The New York Age from New York, New York • Page 1

0 0fj 5to ftorlv Arj? Sip 53m flurit IS RELIABLE. WHEN YOU 6E3 IT IN THE AGE YOU CAN DEPEND UPON IT. NEWSTHAT IS INFORMING. a A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY Wfva- I AAtrnn IS Ali" run 1ND WELCOMED. VOL XXX No.

29 THURSDAY? APRIL 12; 1917. PRICE FIVE CEHT3 rff Negro Actors Make Debut In Drama at Garden Theatre-Given Most Cordial Welcome 5Y LESTER A. WALTON) Modem drama has given the stage a new and diverting form of tgtertainineat that is one-hundred per cent American the Negro play, acted by Negroes. The initial appearance of colored actors at the Garden Theatre Thursday evening, April 5, under the management if Mrs. Emilie Hapgood, in three playlets purporting to deal with Kcgro life, written by Ridgely Torrence, the poet, was a notable occasion, exciting more curiosity and commanding more general atten tion than any of this seasons large For the hrst time in toe nistory ot American drama Broadway playpen attended a theatrical performance look with a serious eye on the work 1 the Negro as a legitimate actor and be swaysd by his pathos as well as lis humor.

In the past the Negro's (forts to entertain on the stage have fetn confined solely to the field of com-tdy. Judging from the most cordial nception accorded the ambitious Thes-ians, who were compelled to respond encore after encore at the end of ch playlet, the launching of this bold climatic endeavor was an unqualified access. Tha plays, presented in thesr order, tere "The Rider of Dreams," "Grann i(iume" and "Simon, the Cyrenian. Of the three "The Rider of Dreams" tai the brightest dramatic gem, as the icenes were natural and faithfully por-tsyed types of Negro life. The serious fftnpathies of the audience were commanded by this piece, despite its being comedy, because all of its prototypes wre familiar and real.

The Rider of Dreams." The Rider of Dreams" tells' kppy-to-lucky Negro, full of iraaglna-ioa, but imbued with very Kttle of the inctical side of life, who, while under ii influence oi a dishonest white man, raws the family sayings, amounting to P.lrpm the, bank. It had taken the -'UwelVe' years -to sate, the, money, i wjs procured Wldiout the inowfv tad -consent of the' wife, whose nai' was forged, the incident occur-ing the night before the date" set for liking full payment on the home. Opal Cooper, as Madison Sparrow, had vision of becoming a business man, having Unned to make the $800, work for him. To bis wife, Lucy Sparrow, acted (by Blanche Deas, he told with unbridled en-auiiism his intentions, and the tense Boments of the playlet are when Spar-srar finds out that he has lost the oner and confesses to his wife that he strmitted the white man to forge her unit in order to get it The entrance upon the scene of Dr. tUliams, played by Alex Rogers, oc-asions additional consternation, as the octor, owser of the property, insists, tut the deal be consummated at once.

iiKj Sparrow, knowing that the money ku been taken from he bank and lost, kgi for delay, but Dr. Williams is obturate and commands her to sign a tbeck, which he has brought -awaiting kr lienature. It is then that the doc tor discloses himself as a big-hearted, Christian gentleman. He informs the inhappy and badly-frightened couple fat he found the missing money and 1 1 I 1 A .1 1 wuuiu give mem me a ecu 10 inc puust. A guitar, stolen from him by the white and given to Sparrow, was per- smted to remain, in the latter posses-lion, Dr.

Williams agreeing not to turn rar Sparrow to the grand jury if the alter became a better husband, quit tanking and came to his (the phys-kian's) home every morning and teach son how the play the guitar. a is in this piece that Kidgeiy lor-'oice appears at his best as a writer of Negro plays. His pictures are void of ttaggeration and carry with them a eer-in spontaneity and naturalness that ule a serious appeal. His gifts as a feet have also been used to great advance iff "The Rider of Dreams," having othed his ideas with dramatic power expressed them in poetry. Many of ie lines are lyrical and far more Poonious than those heard In.

most t'Wiatic offerings. Opal Cooper was the most agreeable "Prise of the entire performance. Heretofore he attracted favorable attention as a vocalist, this being fJt venture in an important speaking He was best when telling Lucy sptnow of his plans to become a busi- man and of the visionary schemes prompted him "to make his money for him." No white actor could "Mulate his voice with such effective-. for the flexibility and religious er- to Produce this singsong effect be missing. Blanch Deas made "PPwling figure as Lucy Sparrow Alex Rogers gave a finished per-ince as Dr.

