davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
STAGE CHILDREN HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE SCHOOL

House." comes every day now, but Boots McVinc
hasn't been to school for months, because she's
on the road with Daddy Long Legs" or course
that's the idea of the school-one where the
children can 90 when they can; something not
permitted under the regular public school system
Let no one get the idea that, with all the ro-
nance attached to this school, there is anything
oe a make believe character about the Rehearsal
Club School. It's curriculum has been approved
by the Board of Education, for instance, and an
arrangement has been made so that the question
Of attendance comes under the truancy rules. SO
that there is a possibility of some manager some
of these fine days finding that his show will have
to be closed because the "child in the play" is in
the truancy school. This contingency, judging by
the records of attendance in the school, will
never eventuate in reality.
The principal of the school is Ruth L. Smith
graduate of the University of California and the
Teachers College Of New York City. Miss Smith
teaches the children in the grammar grades. Miss
Mary Bond teaches the primary grades.
The course includes, Notwithstanding the small
teaching staff the regular work of the elementary
pLblic school Much individual instruction is
given and much of the work is based on the need
O. the child in its professional work. One of the
interesting principles underlying the foundation is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
d BORROWED PROSPERITY AND
THE BOWERY.

supervision OF the Rev. David II. Greer Bishop Of
New York. That is why Bishop Greer is the
advisory board Of the school and one of its chief
sponsors.
Miss Hall has been interested in stage folk and
their welfare, and has given her time as deacon
ess to it for a long time. That's another story
But it was her work in the Three Arts Club and
her founding of the Rehearsal Club, that by
sort Of evolution resulted in the establishment Of
the school That's how the church got into it.
It didn't take long for the stage children to get
into it. There are thirty-eight boys and girls
enrolled numbering some Of the favorites, and
what is best, some of the kiddies Of the rank and
file, who don't get featured, who need it most
Among the eminent pupils getting around
the corner at 10 o'clock, when they can, and later
II the play has kept them up late, is Stephen
Davis, who played so long, to the delight Of
thousands with Francis Wilson in "The Bache
lors Baby" Stephen isn't playing just now, so
he gets to school very promptly. Juliet Shelby
gets to school only about every week now,
because she's playing in a stock that's playing
in nearby towns Sometimes she is enough
to come in to school All stage lovers know
Juliet, who played for a long time with Dustin
Farnum in "The Littlest Rebel" Madeline Rey
nolds, who was Cynthia in "Racketty Packetty
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

~ OWN in the famous old MeAuley Water
Street Mission where many rum
soaked derelct has sought shelter
from the cold and consolation in the
sympathy Of those who were in a position to un-
5erstand him, Ted Mercer came to the eoneln-
sion that he was at the brink of the elih.
was one step 20 go over, and many weary miles
of fighting to 90 back,
Fifteen years before he had left his home IN
savannah. Ca. to enter the University Of Nir-
riuia. Back Of him he had family that Tor
generations had played prominent part in the
history Of the United States. he had money
and social prestige and personality that ~
stantly brought him into popularity at the uni
versity. But when he drifted into the MeAuleE
Mission he was homeless and penniless HIS
last "jitney" had been spent in a Bowery saloon
There. for the first time, he became really
conscious of what he had made of himself. Seized
with a desperate desire to change his ways, he
began the long fight to regain his footing, He
conquered. and the world will probably be bene-
6ted more by the fact that he went down ana
came M than if he had ALWAYS remained up.
, WELCOME VISITOR IN THE UNIVERSITIES
OF THE EAST.
Each year Mr.. Mercer talks TO 10000 college
men on the subject Of morals. He is welcomed at
every large college in the East by men who nave
reached the SUBMITS in the educational world
and who vet realize their own inability to reach
the hearts Of reckless college boys He talks to
them as a man and gentleman-as one VINO
has been through the mill and who knows by
experience what he is talking about. The edltor
Of one college paper expressed his thoughts on
the occasion of q visit from Mr.. Mercer by say
inc: s8Ir Mercer took long trip down the
,,~;,,rosa natb and found that il was lined with
poison ivy on both sides Now he has come back
20 tell us what may expect II we venture
TOO far"
And if ever a man who has survived lie OF
the worst kind of dissipation does know what he
is talking about it is Mr. Mercer. When he lett
mis- home in Savannah he had every advantage
that young man can have. At the University Oh
Virginia he became a leader in the social and
athletic life. He joined one Of the largest ma
tional fraternities and was honored by member
ship in two social clubs and the senior society
But the hearty good fellowship Of college life
proved too much for him. As his popularity in
creased he became more and more Of figure at
the student drinking resorts near the college.
The habit grew upon him, and in the excess OF
youthful spirits he turned his hand to gambling
Like many another college man he intended to
swear off his bad habits when he left college
But when it came time to swear off he found that
the habits he had contracted amounted to more
I'm his life than he anticipated. To live without
excuses was dull and uninteresting.
After graduation Mercer returned to his home
and soon became a leader in the social life Of
Savannah The habits of his college days be-
came stronger and the mild pleasures of society
became less able 70 satisfy his desire for excite
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

