Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
SOCIAL EVENTS

place in social life, they took degrees,
acted as ambassadors for the pope, led
armies into the field. provided they
were of sufficient station in life. 1t is
for this reason that there are found
In the Shakespearean drama real
women of preeminent type who knew
no fear. 1t was for this reason largely
that those ethical principles and phi
losophy, the greatest the world has
ever seen. have been so enormous
social force.
Then followed the Puritanic reform
est and most virtuous drama, to open
to the most corrupt. superficial. frlvol-
Gus, artificial and Objectionable plays
every seen. Such works have no social
force for no poet lives beyond his day
who does not exceed the average in
mental status, or who, through a sell
fish sense of fear of the public allows
himself to be ground down to conven-
tional size and shape
Mrs. Hale was unsparing in her de-
nunciation of the melodrama which she
said appealed only to the lowest in
stinct She here took occasion to rap
the silent drama as thrown on the
screen, but displayed here also lit
tie inconsistency in that in describing
one of the most wonderful pieces of
acting ever produced, taken from Gals
!
spoken, but which produced so pro-
found an impression that it brought
about change in the penal code of
| England-and it was silent drama.
! Mrs. Hale described in turn the ro-
mantle drama written in blank verse
and dealing with beautiful and virtu-
Gus maidens-Which works were too
unnatural to have lasting force; the
modern drama based on drawing room
society. works of clever dramatic con-
struction but no great art
Coming TO the 18th century with its
universal education. revival of scien-
ti1c thought, applying of dogma to
meet science and the planting of
democracy upon America and parts of
Europe, she pointed out the figures
that stand out conspicuously in the
world of drama. Ibsen was the first
to make people in the drama talk as in
real life, his dialect is natural and can
| ben acted today without alteration.
The foundations of the social structure
rest, according to Ibsen, on the mutual
/ relations of the sexes-and the sex
question is no more or less than the
woman question. Therefore the woman
question. in it's social. economic and
into prominence in this author s
works 1t was he who began the FEM
mist movement.
Mrs. Hale spoke of Bernard Shaw as
although a symbolist and satirist
most of his works have proven great
social forces. Maeterlinck's work
THE Servant in the House" and Others
have created great social force that
is working to bring out all kinds OF
Iobjective enterprises, to produce
works that show that there has been
felt the need of an expression of the
inward life.
In closing Mrs. Hale made an elo-
quent plea for the encouragement OF
the legitimate, native drama. Before
beginning her discourse she congratu-
lated the women of the club on theiI
action in endorsing the Heating chile
labor bill, and insisting upon its pass
age through the senate committee
also she congratulated them on the
fact that they reside in state where
subjects of public interest must be
discussed with its women who have :
voice in its proceedings.
Mrs. Hale is a most eloquent, bril-
liant speaker and entirely familiar
with her subject. She interpolated
her talk with readings from THE
, Tempest Macbeth Hamlet" H.
sens Doll House" Galsworthy's Jus
tice.' and others, to better convey her
thought and meaning.
Miss Harriet Larkin with Mrs. J. r
Tuckis at the piano sang so we'll Sing
Ye Bird (Metcalf) that an encore was
insisted upon and generously given.
At the business session commune
cation from DR.. c. T. Foster was read
. realtive to the tax for county tuber.
culosis hospital. Mrs. F. W BahnseI
of the revision committee presented
proposed changes of the bylaws to be
Iacted upon at the April meeting
changing the annual dues from 81 tC
sl10 to meet the National Federation
dues, and, also relative to the ap-
pointment of ushers and doorkeepers
Mrs. Daniel Hayes of the legislative
, committee presented the resolution
above referred TO relative to the Keat-
ing child labor bill
social hour when refreshments
were served, followed.
Mrs. Hale Saturday night addressed