Williams, showing a tts of perception in. the his character. One of the best I Jne evening was done by little 'Ph Burt, as Booker Sparrow, and youthful actor, despite his tender w. Played his part like a veteran. Nfo Dialect and Rao Idiom: ToL0n.ly fault I had to find with Mr.

of "The Rider fet was his needless use of dia-Bi interPsing an objection of Nero dialect due to auper-ulfl or becaue of any personal ejgamst this form of speech. I si kjJ. 1 out noia i gard, believing it an ao crop ot dramatic presentations. comphsbment for one to master this peculiar American tongue. What Mr.

Torrence should have put into the mouths of his characters in "The Rider of Dreams" were the idioms of the race, not Negro dialect There is a marked difference between the two. Besides, Negro dialect is less generally known to colored Americans than race idioms, as the latter are expressions in extended use and not cqnfined to any section. Diaject is more of a variety of expressions of a locality, the dialect of one community usually being somewhat different from that of another. And it is this difference that causes such varied opinions aa to its genuineness. Few Negroes of today say "dis," "dat" and "de money." Although you will find intelligent and illiterate of different sectio nj using idiomatic expressions, such as "tote" and "you aU." Granting that Uodiso and Lucy Sparrow talked about "de money," it is hardly probable that Dr.

Williams, with a college education, would employ Negro dialect in conversation. Attempts at Negro dialect usually. snake the majority of white people doing Negro characters unnatural, for the types they portray are overdrawn, their interpretation of the average Negro's method of expressing himself not ringing true. The Only false note in "The Rider of Dreams" was the introduction of Negro dialect in the place of Negro idioms. 6rsny Mauiw.

Tfie -playlet. on th program waa.3Granny Maumee a tragedy staged two years -ago by the Stage-' Society, which gave several private performances "with a' white cast nude up to represent Negroes. la this piece the most serious acting of the evening was called for, and in justice to the members of the cast they played their parts moat acceptably. "Granny Maumee" deals with an aged woman who practices the black art, hating all white people because they burned her son to death, who had been mistaken by the mob for the man sought In trying to rescue her boy from the flames "Granny Maumee" lost her sight SappkU. Blanche Deas, grand daughter, went to work for white people in the town, leaving her sister, fearl, Fannie Tarkington, to stay at home with Granny Maumet.

The curtain goes up showing Granny Maumet and tearl making extensive preparations to receive Sapphit, her husband and child, this being Sap hit's' hrst visit home since becoming a mother. Granny Maumet asks to be left alone with the baby, and upon getting her sight restored to her finds that the infant is a mulatto. Further questions bring from Sapphit that the child's father belongs to the family that led the mob which burned her son. After putting Pearl and Sapphit in a trance. Granny Maumee proceeds to prepare for the coming of the father of the child, who has promised to meet Sapphit later on in the evening.

The old woman plans to mete out to the white father a horrible death through acts of voodooism, but when the visitor knocks at the door she relents and tells him to go back; that she and her dead son would show more' kindliness toward him than he and bis people did toward them. Then she dropped dead and was found a corpse when the two grandchildren came out of their trance. Marie Jackson-Stuart, as Granny Maumee, has lived up to the expectations of her friends by her skillful and impressive portrayal of a difficult role. It would not be surprising if more was heard of her in the future in tragedy. Fannie Tarkington, it is said, is appearing before the footlights for the first time, and if this be true she has a most promising career in front of her.

She went through her part without trying to be a bit theatric she was just natural Blanche Deas gave further evidence of her versatility by winning additional honor as Sapphit. 8imen, the Cyrenian. The most pretentious of the group playlets was "Simon, the Cyrenian," programed as a passion interlude. "Simon, the Cyrenian," is a tragic adaptation from the Biblical story which tells of a black man carrying the cross, for Christ on his way to Mount Calvary. In Luke 23 :26 may be the following passage: "And as they led Him away they laid hold Upon one Simon, a Cyrenian and on tiim they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

Never have colored performers appeared in a more carefully arranged production, one in which minute attention has been given to every detail as "Simon, the Cyrenian." The public Is CAROLINIANS LOYAL TO UNCLE SAM Ags Correspondent Brands Published Reports In Tribune as Serious Misrepresentatiea. WHITES REFUSE TO ENLIST ta LtUlagtoB, IV. tL, Ceuty Seat of Harnett Couty, White Meat Betas to Heed ratrietic Call ef Mayor Bat Aak Colored Mea Why They Do Not Ileal for Cceatry. (SpmUJ tt Tas Nit Ymx Am.) GuiNSBoao, N. Your correspond ent, after conducting a most careful investigation, believes he is safe in say ing that the fabrication regarding the Negro's attitude in North Carolina in the present war, as published in the New York Tribune, it, upon the whole, a serious misrepresentation.

