30
MANUAL
t1
N
O subject has entered the Ameri
can schools with such promise of
usefulness as manual training. It
Is the direct sequonce of Frederick
Frofbd's kindergarten system of In
stru'tlon which principle penetrates
education and becomes an organic fac
tor in all grades.
For years the general Impression had
been that child nature utterly changed
upen entering the first grade; the nat
ural activities being discontinued and
the dreary mechanical processes as
promptly begun. But that impression
is gradually changing. As we come
in contact with child life in cities to
day, there Is nothing so much needed
toy the boys as an opportunity to do
! something. One of the greatest ques
tions of the day is "The Boy Problem."
The average boy is in a restless
i state, the destructive rather than tho
constructive predominates In too many
Instances. Restraining Ordinances
I have a place in shaping his future, but
they wlll n.ot- sqlvo the problem. A
boy s playtime is a large factor In
molding his future. Slake this play In-
GOSSIP OF THE METROPOLITAN STAGE
NEW YORK, Nov. 30. (Special.) Quite
(.he most animated controversy that has
jeen held anent the drama since the
ESappho excitement, is now raging in pri
vate and In print. I believe that your
:orrespondent had the honor to raise the
llrst howl in these columns some months'
yo All this on account of George
Bernard Shaw In general, and "Mrs.
Warrens Profession" in particular. As
stated at that time this last play Is
rather too strong for public presentation,
inotwithstandlng the fact that Arnold
)aly announces that "No children need
ipply." '
To sum up the situation, Shaw has
jeen advertising himself as only Shaw
Itnows how, by firing the gauntlet Into
omstock's face. Comstock, who claimed
that he had never heard of Shaw, forth-
rlth set himself about expunging this
lau from the pure literature of today.
Uded and abetted by Arnold Daly, who
Hoated into popularity on. Shaw's aureole.
lis well as by the cult captured through
the "Candida" craze, Shaw Is ready to
ieet all of America, Including Comstock.
EAfter the climax reached by "Candida"
Imd "Tou Can Never Tell." It was neces
sary to hold off the antl-cllmax. and
there was but one work In all of Shaw's
TRAINING
. I' rcjn
"So
.1
"unpleasant plays" unpleasant enough
to arouse repugnance on tho part of
those who are, under ordinary circum
stances broad enough to stand a good
deal. It is but. natural that Mr. Daly
rhould have selected this, especially
in point of the, fact that he has Intelli
gence enough to read the actual lesson
in the play beyond the horror of the
words themselves in cold type.
Perhaps it Is not without cause that
Henry ' Arthur Jones, .who arrived, -this,
week from England, expressed some very
pessimistic views on the topic of the
drama of today, which he claims has
fallen to the lowest depths. Perhaps it
Is hardly pessimistic, however, because
that noted dramatist takes the stand
that tho stage must undergo n change
for the better, toeca'use it can no longer
become worse. He admits tho Intel
lectuality of Shaw and states that he
has proven a great force on both -sides
of the -water. Mr. Jones feels that mu
sical comedy hag had a degenerating ef
fect upon the stage because people be
come too much imbued with the idea
that tho stage is simply a place for
amusement, when its actual mission
should be to Interest and amuse by means
THE SUNDAY OEEGOXIAN, PORTLAND, XOVEiEBER 5, 1905.
INVADES
i
MS'
111!
of stimulation for the Intellect, and there
By be an educator In the widest sense.
He further states that It is only in
France that the people are willing to
sit for hours to listen to a serious play,
a fact which is not without Its strange
side, since it Is generally accepted that
France is a thoroughly frivolous nation.
This ho explains, by the fact that France
has the greatest traditions having had one
continuous drama from tho time of
Mollere to the present day, which can
not, be said of England, and of course
America has practically no tradition at
all except what It assimilates through
other countries.
Speaking of - traditions, brings us back
to Miss Marlowe and her replies to some
of the criticisms accorded hor Interpre
tation, as well as Mr. Sothern's. of
"Taming of the Shrew."
. Miss Marlowe refuses to -class "The
Taming of the Shrew" with works of
such classical, comic fibre as "Twelfth
Night," or?"As You Like It," in which
dignity and,. grace 'is the permeating
spirit. As authority rshe quotes such lit
erary lights ias "Fleay, .Warfl, Furnlvnl.
and our own .American "Furniss, who .all
agree in saying that "this Is the only
RURAL
A
4 Vi
ST"
broad farce comedy with which Shakes
peare's name is connected." Both she
and Mr. Sothern agree that these recog
nized authorities on Shakespeare would
not make so sharp a distinction between
the spirit of the "Joyous" comedies and
this palpable farce, unless the context
of the latter warranted that distinction.