contained in the following statement from the
schools charter ats founders believe in the
right Of the child to be on the stage, provided 1t
has proper instruction The aim of the school IS
to provide this instruction in connection with the
professional work of the child"
The children in the primary grades study read
irg literature and language (incuding drilling in
reproduction of stories and memorizing OF chill
drens poems), phoncs spelling, arithmetic
nature study, geography, writing, music and
dancing. In the grammar grades they study read
ing, literature, grammar, composition, arithmetic,
spelling writing, geography, history French
music and dancing
Music is taught by Mrs. Thomas S. MeLane,
one of the patronesses of the school. Miss Cor
nelia Landon teaches French and the dancing
classes are conducted by Gwendoen Condor and
Ruth Cramer
The story of the growth of the school idea and
its relation to the Rehearsal Club makes the
school seem all the more curious and unique At
the bottom of it all is Miss Halls interest in the
struggling women Of the stage both young and
old That was the object in founding the Re
hearsal Club-to provide good, substantial food
to women and children in the theatrical profess
sion at moderate prices and to provide for its
members attractive rest and clubrooms and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

ment. Gradually he took up with more worldly
crowd. A year or so brought social ostracsm'
and his family in despai emit the young man to
Wilmington, Del, where was given place as
a clerk in the Du Pont Powder Company
Things went fairly well for a short time and
then Mercer began to exhibit his old traits once
more One day he was called into the office OF
W. A. Layfield and told that the company would
dispense with his services. His plea to be al
lowed to remain until the end Of the month so
that he might resign was not successful.
81 won't have you around here fifteen minutes
longer" Mr.. Layield told him. "You are bad
example for the other clerks"
1t is an odd fact that the two men met four
teen wears later on a Pullman car bound for the
West MIR. Layfeld, now connected with the
Atlas Powder Company, recognized Mr., Mercer
Instantly, and the interview that took place be-
tween them was vastly different from the one IN
the Du Pont cOmpany's Offices,
Owe heard of your wonderful work, Mr.. Mer-
GER" ne said land l want to congratulate YOU
Nv son is going to Princeton next fall, and dur
ing the summer I'm going to send him up to New
York to have talk with you. Give it to him
straight from the shoulder"
THE TWO DEBAUCHEES GOING THE PACE
IN PHILADELPHIA.
From Wilmington Mercer went to Harrisburg
and then to Philadelphia There his money gave
out and he drifted about until he ran into an
other college man from Savannah, who was in
much the same fix. Both of them were going the
route and both Of them were on their uppers
The spree there lasted as long as they could inn
pose on former friends to provide them with
money and then they parted The other man
later committed suicide while drunk,
Mercer then went to Trenton ~ j.. where lie
found life without working was equally hard
Trenton is in Mercer County, named after his
great-grandfather, General Hugh Mercer, who was
killed there in the Battle of Princeton. People
laughed when he told them that he was the de-
scendant of General Mercer, and he was refused
even job as a common laborer.
While he was loafng about the streets he ran
into an old friend, who scarcely recognized The
debonair youth Of few years previous. This
friend gave him So on condition that he would
60 to New York and try to make another star.
Mercer took the IS thankfully and in return gaze
many promises-but the money went over Tren-
ton bars for more cheap whiskey.
FRIENDS AND BORROWED PROSPERITY AND
THE BOWERY.
Finally, however he did make his way to New
York Here he found a host Of friends who will
ingly staked him to enough money to make him
self presentable Borrowed prosperity went well
enough for q time, but as he showed no signs Of
doing anything but keeping up the drain on his
friends pocketbooks he was soon dropped, and
once again he was confronted with the problem
of shifting for himself The fusil oil they cal
whiskey on the Bowery sells for five cents glass
and naturally Mercer gravitated to the section
where he could get it for the least money.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28


