Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-22

A SCHOOL FOR STAGE CHILDREN.

New York, March 20.-Not long
ago, . we'll known actress aston
ished the world by telling her fav'
orite amusement, followed with un'
fiinching zeal during her leisure
hours, was the study Of paysics
In fact, several elementary text
books on this and other scientific
subjects were her constant com
panions, she asserted. and anyone
who called on her would be apt te
find them strewn all over thu
place.
Thus, the young lady not only
managed to discourage unwelcomt
| callers, but to call attention to
fact that has long been suspected
| by dramatic critics-that the stage
is badly educated. Her own edu'
cation, she explained, had beer
prematurely cut off at the age o.
II, so that now, Is years later, 'as
her press agent figures, she can
not be kept away from the pursuit.
Of rudimentary knowledge. Tht
novelty fascinates her.
| This frank admission leads one
to wonder how some of the oldel
actresses like Mrs. Fiske ant
Julia Marlowe, who literally Gu
their first teeth on the stage (Mrs
Fiske made her debut in a baskel
before she was able to Walk man
aged to learn to read and write
Would one find Mrs. Fiske dill
gently studying algebra if on,
called on her, or Mrs. Southern
feverishly occupied with the mo
tons of electrons between tn
acts of Romeo and Juliet" o.
Twelfth Night? For when thes,
great stars were children they dix
not have the school facilities fo
professional kiddies that they hav'
now.
Today, school is still an inciden
in the life Of the stage child
something to be hurried in between
the acts-but it is an importan
one. Managers set the time o
their rehearsals to allow for it
parents pay for it, and the children
go to it, even though they ma.
sometimes feel that as self sup
to.
right to play hockey if they wan
porting youngsters they have
The Professional Children
school, in which most of the chill
,dren of the New York stage an
studio are enrolled as pupils. i
concealed within a church on Wes
Forty-e eighth street. At frs
glance, you would never imagin
a school was there at all, but
your eye is very alert you ma
eventually discover a small sig
to that effect, leading to the base
ment entrance. Once inside, how
ever, you are still mystified, be
cause, while the sound of raucou
childish mirth may be heard i
the distance, the first door ha
written on it quite plainly, "Churc
Office"
One visitor fumbling around j
the dark passageways for tn
school was finally rescued by on
of the pupils, the other morning
and CALAMITY led by the elbo'
through what suddenly doomed u
as door and into large, brightly
lighted playroom. For a momen
after the penetrabLe gloom {
the outside hall, it appeared az
: tually dazzling. At one end theT
was a pool table, where two sma
footlight favorites were grimly al
sorbed in pool battle, and in til
opposite corner stood a counte
supplied with milk chocolate
chewing gum and a basket of sma
, change. Behind it, on the wal
t was a printed menu which SCENE
, to indicate that a luncheon wa
being served somewhere. Indee,
, the pupil who had volunteered h
, services as escort, now announce
, that such was the case.
IF | can be of no further assis
ance, l should like to have N
luncheon now" he announced p'
. litely, and sweeping back his pom
padour with a graceful gesture, /
> bowed and walked gravely towaI
the menu card.
: The visitor found a middle age
2 teacher in the ada cent dinir
. room.
= These are some of the young,
S children" she said, holding a lie
: tuce sandwich in one hand. al
S pointing to the dozen or so younI
sters seated at the various sma
wooden dining tables. All of the
: were distinctly above the avera,
in the way Of curl, gestures al
sedateness.
Would you care to go throus
the SCHOOL," inquired the teache
Perhaps you would like one of Il
children to show you"
But here her suggestion was c
-, short by a sudden clamor of 20
u teacher, let me, let mel She W
r surrounded in a whirlpool of sms
aspirants for the job, which seem
to be regarded in the nature of
i time honored privilege for sor
/, reason or otehr. While one fl
| sorry for the teacher, who W
! dragged about and lost her san
witch, it was a relief to note tn
. the children were capable of u
% dignified conduct. At first, it b;
e seemed impossible.
o The task finally fell to one lit
X chan. with a rather mature far
%