But It is not upon these that Miss M.ar
lowe and Mr. Sothern based their ac
tions, but upon the authoritative folio
edition of 1623. stating especially that
this is not .the Booth edition, nor even
that of the late Augustan Daly, nor, the
Winter version, but the Shakespeare or
iginal text which was printed with his
stage directions. In 1S23. Miss Marlowe
states that If their critics would read
this text, particularly Its stage directions,
it is doubtless that they would at least
see the point of view which demands
different treatment from the traditional
"Taming of the Shrew." from which they
cannot separate themselves.
She further Indicates that Katherine
was tamed not so much by physical over
bearance. as by the arousing of her sense
of humor and of the ridiculous. Miss
Marlowe quotes Fumival who says, that
Pctruchlo farcically makes himself out
worse than he really Is. He Is a prac
tical Joker and his exploits are so wild
and furious, that for the effects required
by climax it Is difficult to parcllel them
on the stage. "There, take It to you.
trenchers, cups, and all," after which
line follow the stage directions. "Throw
the meat about jihe stage." In another
SCHOOLS
1 or
rfJT 55W V
- J
scene Hortenslo Is described ' as -"Enter
Hortenslo with a broken head," and In
the same act Katherine is first described
as striking Bianca. after which "the stage
directions read "Flies after Bianca," and
so through the entire play;, wherever
Shakespeare has Indicated . stage direc
tions it Is with such turbulence and such
impetuosity of -spirit ahat it were well
nigh Impossible, to keep pace with the
extravagance, which he himself Intended
the" part should possess.
It Is at" least satisfactory to know that
Miss Marlowe and Mr. Sothern have given
such careful study to the play and lt3
production, and It Is also satisfactory
to know that they are drawing good
audiences to .the Knickerbocker, where
the play continues to rue.
The value of. diction was never more
forcibly set forth than on Monday night
when Bertha -Kallcb. she who graduated
from the Yiddish Theatre to the Manhat
tan, or rather from th8, Bowery to Broad
way, played tho" title' role la the first
English production of "Monna Vanna."
This great Maeterlinck drama was pro
duced by Harrison Flske after it, had been
promised for a number' of seasons. Per
haps to those who went thoroughly
familiar with every detail, the terrible
struggle that Mme. Kalich experienced
with the English language was less irri
tating than It must have been to those
who- were trying to keep the thread of
tho story; at the same time much of the
nobility, and In consequence ' the puritv
New Adjunct of Schoolroom is Proving of Inestimable
Value to All Classes of Pupils
1MB
structlve, emphasize the constructive,
through skillful direction of the hand
and 'eye training; exercise both mind
and body at the same time, for to pro
duce something Is the hoy's moral
bent. One haa only to watch him in
his free moments to see how the doing
side of his nature constantly comes to
the front. Observation shows that a
liberal education means skill in get
ting and using knowledge, and that in
the finest of human natures the brain
and the hand arc in close league. No
parent can allow his boy to grow up
to' the stature of a man without a
broad knowledge of "the world's work
and to do some part of It thoroughly
well.
Vhat Manuel Training Involves.
Manual training, or self-expression.
Involves the teaching of arithmetic,
reading, spelling, simple physics, chem
istry and -nature study. The boy will
take a far greater Interest and almost
unconsciously become quite proficient
in mathematics, all of which brings
him In contact with the materials and
processes used in the occupations in
which mankind Is engaged. It is a.
positive relief from the dull routine,
and the teachers and children hall it
as a long-needed link between the
world and tho schoolroom. They en
thusiastically acknowledge Its very
valuable assistance in teaching the
'other subjects to a better advantage.
It is heartily announced by the girls
as well as the boys that It Is the hap
piest hour of the week, and the children
are seldom absent on manual training
day. As In all new departures In educa
tion, manual training has had and still
has its enthusiastic "faddists." and this
has materially hindered the progress of
the work among conservative school
boards and educators. But It is fast
planting Itself In the rural schools, as
well as In city schools and colleges.
Rural Schools Take It Up.
One of the first schools outside of the
Portland city limits to introduce manual
training Is the - South Mount Tabor
School! The results obtained since the
beginning of the Fall term cause the prin
cipal. Walter A. Law, to be most en
thusiastic in his praise of the American
system, which'ls being used. The public
schools of Portland have most efficient
systems, but they necessitate the employ
of the character depended upon, the com
prehension by the audience of every shade,
which. Maeterlinck put Into his wonder
ful heroine's mouth. That not only much
but nearly all was lost, cannot be de
nied notwithstanding the fact that emo
tionally Mme. Kallch gave a presenta
tion that was thrilling many times. I
do not know whether "Monna Vanna" has
ever been translated into the English
language, but if so It should be from
the entire printed volume that the reader
must draw hl3 own conclusions of plot
and of Its spirit, as It is one of those
stories which must be told In entirety, and
with all the art of a Maeterlinck to make
it palatable.
.
