicwam" was an i'm
mense wooden structure with capacity
of 10000 people, it is estimated that
ut least half that number were assem-
bied there when the convention open
ed May 10. At that time Chicago was
"A city of but 100000 and was taxed
TO entertain the 10000 to 10000 who
attended the convention. Though hasti
ly built, the "wigwam' was remembered
for its splendid arrangements and fine
acoustic qualities. 1t was the first
convention hall to be equipped with
the telegraph for sending out directly
over the country detailed reports of
the proceedings.