The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-22

the lecture presented by Mrs. Leonard T. Beecher on the work of the Dramatic league. Of all the excellent addresses which the women of Birmingham have had from this woman, who is as gen. erous to her townsfolk as she is artis- tic, this was the most practical, and will undoubtedly be most far reaching in It's effect. She dissected and an alyzed the modern theatrical produc- tion in a way which would be possible to only one of her exquisite insight, her dramatic training and the beauti- fully spiritual trend of her mind. Her hearers filled the auditorium of the parish house, Church of the Advent, into which were brought many addi- tional chairs. and were kept spell bound as they followed the thread Of her discourse. and watched her, a graceful picture, as she stood on the little green platform gowned in ont of her artistic costumes of filmy WIS., taria stuffs, about her shoulders a scarf-no one could manage one so gracefully-of dark marabout, and with a big, sweeping black hat on her graceful head. She was altogether lovely and the number of her admirers among the cultured women of Bir- mingham is enlarged again by her un- selfish act of yesterday afternoon.
 It is impossible to quote Mrs. Beech CTS lecture in it's entirety, but extracts from her explanation of the meaning of the Drama league are noted here with the suggestion that her illustra- tions, interpolated from time to time as some beautiful and poetic bit OF imagery occurred to her, showed as she always does, her sunny optimism and ability to find g. beautiful truth even when wandering in little uheA- nected wayside places. Of the Drama league she said in part:
 nrhe drama.s laws the dramas patrons
 give,
 And we who live to please, must please
 to 1ive'
 That familiar couplet embodies the idea for which the Drama League of America stands The league was organized in Chi- cago in March of last year, and the ias' statistics I have record affiliations Tn z1 states and a membership of 15OO0 These statistics may belong to ancient history now. SO rapid is the growth of the league. believe that does not include the f'rl- day club of Los Angeles that joined Tn body recently. The club numbers l2V rep resentative women. of Los Angeles ana Pasadena, a very influential organization with a beautifvl clubhouse of its own.
 The Drama league grew out of the en- thusiasm of one beautiful spirit, Mrs. Harrison B. Riley, of Evanston, who gathered about her in her home group of congenial women to read and discuss piays. The work was attractive. The group widened and soon outgrew Mrs. Riley's little home and the result IS the Evanston Drama club. which met nere and there in the smaller assembly rooms of Evanston. In addition to dennite ana delightful course of study the club pro- vided for its members lectures and read ings by eminent critics and artists. Among these mentioned with enthus- iasm is recorded recital by our own dear Lucine Finch, the incomparable Lucine Finch, as James O'Donnell Bennett calls her.
 The Drama club was soon besieged with inouiries from the other clubs asking how the delightful offering was managed, wanting information as to the courses of study. etc. It demonstrated to these women how general is the interest in the drama and a national organization was the logical outcome. MT. Bennett is au- thority for the assertion that mo move ment in behalf of purely literary and artistic cause, unaided by governmental subvention or indorsement, ever made progress at once so rapid and so solid"
 The president, Mrs. A. Starr Best of Evanston, in her inaugural address states the objects of the league.
 1. To stimulate an interest in the best drama and to awaken the public to the importance of the theatre as a social force and to its great educative value if main tained on the high level of art and morals. 4ste ss 4'.-
 g. To harmonize and unite forces all ready existing for making this move ment nationwide.
 8. To coordinate the work of all asso- citations and individuals interested in educating the public to appreciate and demand the best drama.
 We feel that this may be accomplished in three ways First. by encouraging the reading and study of drama outside the theatre. The main effort of the league will be devoted to the educational side of the work. We will endeayor to create clubs and circles, and departments of all ready existing clubs, for the serious study