20 that other monument dear to the hearts Of all
the theatrical profession, the Little Church
Around the Corner" in Goth st. This school is
at 22O West l6th st. It's little-almost hidden
away, in faet-but it has big features and bigger
possibilities. To appreciate what it is to the
theatrical profession you must first understand
that for years one of the great problems OF
those interested in stage children was the ques
ton Of where to send them to school, and. second,
YOU must become acquainted with the woman to
whom il was left to solve this problem, and who
on January 5 of the present year established The
Rehearsal Club Professional Children's School
There is an interesting parallel in the work of
Che two Houghtons, at the Little Church Around
the Corner, and that Of Jane II. Hall, who de-
serves TO be known the founder OF the first
school for stage children-a regular school, that
one associates with the shining morning face and
I'm which the three RS learned, but which
takes into account late hours when the pupil IS
playing, as we'll as the road engagements. Jane
H. Hall is the diocesan ceaconess of the Episco-
pal Church, that is, she is directly under the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

matte meeting in which Mercer was taken back
by his father.
Mercer finally began to devote his time almost
exclusively to working with the college men he
found among the down-and-outers His effective
ness in reaching this class was so pronounced
that his work came TO the attention of men who
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
E. c. Mercer

organized committee to carry it still further
As a result he was given opportunity to speak
before the undergraduates at several universities.
Here his success was instantaneous. He met the
men in such way that he gained their respect
and confidence, and drove home what he had to
say because the men felt that they were dealing
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
APPEALS FROM HUNDREDS OF MEN WHO
ARE IN TROUBLE.

Not few Of those who finally come 20 me be-
cause they are in trouble are the very cnes who
felt sure that | was exaggerating when they
heard me talk at their university" says MIR. Mer-
GER They frank in admitting il and ac-
knowedging that they were wrong
Helping college men is my business, and
want them to come to me when they are IN
trouble If they would only come the instant
trouble starts it would often be much easier for
me to help them and get things Strengthened out
They can always get in touch with me at l24 East
18th ST., New York City, and want them TO 10 II
when they need friend.
Colleges are getting much better morally
every year and comparison of the conditions
row with those of ten years ago is astounding.
! think that it is due not little to the demand
IN the business world for efficiency, because you
can't have efficiency Of the best type when you
drink and dissipate"
In the last few years many men Of national
reputation have become interested in Mr.. Mer-
GERS work. Among them are John r. Mott, Will
lam j. Schieffelin, Cleveland Dodge, Robert T..
Speer, Stephen Baker, Alfred E. Morning and
William Sloane. All of these have publicly pro-
claimed him as a man who is doing a highly
important and necessary work. On the commit
tee that manages the business end Of the WORK
is Francis 3. ssyre, the sen.in-lav " PFesidsns
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

