Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1921-05-25
"THE VANISHING
ART OF FUN
Star" Writer PHILOSOPHERS
on Value of Amateur
Theatricals

Many pleased spectator OF that
excellent historical pantomime pre-
scented by boys and girls of the New
Castle county schools few days ago
must have asked himself, on the way
home, whether entertainments like
this do not answer better than SER
mons, rules and resolutions some of
the anxious questions put regarding
modern young people and their good
times. For it is not among school
children only that you can secure this
eager cooperation in getting up fes-
tivities of the right sort. The youn-
ger set in every town or city will
work their fingers off, once you win
their interest, as war work proved
thousand times over. They, like the
children, are natural lovers of thea
tricals, and they might better be put
ting on their own than watching the
Turkish bath dramas to which they
are supposed to be addicted. Once
enlist that Astounding enthusiasm,
those buoyant spirits, in pageants or
folk dances, athletic meets or charity
operettas, and you are confident of
the enterprises success. But if these
delighted qualities of youth are given
no scope in wholesome fashion, then
enter the ungraceful shimmy, the un-
lawful pocket cocktail and the un-
viewable movie.
The small artistes had much more
fun presenting their own costumed
pictures than they could have had by
sitting through an entertainment pro-
vided for them. Right there, perhaps
is one of the roots of that "wildness"
which has been the theme for such
gloomy preaching and penning lately.
We buy all our pleasure. CONNER
cial amusement, accessible as never
before, and itceJstibly adv ertised,
robs young people of the healthy IA
culties which they developed when
they had to devise their own good
times and put them through. The
cheap dance hall and theatre are val
liable in many ways, but there are
certain qualities which they indubi-
tably kill. One doesn't amuse him
self when it is such simple matter
to be amused. 1t is not surprising
that, after several years of this adj
ministered gayety, originality and
spontaneity should grow a bit feeble
and have to be stimulated by cigar
cites unnumbered, Vulgar shows and
savage music. They've had no gaer-
else. After all, wildness today is
made very simple and convenient.
= Even at summer ctmps, where pri-
smitive liberty is supposed to reign,
the fun is carefully arranged and or
dered in ADVANCE Nothing is got up
son the spur of the moment, putting
local talent on it's mettle. The pres
ent generation is the FESTIVE product
of the committee. They are satiated
with effortless entertainment. They
hate to be helped to play. Their pow
err of amusing themselves is gone. AL
ways excepting the athletes, the youn-
ger set is neurotic and therefore pitt
able. And the vanished corncob doll
is the symbol of lost race of self
reliant children.
But given chance to do something
with their own hands and wits, what a
transformation! They rise to the &C.
casion, become eager and busy and
ingenious, even as Nature intended.
That pleasant spectacle on Joe Frazer
Field, last week, ought to be dupli-
Gated in spirit the State over. Be-
yond its rural sphere it suggested me-
thods for the painless reformation of
Americas wild younger set.-Dela-
ware Star.