New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-09
MAYOR SAVES THE DAY
Allows Performance by Children
Despite Gerry Society.

The Mayors permit arrived just In time
to make possible a delightful afternoon
yesterday at the Belasco Theatre for a
houseful Of children and grown-ups with
child hearts II was the first Of what will
probably lie a series Of entertainments for
children, given with child casts. under the
direction OF Miss Emile Wagner. The small
boys and girls who appeared yesterday
some Of whom had never acted before,
though some had played at the Educational
Theatrt-seemed 20 think IL the incest thing
in the world 10 be frolicking on a truly
stage" put that wasn't the view the Chill
dren's Society took Of IT. When that body
learned that children were to appear in d
performance for which money was to be
taken in at the box office. there were anx-
ious times for the managers and patrons
TIL Mayor Gaynor said. Go ahead
Something else besides the Mayors per-
mission arrived just in time. That was a
letter from Miss Maude Adams. inclosing
a check for SO. which she begged Miss
Wagner TO use for boxes 10 he filled with
East Side children. 1t was almost the
hour for the curtain to go up, but ennis
saries rushed hotfoot to the University and
other settlements. and though Miss
Adams's small guests weren't there I'm time
for The Queen Of Hearts. She Made Some
Tarts." they saw everything else on the
programme, and how they I'D enjoy Il,
The audience was as pretty sight as the
stage 10 the grownups. \ misanthropic
male OF nine years was heard 10 state 10
his governess that he never did see such
a ribbony audience" And il was Pink
hair ribbons 20 the right OF you. blue hair
ribbons 70 the left Of you. white hair rib
hons ia front Of YOU nodded and fluttercd.
OF course. there were loads OF little boys,
too. but they weren't conspicuous among
their more gayly dressed sisters, except in
the two boxes which Mrs. Harold Willard
had filed with friends OF her two little
sons tn they looked like a boys boarding
school out for a lark.
Every type % child was there, including
the solemn child, who grows more and
more grave eyed the happier he is. and the
JOYOUS child. who laughs right our at
everything And how they clapped their
little hands,-a fairy sort OF applause not
at AL like the loud applause that comes
from grownup hands.
The Queen Of Hearts" they liked very
much. IT was pantomime, but done so
WILDLY that the youngest child in the audi
ence knew what was happening and held
his breath with suspense when that
naughty Knave OF Hearts stole the tarts
and was discovered and no one could tell
for a minute what vengeance the angry
King might take. Before the pantomime
began. and I'm between the songs and play
lets that followed. there was music by the
Children's Orchestra. led by Miss Wagner.
All tho orchestra. from the little curly
haired girl who played the smallest violin
10 the leader, were dressed in snow white
Greciaa robes.
The programme ended with old Pipes
and the Dryad." a two act play 10y Grace
Fisher, adapted from Frank X. Stockton 4
story Of the same name. The SIX little
echo elves ia this play--the youngest
only seven simply brought down the house
when they danced with their little legs
tWiukllng In their little tights amid their
nlmy drapcrios.
Very little rehearsing. the stage man
ager. Niles Fisher. said had been done-not
more than two weeks in all-yet all the
child actors spoke their lines with clear
ness many elder actors might well initiate
and went through their parts With the joy
Gus abandon % perfect unconSciousness.
Among The patrons ana patronesses were
Mrs. John Henry Hammond, MS Henry
Willard. Mrs Kate Douglas Wiggiu. Charles
Ram Kennedy, Franklin II. Sargent, Mrs.
Henry Sloane CONN. Miss Annie Russell,
Otis Skinner. Miss Edith Wynnc Matthlson,
MR. william Churchill dc Mile and Mira.
Luther Halsey Quick.