limited number of bedrooms. 1t when the
children began to come that the idea of starting
a school came into Miss Halls mind, although
the need of such an institution familiar
idea.
At this point another woman is brought into
the story. After Miss Hall outlined her project
in behalf of the stage kiddies, Thomas S. Nc
Lane, the treasurer of the club, found a woman
of means who has thus far paid all the expenses
. Of conducting the school.
The benefaction is an anonymous Miss
Hall herself does not know the benefactor's name.
As the school is part Of the club, the officers of
the latter compose in effect the school board The
president is Miss Jean Greer, the daughter O.
Bishop Greer. Miss Hall is secretary and dea-
in charge On the advisory board are
Bishop Greer, the Rev. Ernest NJ Stres, rector
of St. Thomas's Church; William Dean Embree,
George B. Hedges and DR.. William s. Thomas.
The directors are as follows: Miss Susan d.
Bliss, Mrs. Ira Davenport. Mrs Henry r. Hoyt,
Miss Rosna s. Hoyt Miss Edith NJ Kohlsaat Mrs.
Thomas S. McLane, Mrs Richard Mansfield, Mrs.
John J. Riker, Mrs Frances LeB. Robbins, Miss
Mary Russell, Miss Grace Scoville, Mrs William
Sloane, Mrs. Alice NJ. Smith, Mrs Breck P Trow-
bridge, Mrs. James NJ. Varnum and Mrs. Willard
d. Straight
FRANCIS WILSON TURNS TEACHER TO THE
STAGE CHILD.
Adult members of the profession are taking the
keenest interest in the Rehearsal Clubs undertake
ing. Francis Wilson, whose reputation for inter
est in the education of stage children is nearly
as great as his an actor, is one of is
heartiest supporters. Wilson has made it a rule,
and children who have played with him know only
too well how he adhered to IT, to spend an hour
before every performance in hearing the chds
lessons.
Commenting on Miss Halls interest in children
OF the stage, and of Francis Wilson's also, a
well known actor said recently; at was not
every chds lot to play with man like Wilson,
VINO always insisted that a child study while on
the road. And there is doubt that there was
a great problem solved when Miss Hall backed
up by Bishop Greer and her friends in the
church. started this school. The question Of
schooling for these children who play was a
problem even to those parents who were care
ful to see that the children were aught nv pri
vate teachers. But that in itself is a nroblem
1t is true, as Miss Hall found with some of the
children who came to the clubs rooms before the
school was started, that they were not being
taught at all TIE question of the chid's educa-
ton has been one OF the chief weapons of those
who oppose children on the stage: but the Re.
hearsal Club disarms these opponents u does
it emphatieally IN its principle that ( IS Tie right
OF che child to be on the stage-aa interesting
attitude Tor church warkars -
attitude for church workers."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
SCATTERING DELIGHTFUL ILLUSIONS SUR.
ROUNDING VICE.

It is dramatic recital of the reasons why i'm
morality does not pay, delivered in such a way
that most of the delightful illusions that sur
round vice hang tsttered when he is through. He
punctuates his remarks with the statements Of
the highest medical authorities and with letters
he has received from men who are in trouble.
There is nothing abstract or indefinite abOnt It.
He drives home the fact that these men who
had thrown aside the gifts of the gods to sink
until they landed in the gutter were nothing but
reckless, whole-hearted college boys few years
previously. Then follows the story of his own
life until he stepped into the Water Street Mis-,
sion and began over again. Without losing an
atom of the respect he has so far INSPIRED, he tells
of each downward step he took. He ends by say
ing: 81 have desire to be called perfect l
am only better than l was"
When he has finished his talk every man pres
ent has begun to think and think seriously
weighing vice against decency in a way he has
never been able to do before. And college
boy isn't such are-brained creature that he
cannot reach a sensible conclusion if you can get
him to thinking.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
N&~@A@

with one who knew whereof he spoke.
The average boy in college is strange and
wary animal His disrespect for the man who
has seized upon vague, abstract theories Of life is
proverbal But in Mr.. Mercer they feel that
they are confronted by man who knows the
truth of what he is telling them because he has
experienced it. You can expound the most solemn
truths in the world to a college boy, but you
cannot make him believe you unless you can win
his respect-and they do respect Mr.. Mercer.
There is no canting or SNUG hypocrisy when he
faces crowd of college boys. He does not
theorize or rant-nOr does he open his talk with
prayer.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

