Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-14
FOOTLIGHTS ON THE FARM

farmer who can drive to the town hall almost night
in the week and indulge his dramatic tastes to the
fullest. Not only that, but he become an actor
himself playing anything he pleases from the nero to
a member of the Roman populace He write play
and direct staging paint his and super
wise Its building Even when he is merely spectator
he has a certain pride and of ownership in the
drama which is never enjoyed by the most faithful
metropolitan first-nighter.
Much of the monotony rural life, has been dis
PEELED by simple expedient the amateur theatre
cal. The town hall, which years in only
for church socables and occasional performance OF
Uncle Toms Cabin by nondescrtpt road company
has into its 1t is center of social activity
Here the families of the surrounding farms join
in the production of plays pantommes often writ
ten and staged by themselves.
The popular idea of the farmer is that of a
jovial individual who motors the latest comic
His house is lighted with electricity and heated
with hot water his servants sweep it with vacuum
cleaners and his dinner the fireess 1t
for such that little country
theater gas been evolved. 1t the many farming
districts where recreation for the in
reading the county and playing checkers, while
his wife peruses the magazine and drives to
church Sunday where there is scarcity Of young
people because they nave to the city to the
dullness.
For these districts the transformation the town
hall little answer to an old problem
The farmer forget the responsibilities agricul-
turs in his Interpretation of Rip Wrinkle and his
wife has thought Of the hired hands or the sick
heifer while she portays Mrs Wigs of the Cabbage
Patch"
Mr.. A. G. Arvold was the first to establish little
country in the North Dakota Agricultural col
lege at Fargo. North Dakota is farming state with
hundred and forty towns having less than three hun
dred persons. The usual lack of social intercourse
exists The moving picture show has invaded the
country slight degree but the movie is essentially
of individual entertainment affording little
portunity for social Intercourse fostering
community spirit
Such was the state of affairs when Arvold be-
gan his experiment with the little country theaer The
college donated the second floor of its ad-
ministraton building which fitted UP with stage
lights of cnairs all of which available in
the average hall church. the students started
to give performances and invited the people
the surrounding farms. They spared effort to
entertain their audiences. Since 20 per cent of the
population Dakota is either foreign born or
foreign parentage special plea to their interest
made by specializing nationality programs in
which folk plays folk and music featured.
admission of to 10 charged, to pay for
scenery, costumes and incidental expenses.
The experiment worked, and is working yet From
the beginning the played capacity houses
the farmers are writing plays thmselves and the
community has undergone social stimulus that
nothing could have brought about Moreover, the
fame Little Country Theater, it is called has
spread communities all the country have
adopted the idea. '.>-
Each student in the college required to take some
active part this dramatic work during the year,
either actor. director, playwright scene shfter
member of mob or chorus. In this way he learns
every phase theatrical production which enables
him to establish similar of the town hall when
he goes home.
auspice sof the Drama League OF America
Mr. Arvold is making complete tour of the country eX-
planning the object little country theater at
Fargo the results it has accomplished Farm towns
that nave known social activity in the past fifty
years giving historical pageans and outdoor dramas
with the energy of Broadway producer. And their
young people ceasng the call Of the cities
Besides entertaining prosperous classes of the
nation the little is being used to educate the
immigrant 1t has proven highly efficacous in social
settlement work the East Side. Mrs. Alice Heniger
long ago discovered value acting in connection
tho al
dramatic the tenements She found that you
trying to teach children something
with textbooks which they would grasp in minute
If allowed to make believe For instance, no care
fully planned crusade against cruelty to animals could
be half as effective the example Of kindness and
gentleness the fair maiden in Beauty ana
the Beast"
A,+ al, fairy tales contain a moral which is con-
aIed hut none the less effective And the social set
Element classes do coffine themselves to fairy tales
They produce other childrens plays sucn as oar"l
60 a1Dba Prince and the Pauper," 'Peter Pan and
Little Lord Fauntleroy" Not only are the children
benefited but the older people afforded
an educational amusement They are entertained ana
at the same time hear good English spoken. When
Jimmie plays the part of the prince Jimmes mother
and father and his and his aunts will all be
there to see him it. Thus in teaching the children
the adult tenement population is taught also
The results of the cnildren's teacher are seen
throughout district Tee shopkeepers oc
casonay teachers by coming forward with
offers of materials for costumes and scenery when
their children going to take part in the production
the little players change their front sitting
rooms correspond with the stage settings of the
pIays When questioned they say that they think the
new furnishings pretty and not half much trou
BILE to keep clean.
But the most significant phase of the little theater
movement is it's connection with the the farm
Not only being stimulated to appreciation, but
hitherto unsupported creative impulse is beginning to
make itself manifest. We have been reproached so
often for our Of Characteristic drama that
tia where the is concerned Maybe the farmer
of us have look America barren Philis-
will be to change all that.