It is nothing more or less than "a cock and bull" story, framed up in the fertile brain of the Tribune's correspondent I am in touch with the people and am keeping "my ears to the ground? and I am confident I know what 1 am talking about That tbe Negroes of the South are diasatisnea because of the, treatment they receive from the whites. needs no argument, hut their loyalty to the flag cannot be truthfully, questioned. Their conduct, however, in. the pres ent; crisis, under the immediate jdrcum stances, may-be, regarded somewhat stoical. Understand me, I am speaking or me masses ana.

not ox. a tew here and there, of who you may rad in the southern papers are offexing tneir services to the government Where the immediate external pressure and influence is not overwhelming, the Negroes are "sawing wood and saying nothing," unless' among themselves. Of course, there is an isolated case, occasionally, which proves the exception to be the rule. This apparent silence, however, isn't due to any unpatriotic spirit It is because they feel deeply their mistreat ment In 1898 and 1917. In 1898," when this country declared war against Spain, nearly every Negro was fired with patriotism and willing and ready to go to war and fight to the death for his native land.

Why? Because the Federal Government encouraged him, and in most of the Southern States he was legally allowed to ortran ize military companies, and in not a few of the states companies and regiments were formed. But in 1900 every State in the South. which had not djfie so, abolished the Negro military companies, and their legislatures passed special statutes prohibiting such organizations in the la tere. '1 hen, moreover, to aggravate the situation, some Negroes here in the South. who seemingly want to fight for their' country, have offered their services more than once to the authorities in Washing, but they have received nothing more than "a lemon" for their patriotism.

In the opinion of your correspondent if the Negro of the South is not eiven a chance and encoruaged to enter the army, I fear it will be no ipenic with "Uncle Sam," when he will be obliged to fight in dead earnest unless a change takes place relative to the present apathetic attitude of the southern white man. 6uthm Whltaa Apathatlo. The enclosed newspaper excerpts will Dear out my assertion North Carolina' tsnt showing much war apfrlt The North Is all aflame with war and war's alarms. Down here we are noj enliaitlng'to beat the band; we are walking around and wondArinir what will happen. Greensboro Dally RecorS.

On last Friday, March 23, Mayor Bagsett wrote the President that he wished to Inform the President that our people In this section are ready to offer, and do hereby offer, our services in defense of "our American rights and In support of our contentions, to be used In whatever way that our country may require. This letter was published In the paper on i March 25, and on 28, a recruiting officer appeared In Lllltngton expecting, doubtless, our people to run over each other to enlist hut up to Wednesday night not ajnother's son had offered himself. Harnett Post Greensboro will be given only a few more days to raise an engineering company, according to tha Adjutant General ot the North (osntinued on page sevim) United Statss i Array tepressnta-tlve Pleased with Sbswfnj of Colored TO BE KUSTEKED INTO SERVICE Total Streagtli of Begtaseat to Date Is Officers and 1189 CsCsted atea-Hospltal Detacksaeat Betag Organized-SoUJera Sooa Beecrve New EqilpsBeat. The first official step toward the acceptance of the 15th Infantry National Guard, was taken Sunday when Capt Joseph L. Gilbreth, United States Army, made a formal inspection of the regiment by order of the Secretary of War.

The First and Third battalions were assembled at the Armory, 132nd street and Seventh avenue, and the Second battalion at the Brooklyn Armory on Harrison avenue. Each company was inspected in turn by Capt. Gilbreth, after which the enlisted men were given their third inoculation of the typhoid prophylaxis. The inspection continued from 11 a. m.

until midnight, and at that late hour the final details of the prganization of. the regiment were made of record by the inspecting The consolidated return. 'of strength of the'regiment showed. as follows: Total strength Officers, 36; enlisted men, grand total, This has been pronounced a wonderful showing by military officials, and proves that the 1.5th, New York Infantry is "one of the largest regiments in the National Guard. Cot went to Washington on regimental business on Wednesday night' It is.