. HERE'S a little school around the corner
from Broadway at 46th st, that is in its
way quite as typical of the interest that
church folk sometimes take in stage folk
Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-05-19
TOLL OF DEADLY SHEEP TICK
Animate Infested With Parasites. Yield
Poor Wool and Are Difnoult
TO Fatten.

II is more than futile to worry over
the competition OF sheep from South
American pastures II we permit, un'
needed. competitors to draw the life
blood from hocks. Thousands OF
fiocks in the United States are being
preyed upon by ticks. Since scab has
been eradicated from some states
some men have relaxed their efforts
and ceased to dip their sheep. Sheep
infested with ticks yield poor wool
and are difiicult or impossible to
fatten. There is no excuse for ticks
on a sheep farm. Two thorough dip.
pings at intervals OF ten days or two
weeks will XIII them; afterward II IL
only necessary carefully TO dip any
sheep that may DO bought before II IL
put with the flock. and the flock wills
remain clean. Many an America
Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-05-19
MAINTENANCE OF DIRT ROAD
Great Care Should BE Taken to Work
Out an Efficient System Of Drain
age for Highways

CBy JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, North Car
olna State Geologist)
The dirt road is more susceptible to
damage by water than, Of course, any
of the specially surfaced roads; there
fore, great care should be taken to
work out an efficient system of drain
age for the road. Water must be kept
away from the road, and the rain
which falls on the road must be per
mitted to run off as rapidly as pos
sible, and by very easy grade. 1t
must not only be taken off the surface
of the road as rapidly as possible, but
also out of the side bitches. Care
should be taken that these side bitches
are not too steep, and that every OPP
portunity is seized for turning the
water out Of the bitches into the ad-
joining fields
Many of our country roads are bad
because in their construction no ar
rangement was made for taking care
of the water, and thus they are very
muddy and filled with ruts and holes.
Instead of the middle of the road be-
ing higher than the edges, so that the
water can readily run off on each side,
many of them are fat, or even con
cave, with the center of the road the
lowest point. If the road has been
constructed so that it is well crowned,
with the slope about one in twenty
from the center of the road to the side
bitches, and these bitches have been
graded so as to readily take care of
the water, and yet not steep enough
to cause them to cut deep gullies on
the side of the road, and If the water
is taken from these bitches at every
available point so as to prevent seep-
age of water under the surface of the
road, there should be little difficulty
in keeping the road in good condition,
| Very often it is necessary to carry the
| water from one side of the road to the
/ other; and when this is necessary, il
should be done by means Of eithel
concrete, metal or terra Gotta culverti
or pipes which will carry the watel
under the surface of the road. Afte
the system of drainage has been in
stalled, provision should be made Il
keep it up, so that the drains and the
culverts will not become stopped up.
The surface of a dirt road should be
kept of dirt, and whenever any holes
| or ruts have developed in the road
they should not be filled up with stone
or brush, but with dirt, and with dirt
as nearly as possible of the same char
acter as the dirt composing the sur
| face of the balance of the road. If, on
the other hand, holes or ruts are filled
with rock, gravel or brush, the wear
| ing effect will be uneven, and the
wheels will begin to scoop out holes
1 Just beyond or on the opposite side OF
the road from the hole filled up. II
there are stumps or rocks in the road
they should all be removed, so that the
dirt surface can be smoOthed over and
brought to an even slope from the cen
ter to the bitches. After the road has
been well constructed and the right
slope and surface obtained, it can be
kept in this condition very readily by
judicious application Of the split-log OF
King drag.