Perhaps there Is nothing more remark
able In the musical situation of the sea
son we are just entering than the In
comprehensible over-plus of feminine, or
perhaps many of them would prefer to
be designated as female, violinists. What
could have brought about such a condi
tion It Is quite Impossible to say; the
fact remains that there will be about 30
women violinists heard and trying to be
heard this season. To enumerate, tra
will begin with Maud Powell the veteran.
Not that she Is very old but sh la no
longer In the kindergarten class, either a
artist or as woman. Notwithstanding the
fact that she hay married recently, she Is
still before the public. She returned from
a trip to South Africa In time to book
some appearances In the States. Among
ti visitors from Europe we will have
rf&zrz Toons
ment of special teacherp, wha are grad
uates of technical Institutions. The sys
tem which Mr. Law has selected may be
easily handled by the grade teachers, who
first take a short normal course. Pictorirl
lesson leaves are constantly used during
class work, and through their simple in
structions, care of tools the position in
which to hold the article under construc
tion and- other points are made so plain
to the pupils that blunders are very near
to Impossible. Miss Florence Williamson
and Mls May Zieglcr. grade teachers In
this pchool, have taken the normal course,
and three times a week they spend a
day In the neat little workshop which
has been erected near the Section Line
road, on the school grounds, teaching both
girls and boysv In connection with thte.
the schools are contemplating an addi
tional training for the girls domestic
training, such as cooking, general man
agement of the household, sewing and all
kinds of needlework, which will enable
the girl? to be quite thorough In their
management of domestic affairs. The pu
pils are delighted with the work, and
some of the samples exhibited by them
even at this early date encourage Mr.
Law to believe that the South Mount
Tabor School will be In close competition
with any public school in Portland In tha
work turned out by the manual training
department. M. E DAGGETT.
MUNICIPAL COURT. ROOM
Judge Cameron Annoyed ut Slipshod
Methods of Cleaning It.
Municipal Judge Cameron wants a "de
cent" Janitor to clean up his courtroom.
He is tired of the filthy conditions that
abound, and thinks the city ought to bo
able financially, to provide some one who
Ts careful and cleanly and whose duty it
will be to perform the labor now done by
"trusties" from the City Jail, under di
rection of Acting Chief Gritzmacher.
Judge Cameron is also "sore" and much
disappointed because of the unspeakably
inferior "repairs" made by a contractor
recently. The poorest kind of workman
ship was done, and done at the absolute
direction of the contractor. It Is declared.
"Just do the Wist possible work to get
the Job done," the startling direction
declared to have been made to the work
men hired to "repair" the courtroom and
the clerk's room. This remarkable order
was delivered by Contractor Winn, so one
of his workmen told Clerk Hennessy. It
was reported to Judge Cameron.
Judge Cameron declines to make any
statement regarding the work accom
plished, which is to cost the city JS58.
but a look of disgust overspreads his
face when asked about it. He intimates
that he will oppose the payment of the
bill by the city, unless much more and
better work 13 done frefore the "finish" is
announced.
Already the paper border that was past
ed to the walls has come down, except
where It is held up by nails, thoughtfully
drlven by tho workmen at the time or
"doing the least possible work to get the
Job done."
At best. It is difficult to keep a police
courtroom clean, but when the task Is
left to "dope fiends." vagrants and petty
crimlnals, filth accumulates so" rapldly
that the appearance of the rooms is al
most nauseating.
Judge Cameron purposes making an ef
fort to have these matters remedied la
the near future.
Sweet Sixteen at One Time.
Philadelphia Ledge.
"These deceitful women are so ridio
ulous," said Miss Passay. "As for me.
I was never afraid to tell what my age
was."
"JTo woman," replied Miss Wise, "is
ever afraid to tell what her age was."
Marie Hall, who has made quite a stir,
especially In the musical circles of Lon
don, and Otle Chew whose name must
be less musical than her ability or else
she would never have reached the point
of being heard from. Leonora Jackson
Is now on tour with a concert company
of her own; Olive Mead, In addition to
appearances as soloist, has made quite a
place for herself with her string quartet,
which is, with the exception of the
Kneisels, quite the best organization of
Its kind in New York. Marie Nichols Is
an Interesting young violinist from Bos
ton, who Is well booked for the season,
as Is Glenn Priest, who with Miss Mead,
shares the distinction of being a Kneisel
pupil; In addition to these are Jessie
Strauss, on tour with Sousa; Anna Otten.
formerly on tour with Souya; Geraldine
Morgan, Dorothy Hoyle. Rose Zamel. and
any number too numerous to mention.
Beside these may be mentioned Elsa
Ruegger. the cellist, who will go on Uur
through the entire country, and in all
probability MI33 Nichols will go with her.
AH of these are young women who have
felt more attracted to the violin than
to the piano, and all of them are csscn--tially
musicians who have studied music
more deeply than violinists or singers
usually do.
EM1LIE FRANCES BAUER.
Hood's Sarsa paella ensures good- diges
tion and strength to the vital, organs,
insist unoii Hoodi.