Relieved that the regiment will he mus IN IN tered' Into service at a very, early JT.w.S-iu:wuniu- ereaddcd Ce regiment Saturday when the Machine Gun Company and the Supply Company were organized. Together: with the Headquarters Company, with its' band, and mounted scouts detachments, these neW units constitute the auxiliary troops of the regiment There remains to be organized the hospital detachment, and Asst Surgeon McSweeny will begin this work at an early date. 15th New Cork Infantry is organized under the provisions of the National Defense Act and corresponds ex actly with the Army regulations- As soon as the regiment is accepted by the entire equipment of uniforms, ordinance, tentage, will be issued bythe War United States it is understood that its Department and the men will be newly and completely equipped from head to toes. The regiment has received a most val uable addition to its list of officers Maj. Edwin Winthr6n Dayton, who will he placed in command of the Third Battalion.

Maj. Dayton is Inspector General, attached to the First Brigade, and on duty as assistant to the Ad jutant General, He has been an officer of the Guard for twenty-six years. The organization of the regiment now includes these units: Headquarters Company, including band and mounted scouts; Supply Company, in charge of Supplies. Transportations, and Commis sary Department; Machine Gun Com pany; twelve companies of the line. Companies CD.

(First Battalion) E. F. G. (Second Bat talion) M. (Third Battalion).

The regiment will reach full war strength when it has raised 2,002 men and fifty-six officers. ANDERSON IS ELECTED ALDERMAN IN CHICAGO (Special Tits rTsw Yow Acs.) Chicago, 111; Louis Anderson, was elected from the Sec'pnd Ward at last wee's election by over two. thousand votes. The Negro voters stood loy- allr by the colored candidate and to thenr does Anderson owe his Although, losing in every precinct wnere the white voters are in majority he carried all of the colored precincts, re-; ceiving 210 in the Fifty-eighth Precinct to hi opopnent s' five. DANCING.

A A PRIZE COSTUME DANCEFEST E. E. THOMPSON'S MILITARY BAND MANHATTAN (ELKS) MILITARY BAND 2 BANDS CONTINUOUS MANHATTAN CASINO, 155th St ft 8th Ave. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1911 GENERAL 0 CENTS Boxes, (seating persons) Not Including Li Va TUSIiEGEf First Founder's Day Appropriately Celebrated at Tuskegee Institute on April 5. SPEAKERS PLEDGE LOYALTY rarorlte Inm of Booker T.

Washing- ten Rendered ajsi His Deeds Pratsetl -YTmiauaa G. of th Board of Tnssteea, Make In teres tutg Addresa. (Sreaial ts las New You An.) Toskegek InsTrruTS, Ala. The first annual Founder's Day exercises were neid here April 5. It was a day of memories, of hope, of inspiration.

Will iam G. Willcox, President of the Board of Education of New York City, and recently elected chairman of the institute's trustees' board, was the principal speaker, and his message to the colored pecplc was a srtong appeal to them to follow the pathway blazed for them by I uskegee tounder. 1 he platform laid down by Booker T. Washington in his famous Atlanta address in 1895 is today the platform for the guidance of the race in. facing the future," he said.

Promptly at 1:30 o'clock the line of march was formed in front of the library and, keeping step to the martial music by the institute band, proceeded to the chapel, where the exercises were to be held. Trustees and visitors, teach ers and students lengthened the line to a 1 J'. uie distance oi mny nail a mile. Features of Program. How Firm a Foundation, one of Dr.

Washington's favorite hymns was the number on. the nroeram. Scripture reading and prayer by the cnapiain followed, alter which the choir and school sang a number of appropriate Negro melodies. Principal Rob ert R. Moton outlined briefly the pur poses ot the meeting and introduced rvunam v.

uiamouss, a prosperous farmer of Macon County and a member of the class of 1890, who spoke on behalf of the graduates of.Tuskegee Institute. His address was a recital of the earry struggles of the founder of luskeeee institute in- coming to the south to es tablish the work here, hampered for lack of something upon which fo work but undaunted in hjs It is that spirit which has made the Tus-kegee graduate such a useful citizen in his community. Two of the Negro melodies were sung by the choir, after which Dr. Moton introduced Mr. Willcox, who, after sketching Booker T.

