The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-08-26

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reelected president; Miss Ada Havill.
secretary; T. f. Bolander correspond
ing secretary; S. G. Smith vice presl-
dent Following the business meet.
ing Mrs B. l.. Wallace rendered two
| very pleasing vocal selections ana
| Prof. Bellingham also sang.
| The committee on resolutions com
| posed Of A. ID. Wells, A. f. Dantzer
and Miss Ella Rhodes, reported on
the resolutions, which were adopted
| by the institute. A special resolution
| made in regard TO certain rules OF
conduct In correction with tee insti
tute, was offered by the committee,
but was rejected by the institute.
Prof Pearson was next introduced,
| who spoke on the subject "The
| Drama" Prof Pearson began his
address by thanking the members OF
the institute for their courtesy and
kindness to lhim and assured them
that this weeks program would al
ways remain bright spot In his
memory Of Marion.
The drama" he said, lis peculiarly
an art for the people. 1t is capable
of summing up the conflicts and aspi-
rations of a whole race. II fore
shadows the future and renews the
past. The drama had its origin in
the hearts of the people. IL then eX-
erted a refining influence. The drama
Is the elemental part of mankind. II
expresses mans passionate joy of life.
1t Is a power in the social and civic
life of any country, and is maker
of social ideals.
There are tw ofacts which l want
to bring to you today. The theater Is
here. 1t Is not an abstract thing
which we have to deal with. 1t is a
condition. l repeat, the theater Is
here. Some people hold up their
hands at the word theater. and run
away. But. the majority of the people
run to 1t instead of away from II.
They don't ask what's there. They
just GO Just the same as we go to
the dinner-table We don't stop 10
ask what is there, we go. That is one
fact The theater Is here. Now,
what are we going to do about Il? As
teachers and parents we must remem-
ber that the theater Is the most pow
erful factor for good or evil acord-
ing to whatsis there AT the theater
we are IN the most susceptible mood.
There is the Emusic, the light, the
people are wen dressed and happy
we are getting away from the hum
drum realities of life, and-there is
the curtain. This curtain eXerts "a
magical influence Behind 1t lies
fairyland. When II rolls slowly up
| II reveals a scene that may not be
unlike our own home or town, but,
the atmosphere is different. The peo-
Pile who come from behind the scenes
speak differently. act differently. they
| all are clothed in the magical robe
| of romance. The speeches. costumes,
| settings, all are arranged to throw
a glamour of unreallty over the scene.
We are in our most susceptible mood.
We hear all over the country today
plea for good literature. The same
plea is coming 10 be made for the
| theater. Some people find their recre.
| ation IN books. and can sit for hours
deep In the works OF some good auth
ore But, there are many who cam
not enjoy reading. There are thou
sands who must turn to the theater
as their source of amusement. Now,
Il is Just as desirable that they go to
"A good theater as that they should
L
we going to do about IL? First of all,
we must see that good plays are put
on think we should encourage
| amateur plays. Good plays. | don't
| mean by that, SOLEMN serious plays
Put on a good farce, a good comedy.
| But what are we going to do with
| the plays that are not clean? We can
boycott them. Just stay away from
them and don't say anything about
them, and when you do hear Of a good
play, talk II up. We need an awak-
ened public that will only go to APP
proved plays" Prof. Pearson closed
his address by repeating '"The Bells"
by Edgar Allen Poe.
Following the recess, Prof. McMur-
ry appeared for the last time and
spoke on the subject, "The place OF
Manual Arts in the SCHOOL," He said
In part:
"The industrial world OF today has
gotten into the school. Now we have
the cooking school the dramatic the
trade learning department. thA gym
nasium and many other departments
which were unknown to the school
room when / was a school boy. Now
we combine the study room with the
play room, the physical development
with the metnal development. With
the introduction into the school of in
dustrial and home activities, We com
plete the circle of action in the
school" Prof McMurry then spoke
of the impulse for physical activity
inherent in children. "The INTRODUCES
tion of al these industrial and social
activities into the school, satisfies
this" he declared. The speaker then
mentioned the combination of art and
Industry. Those nations are leading
today whose products of Industry are
combined with art" was his state
ment.
IN one can accomplish much In the
Industrial world, who is not first
thinker. Those studies develop the
thought power and the inventive gem
ius Of the child" The world is grad
ually growing more beautiful. Every
article In common use today Is being