Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-12
NEW HOUSE Of PLAY
WILL AID CHILDREN
Workers of Neighborhood Set
tIement and Drama
League Start 1t.
PUBLIC ASKED TO DONATE
COSTUMES AND OTHER AID
Recent Fourth Of July Pageant In
spires Movement Which Results in
Permanent Headquarters.

new enterprise for the benefit Of the
children Of Washington is being initiated
| by the Washington Center of the Drama
League In the form of special kind of
social recreation center, primarily for
children's plays and dramatic festivals.
THE House of Play" Is is to be called,
and its auditorium, seating 400 people.
will be available to any children in the
city who wish to organize under Drama
League supervision and hold their enter
tainments there. The building is located
at 1873 M street southwest. The opening
date will probably be the last week in
September.
An announcement being sent out in con-
| nection with the movement is called "A
Few Might for Mites" Some Of these
| nights" are:
"You might some time act as host or
hostess to a group of children who could
| not otherwise attend.
Help to make costumes. Dressmaking
for an elf or fairy is vastly more inter-
| esting than ordinary sewing.
TYPE letters and address envelopes.
This Is a great need.
Adapt or write play for children or
for grown-ups.
play the piano and act as accompa-
mist.
Lend US charming things that you may
have tucked away in your cellar or gar
ret, for we will need furniture, hangings,
mirrors, etc, and we can use masquerade
costumes and cotillon favors too.
Paint scenery.
"G've us slips of shrubs and vines to
beautify our garden.
You might give us money.
you might help us in any of the host
Of ways we have not mentioned that you
may think of. and please let us know
just what you can do"
Inspired by Recent Pageant.
The undertaking is the special work of
the junior department of the Drama
League. of which J. P. s. Neigh is chair
man, and which is dedicatedSto the prin-
ciple Of recreational education. The pa
geant on the Fourth of July, illustrating
forcibly the opportunities for citywide
work in such direction, inspired the ef-
fort which has resulted in these perma-
nent headquarters for the movement
The building, which is to be THE House
Of Play Is old Faith Chapel, at 493 NJ
street southwest, which was recently
leased by Neighborhood House Settlement
for an extension of It's activities in the
way Of lectures, plays, concerts and social
gatherings of various sorts, for which its
present quarters are now too small. 1t
had long history OF usefulness as
center for social and institutional work
under the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, of which it was a branch, but
for the past three years has stood empty
and unused.
A solid, commodious brick structure,
with three rooms besides the auditorium
and the space for the children's perform
ances. it offers excellent possibilities for
the new recreation center, and with its
dust and cobwebs removed and few
bits OF decoration of simple character, its
appearance is fast becoming most invit-
ing. cne room near the door will be used
as an office and library. another as the
children's sitting room and a large bal
cony will be a wardrobe and studio-work-
shop.
The wardrobe already contains all the
costumes provided for the children and
grown-ups who took part in the Fourth
Of July pageant. and will be increased
continuously.
Some Funds Already Obtained.
Funds for the actual start of the
work have been generously subscribed
by the numerous friends of the chill
dren's recreation movement largely in
cash. but also in open accounts by the
merchants OF tho city who deal IN the
articles or can furnish the services re-
quired to renovate the building and
furnish 1t. The public is asked TO SUBJ
scribe funds and articles to continue
the work
The Drama League workers most
actively concerned with the undertake
ing are ]. p. S. Neigh, chairman Of
the junior department Of the WASH
ington Center of the Drama League;
Mrs. Glenna Smith Tinnin. director of
junior plays for 1.-THE House of Play;
Mrs. Gibson Gardner. chairman of the
executive committee. which includes
Mrs. J. p S. Neigh and David S. Tinntn
as finance manager.
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