The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-28

" from the screen and whisper,
"How-de-do, my friendsF'
wonder X the people really know that
while the picture 10 being taken we are
always thinking of them. and are ever
so much more keeniy interested m all
of those strange faces than they are IN
the ghosts OF as who walk before them
on the screen
Sometimes wes actresses talk about
the world, of people to whom we pay
sur silent homage, and what varied
types we play TO, from the alien to
the little, ehubby-faced American
boy who knows and loves his movie
stars and would rather spend his pen
MES on Charlie Chaplin than the most
alluring toy shop window.
The question was asked as al the
studio by non-believer in pictures
"Wlrat good have pictures done for the
world, and how have they educated the
people, as is their hue and cry
OF course we have mental reanas OF
defense, which we can reel off to such
oondenners of our art. but I did not
snswer--I merely turned to several OF
the stenographers who had recently
come to the studio. and who, up to that
time, had had no knowledge of pictures
outside of the pleasurabie viewpoint of
the audience.
1t is what these girls toid as that
verified the statements made by hun
dreds of other working girls who have
been only too glad 70 express them
selves upon the subject Pictures mean
to them not only rest and amusement
hours, but hours OF actual association
with girls of other races and the knowl-
edge of social conditions existing in
other countries.
There are few of rs who are not al
ways eager to absorb knowledge, and
those girls who have been unfortunately
denied the higher branches of eduea-
ton make valiant efforts not to allow
their burdensome labors to limit them
or hold them down to a prescribed men
tai chalk line.
Summing this up fundamentally, we
find that to the first question we ask
the girls: What do pictures mean TO
you," the prompt reply is always
Amusement" Before there were NOV
les to go TO, evenings not spent in visit
ing or partying were long and tiresome,
and but few of the girls could afford to
20 to the theaters except TO the cheap
stock companies or buriesque perform
ances In order to give rest to fife
zone mast pfsy part OF the time" they
would add, naively.
Entertainment and education" an
other girl as decidedly answered, "but
chiefly education How happy we feel
when we leave the theater carrying with
us new knowledge either of plant or
animal life, gigantic industries in other
cities, or iutroductions to foreign coun-
tries
DO you know. Mas PicSford," ex-
citediy said one Of the girls, "ttat until
| wen. to moving picture / thought
costurned Indians had become traditions
and did not know that real feathered
tribes were still living In the United
States, preserving to certain degree
the customs of their grandfathers You
can imagine how fascinated I was when
I saw the pictures Of the Yagai saa..
dancers and the war dances Of the Nez
Peroes Indians And how excited we
we're to zee pictures actually taken IN
the land Of the midnight sun. The night
the picture was showing At the theater
near our homes, we took the litfie boys
and girls of the neisiborhood that they
might learn about the ways of the Is
quimaux."
Y was 80 glad 10 see pictures of the
great Western ranches" one girl told
me, "for I have never been out OF the
city In my iifc, and for years have read