The sun., 1916-09-17
the Reason
for the Delightful
Chill dren of the
Screen Who Live
HappyC hildLives
in Spite Of Fame
and Earnings
By BETTY SHANNON.

N's'ts
the time worn plot. ordinary photog-
raphy. mediocre acting. And yet in
watching the audience. n typical mo-
tion picture audience. / observed that
the pictures were getting across" In
each picture there was an abundance
Of incidental detail--a baby kicking
Justify in its cradle; two children
climbing to reach a jam Jar: the sor-
rowful last look OF a father at his
sleeping small boy; "a strong man feed
1ng . squirrel: "A dog looking knowing
~ up into his masters facial en-
urely unnecessary to plot development.
But all Of these incidents brought forth
Q response, u tear. 4 laugh, a chuck.e.
from the people who sat before the
screen. AS they passed out these peo-
pie shook their heads at each other,
mentioning these scenes and chatter
ing enthusiastically OF the plays they
had just seen.
I spoke of this the next day to a
motion picture director when I was
out at one OF those great. clean. airy
studios where the MOVIES come to life.
He was surrounded by an array of
canaries. parrots. w dogs, n squlrm-
ing baby and Il group OF lively chill
dren who were waiting their turns to
appear before the camera. The mar
row walled Enclosure which formed the
background for the scene on which he
was working was arranged to repre-
sent a room in a poor tenement.
I'VE call That heart stun" he said
~ he ordered n baby's cradle placed
BY an open window wnere the rays OF
IN artificial would fall on the
face OF the sleeping child. Babies
always get a laugh with a tear In 1t.
You've noticed II In the theatres. 1t
brings the play home to the audience.
The people think they like TO laugh.
but they don't really appreciate the
laugh unless there's a sob behind 1t.
They're not satisfied until something
touches their hearts and makes them
weep a tear or two and feel tight in
the throat
At this juncturc ono OF the ~littlest
actresses fell To riggl!ng. She saw q
wonderful opportunity TO tickle her
bed partner III the ribs. She did 1t
slyly, and then there was trouble which
it took ten minutes OF the directors
patience to s%tralghten IL II was
only because the ~littiest actress was
new and had not learned that acting
10 Q serious profession. The older chill
dren v think OF INDUCING in fri
volity while at work.
"But how about the Riddles them
selves" I asked. after the scene had
been finished and the players sent
away. "Are their parents lot sacri-
ficing them for the sake OF a little
money and glory just now
"Where do you get your sacrifice:'
asked the surprised director. "They
aee - carefully guarded as any chill
dren. Their work 10 play to them.
How many parents in moderate cir
cumstances and with talented children
would feel warranted in refusing Q
proRered engagement which would
pay enough money to let their young
stsn 60 on with their education and
Lay up money for the future. ali the
time they are learning more than the
average child from the school of
lIfe'?"
There are hardly more than 100
children in all Of tho picture studios,
that IL children who play with any
degree Of regularity. There are others
who take small extra parts from time
to time. All of the children are palms.
takingly chaperoned. usually by their
mothers. All OF them who are seven
years Of age or older receive instruc-
lions either at school or from private
tutors. In New York city a school for
stage and motion picture children Ia
maintained at tho Rehearsal Club. an
organization OF professional women
There arc about seventy pupils in
this school. The studies and hours
correspond closely 20 those OF the pub
lie schools. The pupils are allowed &c
b absent for work only on permits
issued by the Gerry Society. At Uni.
vsrsal City. in California. where there
10 an entire company made up OF chill.
Arsn players. . special school 10 main
tained all the wear.
II have never seen children so cage,
for education" said Miss Hazel Hunt
the teacher In charge OF the Universe
City school. Every child has a def
mite ambition. Their diligence Is re
markable. They bring to their atud!el
more certain and coordinatei ideas o
life and the meaning Of things thar
the average children. They have Il
be absent, Of course. when they ar
needed for n picture. but they conn
back all the more Eager TO the!
studies after they have been away 70
few days, They make up their bacl
work without a murmur."
The usual salary OF tho chill
featured In MIN productions range