New-York tribune., 1919-04-20

served head of its music section. made
symphony concerts available for numbers
of the 100000 working people that it rep
resents. ". H. Humiston gave many of the
workers the preparation for listening,
which they lacked, by a series of talks on
symphonies illustrated by interpretations
on the piano. At four art, science and la
Dor centres in the city, there we're frequent
recitals of music for members of labor
unions. Next year the Philharmonic Or
chestra is to give one performance week
for labor exclusively Seats in Carnegie
Hall to be sold to members of unions
at 80 cents apiece and distributed by lot
The Workingmens Theatre, which is to
begin its performances next August, is al
ready a familiar subject of discussion But
the art, science and labor committee has
another venture in the drama. David Pin
ski, whose plays are known wherever Md
dish Is spoken in this city is to sponsor
new art theatre, with number OF asso-
elates The art, science and labor com
mlttee intends to suhsidize his theatre. in
return for which the representatives Of
labor are TO have voice in determining
what PlaNs they viii sec on the nights
allotted 60 them
"A te pietufes The laboring man : home
aa 1t N represented On The stage ia ueualiv
ugly. Often the stage picture is under
done That is partly the consequence o.
cramped space, the necessity for putting
too many utensils in a habitation. But
partly. too. it is the result of the inaccesi-
bilty of all genuine works of art If the
workingman wants pictures he can pur-
chase reproductions, photographs. An etch-
ing at from $25 to $3.50 is far beyond the
reach of his purse. Vital expression in
painting or etching, growing out of the
artists consciousness Of the world in which
he lives is denied. There are always pho
tographs of Rembrandt, or at worst of
President Wilson. cut from the newspapers
The art, labor and science committee has
enlisted the assistance of a painter-etcher
lie IS to induce number of his colleagues,
young men all. and interested in the striv-
ings Of masses of people for self-exprcs-
sion and for satisfaction in ~ arts to sell
their works cheaply. They are to discard
the practice Of strictly limiting the number
of impressions taken from the plate And
in consequence it is expected that the work
of modern etchers in all its freshness will
be made available to working people at
prices low as 81 print
There is danger, in contemplating the
workingmen's movement, that the outsider
will patronize. Much of the art that is
produced for the careless public, whose cx-
pendltures are not so severely scrutinized
the leaders of the art, science and lahor
movement do not desire for their people
They do not approve Of the sex and adj
venture ridden motion picture plavs with
their unreal presentation of the world and
their unhealthful incitements They want
and hope eventually to produce motion nict
of the world as The worker secs and
understands it. Their attitude toward much
of the art that is produced to be bought
and sold Is contemptuous. Their standard
OF artistic success, by the very nature OF
their striving, is expressivencss and cvo-
cation
Numerically small though the conference
on ART labor and science may be, its in
iluence on the social and political life Of
the city may be deep and lasting Ii the
artists and scientists meet the challenge. if
practical plans suggested and developed,
there Will be opened new possibilities for
the participation of working people in
realms from which circumstances have cx-
cluded them. o. the results Of thGt par
| tcipation 1T would be rash to make pre-
dctions