The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-07
MRS. STARR BEST

1(N appraising the work of critic
 the primary consideration is the method employed by the critic; so in appraising the work of Mrs. Starr Best, whose name is so indissolubly as- sociated with the worldwide success of The Drama League it's mission and it's activities, the primary consid- eration is the method employed by this clever, far-seeing woman, whose vis- ion went far ahead of conditions, cir cumstances and environments and pic tured the theatre in it's biggest, truest and broadest light, with The Drama League" as an able accessory.
 In forming ''The Drama League" and of excellence which it now en- joys, the method Mrs. Best has employed has been brimful of tact, diplomacy and finnesse; she has met every emergency with a high de- gree of intelligence and she has solved many seemingly unsolvable problems with grace and graciousness.
 Like every other large organization, "The Drama League during the war did it's "bit'-did it nobly and couraS tOuSls lelllnS all DeTSOIdl liltVi SSto go for the time being and thinking only of the soldiers and their comfort and entertainment.
 Today sThe Drama League" like. every other large organization, faces the days of reconstruction" with many problems to solve and many obstacles to overcome and Mrs. Bests visit to Birmingham in the interest of the after the-war" activities of "The IDra I raD mi a highly entertaining visit, but one fill ed with practical educational and Voca- tional ideas.
 Dynamic to a degree, enthused to the point of being deliciously refreshing, Mrs Best comes to Birmin gham after several months of active service with the ''Y,'' in behalf of which organiza- tion she has given her time and talent generously to encourage the commit nifty theatre as "hero memorial idea.
 In most charming hours talk which I enjoyed with Mrs. Best yes- terday at the home of her lovely hos tess, Mrs. B. F. Wilkerson, she told me of the plans of "The Drama League" in this connection.
 First of all" Mrs. Best said, "The Drama League,~feels that the recon struction period is eminently and fun damentally our own. Those who have failed to get this vision are those who have not yet opened their eyes; and the main thing that we have in view for reconstruction work is the demo- cratization of conditions; keeping alive the community spirit among our re- turned soldiers. many of whom have new vision of life, new fields unentered before have been theirs and their whole outlook on the world is differ- ent and it is to The Drama League that these men are looking for assist ance. encouragement and recreation.
 Our men have come back from overseas as well as from the home camps with new idea of recreation" Mrs. Best continued, land one of the biggest ideas that they've come back with is the community spirit; not 50 much what they get from the platform as they sit out in front and listen and enjoy, but what they have learned 10 give back. Looking at great, beau- tiful painting we realize the work of a master hand, the symmetry of art and the exquisite mixture of colors, but all of Us know that to be able to create something ourselves is far more satisfying. indeed, is the biggest thing in life, and our soldier boys have come back realizing that they have been able to give self f-expression to their ideas and thoughts. In other words. a part of the great wheel of life, anl they are demanding that something be done for them-the work continued that we did for them during the days of the war.
 Just to illustrate what I mean let me quote young Jackie who told story that exactly fits the case" Mrs. Best said The Chicago drama league chapter sends entertainment to the marines every week. On one occasion. as I was coming home with big par ty of seven or eight in a small car which comfortably held about five.