New-York tribune., 1918-01-16
Prevent Coal Waste
Don't Darken Theatres in Favor Of
Dance Halls and Saloons

40 lUC TUlIOT Ol Inc lrlDunc.
Sir: In discussing the closing Of theatres
as means of conserving coal, those most
Interested, the managers, have overlooked one
vital phase Of the situation~tho effect Of
such drastic measures on the social and moral
life Of New York man prominent in re-
lgious and educational work remarked yes
torday that the closing Of the cty's legitimate
vaudeville and motion picture theatres would
unquestionaby bring on n condition of dis
sipntion and immortality unparalleled in New
York's history.
Tho city is filled with strangers, tourists.
men and women on business, soldiers and
sailors leave. These are the principal
patrons of the legitimate vaudeville and giant
motion picture houses in what is known as
the theatre district. New Yorkors mainly
support the neighborhood theatres in tho
rious residential districts.
With the doors of all downtown theatres
closed, New York's floating population, no.
tablv men in the fighting corps, would have
absolutely no place to turn for diversion. AL
ready the various service clubs and the Y. NJ
{. "A. branches ovcrfowing with men in
uniform. Dark theatres mean that small
dance halls, rear rooms of saloons and more
questionable dives would become the refuge
Of those with no other place to look for
warmth, light and entertainment. On the
other hand, there has never been time when
New York's theatres have offered such clean,
wholesome and inspirational plays. There is
not single salacious French farce or So
called problem play on Broadway
Are the churches, with their boards Of coal
ready to open their parlors to the soldiers
and sailors, who. robbed Of the theatre. would
have no refuge from the streets except cheap
hotels, with questionable "parlors" at the
rear Of their cafes?
Can the city open the halls of its schools
as safe, reputable dancing centres?
1t is all very we'll to say that Americans
must realize they are at and adapt them
selves to war conditions. London and Paris
wiser in conditions do not deprive the
masses of their ordinary amusements. The
streets may be dark, but the interiors of thea
tres are bright. Even Paris, desperate as is
her situation, is having her season of grand
opcra. The canteen directors connected with
the different industries do not force on
the workers the foods which they know to be
Aost nourishing, but offer those to which the
working class is accustomed and which it
craves--unlimited pastry, jams and sweets.
II America is to win this war through COM
plete cooperation of her people, certain
phases of their life must remain normal
Wholesome recreation must be available.
New Workers can assist the fuel admins
traitors to make this possible. At fashion,
able church yesterday quantities OF coal were
consumed that hundred worshippers might
be warm during the morning service and
less than fifty at night. Why cannot nearby
Protestant churches unite for services dur
ing the war?
In an uptown apartment house, whose
rents vary from $50 to S65 a month,
the jantor maintained temperature of 76
Fahrenheit all day and until 1880 at night,
simply because he happened to have the coal.
Why do not tenants of such house demand
that its management cooperate with the gov
ernment's efforts to establish a temperature
Of 60 degrees, instead of opening their win
dows wide?
What New York needs to-day is sane, in
telligent cooperation to prevent the coal
waste described above. Then it will not be
necessary to shut down industries which en-
ploy thousands Of persons untitled for other
kinds OF work, or to cut off diversions which
keep men and women in trim to make other
wartime sacrifices.
ANNA sTEEsE RICHARDSON.
New York, Jan. IS, 1915