Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-01

put on a play that he does not think
will attract her patronage.
Robbed of its rhetoric, the differ
ence between the old drama and the
new is woman and it is not too much
to say that she will be held responsible
for the drama of tomorrow"
Miss Nethersole has been for years
a close student of sociological condf-
tions, during which she has gradually
developed from an individualist into
one to whom the needs of humanity
as a unit are paramount, and it is be-
cause her whole heart goes out after
| those who perish body and soul in pow
erty, degradation and squalor and
because she wished to contribute to the
American stage one great, purposeful
play before she left it that she sought
out a dramatist and bade him prepare
'"fhe Writing on the Wall"
1t was while collecting material for
this great play that Miss Nethersole
completed her education as a humani-
tartan, and it is because she knows
intimately the pitiful heart breaking
truth of the conditions which she has
tried to portray, that she is preaching
TO the world prevention instead of re-
form of all varieties of crime and dis
ease.
She declares that it is only circum-
stance and a misrepresentation of val
ues, only the accident of heredity, birth
and proper environment that makes
possible the woman of the under
world 1t is because men and women
are overworked, underpaid and under
fed that they steal. Congestion and
insanitary conditions in tenements,
oVercrowding in factories and mines,
lead directly to physical and moral de-
generacy. While entirely apart from
! the sentimental or ethical sides of the
question, there is a tremendous eco
nomic waste resulting from the pres
+ ent attitude toward the poorer classes
of those more fortunately placed.
Millions are spent yearly by the state
for the punishment of crime, and mil
lions more for the cure of disease
which, according to the Nethersole
doctrine would accomplish far more if
expended in preventive methods, and
this she is hoping to aid in bringing
about by her lectures and her play.
Following the program Miss Neither
sole was guest of the club at luncheon.
| A delightful feature of the occasion
was a program of Christmas carols
given by young women from the vested
choir of Christ church.
| Little folders announcing the jan
uary program Of the Friday Morning
club bear on one side the following;
ITO our dear Madam Severance on
her ninetieth birthday, greeting and
good wishes and birthday luncheon
! in honor of Madam Severance will be
given by the club the day Of the Sec
/ ond meeting of the month.
| The announcement in full follows:
! January 1.-THE Dawn of Optimism"
Rt. Rev. Margaret c. LAGRANGE of
! Michigan.
January 12-Meeting of the book
| committee, 2:90 p. m; club members
only. Continuation of discussion OF
l.Galsworthy's books. "The Island Phar-
/ isee' and "A Commentary" will be con-
! sidered.
January 14-"The Great Political
Crisis in Great Britain" Mr.. Cyril II.
/ Bretherton, NJ. A. b. c. L. (OXon).
Birthday luncheon in honor of Madam
| Caroline Severance.
| January 21-"The Delinquent Child"
DR.. Walter Lindley, president board
of trustees of the Whittier State
| school.
! January 26-Meeting of the dramatic
| committee, p. m; club members only.
| 1.-The Play Boy of the Western World"
| by John Syhge Mrs. ]. S. Valley;
Riders to The Sea- Mrs. Wells Smith.
| January 2S-"A Learned Lady in tho
Eighteenth Century" Myra Reynolds,
! Phi. D., associate professor of English
] literature University of Chicago.