Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-28

I
ed the scores of ladies, Thursday morn
ihS' "hen they arrived at the ]. Man
! chester Haynes estate coming to the
! lecture by Miss Marie Ware Laughton
! # Roston, al 10 A. M,
| Inc great park and pond wore an
ermine cloak of snow and ice and the
white blrches and hemlocks, elms and
! pines We're transformed by the freez-
| ing mist into forest of silver. through
| which the red berries Of the big bar-
berry bushes at the main entrance
cheerily CLEANED.
| The spacious and artistic halls and
rooms of the mansion We're soon we'll
1l!Ied with the assemblage of Augusta
| women, for only one or two men had
| the pleasure of being there. Mrs. HAYNES
| gracefully and cordially welcomed all
ana her maid was busy aiding their
| reception at her splendid home.
The lecture was given in the music
| room. which with library adjoining
was filled with the ladies and many
others We're seated in the hall
| Miss Laughton entered a few mo-
lnents past the hour ard was radiant
in stylish costume of blue and white
/ " 10 7tii1il AIil rom WHICH SD1an2 an
| aiferette plume of red
1T was courageous of you to come
out on such a spring morning. was her
| CHEEKY greeting with the accent on the
spring
Without formality she entered at
| once upon her lecture-talk, which was
| about the Drama League of America"
| The Drama League of America was
| the outgroWth Of the Drama Club Of
| Evanston, composed of a little group
| of women Of that city, who met for Is
| Years informally to discuss the drama
and who periodically attended the
| theater in a group in support of the
| best plays. In 1910 the idea of a ma
tioir-Widc league of similar clubs was
crystaliZCd into the American Drama
League which has made wonderful pro-
grtss and has become a competent ma
| tional body with precisely the purpose
of the little Evanston group-to APP
prove the best and ignore the worst of
PLAYS upon tho stage. Interest in the
movement is keen throughout the West
and Middle West. The idea has been
presented to Chautauques and teachers
Institutes, 1t has become popular in
many colleges. notably in Harvard ana
has now representatives in IS states
and membership OF $4,000 1t has 215
clubs and Il universities and colleges
belonging to the league and paying
dues It's bulletins in Chicago Of worthy
plays are issued to $500. And its power
for good is acknowledged by managers
who testify to the appreciate influence
exerted by these bulletins. Within As
hours from the mailing of these bulle-
tins their effect is noticed at box Of
fices of the Chicago theaters.
"Americans SAID Miss Laughton,
have been awakened into a study of
the drama because, of thsir discovery of
its great educational force. Since the
plays are educational they should be for
the young.
1T is natural for the young to imi-
tate, to act If they read only Indian
story books, they will act as Indians If
they see good plays at the theatre, they
will be influenced by the best characters
of the play Children are by nature act
ors Geo. p. Baker of Harvard recog-
nizes the educational value of the drama
and has had his students produce such
plays as Sheldon's Niger" and Saliva
ton Nell.
The Aldine methods in the schools are
just stories in dramatic form.
The Pink Lady is all we'll enough as
musical play, but we would not always
go to see Pink Ladies.
THE idea of educational drama started
by women should be enlarged by women.
THE greatest force in all the world,
said Miss Laughton, lis woman in the
home Wifehood and motherhood is the
greatest profession for women.
1.-THE purpose of the Drama League is
to crowd out vicious plays, h,lling by
non-support and encourage good plays.
1t is impossible to select unless we know.
Hence the need of study and the value
of this league
After dwelling upon the characteristics
of various kinds of plays, Miss Laugh
ton declared that the music drama, re-
turn to the Greek play without its cho-
rus, is the art work of the future in
the drama. THE un-lterary drama is
not lasting" she said Some we'll writ
ten plays may be bad and some badly
written, good she claimed.
in settlement work the educational
force of the drama is becoming recog-
HlHeu anu SpuHS ioihS dit pSiH6 tduSht
to put on plays themselves The moving
picture films also are important and
these are being looked after nowadays
by the Drama League.
In the drama there is a tendency to
treat the questions of the day and eradi-
cate much of romance
Miss Laughton gave prettily worded
sketches of the little theatres of Boston
and New York where good acting is be-
ing done and approved. She referred to
the dramatic renaissance in France,
England and Ireland in which last nam
ed country, in Dublin, Irish plays, Illus
irAting Irish charnctel. arn riNnn Hnrn