Washington's career and referring in detail to the place held by the Negro in American life. closed his address with a patriotic ap peal to the Negro to do their fullest duty to the country in the present crisis, saying: "If we value the liberty and oppor-(OsnttntM ea sf two) I II V. EASTER AT THE OllOlCllES Usual Elaborate psical Program arid Hont 'i iserwpos are i of theDajrV it i'w i i i War art 1feMb Which CqasMaed to Gbr Occaalsa Mora 1 Somber Setting- taaai Cmtofore-. Prograait of Clnu-chea te.ttrw Jack amd Brwokrya. w- War and weather tmrie'two ele.

ments that combined ttr give a more sober and sedate setting than, usual to the festh al of Easter this year. Wailc1 the charches presented the wsmal programs of elaborate musk, eloquent sermons on the Resurrection and beautiful floral decora-' ttons, there was an tmdertone of serious reflection based on the imminence of war and its attendant sufferings. The bleakness of the tempera ture reduced the tendency to spring attire and most efcaxh attendants clung to. theft winter garments. This, of coarse, did not prevent the exhibitkm'of the latest achierements of Killin-ers handiwork, and rniEtaiydcY figured protnuientlj the headgear of the gentler sex.

8c, Mark M. CtasreK. St -Mark's wa atteadedry record coagregakias at both the aaorasns and evming services. Thc'scatiwjr caaciry, wtev-vwr- and standin; rwm waa a--r -At-. v.e'iiiuuu.ij'- prcachet av.

very able and- femlul, moa fminewtfy te4 the scrasjon. His iext was St John xi, 25-26; Theme, 1 am the resurrection and the fife." In tbe evening the holy sacraaacnt was -administered by Dr. Brooks- six hundred and ten communicants. laasnediate-ly after the morning service, two infants were baptized. Darin the day, twenty-seven persons joined the ehufen.

At the evening service, twenty-eight probationers were, received into fail membership. Great credit is due ike Floral Circle for the beautiful and artistic manner in which 'the Chords was' decorated for Easter. AbyaatmaM BaptJat The church was crowded at aQ three services Sunday. Bv 11 :30 a. sn.

only standing room could be had aa the vestibule. This was also true of the Easter exercises of the Sunday School at three o'clock. Saint David's Consistory and the ladies auxiliary worshipaed at the church in the evening. The pastor preached on the resurrect ioa at both -services. The music by the choir was unusual! inspiring.

The solo work was, done by Mrs. Pickenpack, lira. Henson. Miss Helen Stannard, and Miss Jose-nhine Gray. Miss Gray was at her best and was complimented on every side.

The church was tastily decorated by tho B. Y. P. U. and the Floral Circle.

A' cross, lighted by electricity, hanging directly over the ministers head, was especially attractive. Five persons were converted during the day. The offering amounted to $669.31. The Pastor will preach next Sunday morning on the "Second Coming of Christ," and eRv. U.

G. Crooks will take for his subject "The Eternal Joy of Choosing Christ," in the evening. Benedict the Moar. i The Easter services in the Church'of St Benedict the Moor, in West 53rd Street, were attended by very -large con-1 gregations morning and night and were carried out with great outward splendor and every indication of' interior sincere -rty and religious teal. Rt.

Rev. Mgr. Burke sang the High Mass at 11 a. mw Father O'Keefe preached at the morning service, and Father hanky, the assistant nastor, in the evening. Much comment was made on tbe singing of the choir.

the reputation of Stl Benedict's choir has been of the highest -many said that this Easter's music was rendered with an efficiency never before equalled. AU is ready for the great Fair be opened on Wednesday Aprir.ll. 1 Kev. Vincent oe Paul McUebn. chaplain of the New York Fire Depart ment and also Director General of tHe Catholic United Charities, will make the speech ot tormal openuiar.

nere will be much music and oratory. It is ex- petted that the fair will be a great success, bo many articles have been -donated, and so many good workers are going to be in attendance, and marry people from all over the city have promised to visit the Fair. St. Philip's P. Charon.

The kevnote of patriotism was sounder! fiwi-er'v and emphatically a the nrin- ciptal Easter services at St Philip's at II a. m. last Sunday. From the National emblem haneinsr over the chancel at the opening prayer the med ley of patriotic airs with which ie organit speeded the departure of the congregation, all breathed the spirit of loyalty to the county. Tlia tmtbsent.