STAGE COLOUR-LINE.

Northern Advocate, 2 August 1924, Page 9 (Supplement)

STAGE COLOUR-LINE.

THEATKES RUN BY BLACKS. "New York is threatened with a negro problem too odd to its many racial difficulties and conflicts," says the New York correspondent of the "Evening Standard." "The growth of the so-called ' Congo bolt' has been so continuous during recent years that there are now half a dozen black quarters in the city, and white families constantly are compelled to move because of the Hamitic encroachments.

"No resentments have arisen on this account. The whites, retreating befere the blacks, have patiently moved on to new housing accommodation. Nor are there difficulties about associating with negroes in business. Most of the blacks

occupy menial positions m town, or are employed as porters on Pullman cars. The fact that the negroes live in their own zones, having their own shops, also prevents daily contact with the whites.

"But the negroes are now developing their talent for acting in a way that is attracting the notice of intellectual whites. Here, in the theatre, at last a point of contact is being reached and the peculiar situation is pointing to the possibility of racial segregation being insisted upon by the hitherto tolerant Caucasians.

"For several seasons the blacks have run their own theatres, where the whites were tolerated, but not invited to come. Some whites, seeking new sorts of thrills, and jaded by the sameness of the Broadway theatrical productions, made occasional journeys into the 'Congo belt , in Harlem, and reported tliat a naturalistic school of acting well worth seeing was being developed by the blacks.

"From this beginning the whites have taken an increasing interest in black actors and actresses. The fame of the blacks was greatly assisted by Eugene O'Xeill, the playwright of New York's young 'intelligentsia , who are seeking a return to primitive motifs and the naive crudities of the simple life as a relief from the tense and painful efficiency demanded by modern utilitarianism.

"But with New York , ? negro plays increasing, the problem of seating mixed audiences has arisen. Whites do not want to sit with blacks in America. So the Jim Crow method of the south is now bcinrj planned. That is to say, part of the theatre will be reserved for one race, and part for the other. Thus it is that New York's melting pot is turning sooty." * * * * AGED OFFICER AS PEDLAR.

A distinguished looking man, the son of a colonel and grandson of a majorgeneral, ekes out a precarious living by peddling in the streets of Penzance by day and selling chocolates in a place of entertainment by night. Captain Stewart Robinson can be seen any line day in the market place selling postcards, studs, and other articles. Years ago he was an undergraduate at Magdalen College, Oxford. He fought in the French

Army in the war of 1870, was wounded •at Gravelotte, and was awarded a decoration for his work during the siege of Paris. On the outbreak of the Great War although (50 years of age, Captain Robinson volunteered for service, saying he was 35, and joined the 6th Caraerons. He rose rapidly from private to company sergeant-major, and at the battle of Loos was awarded the D.C.M. Later he was promoted to commissioned rank for services on the field, and became a captain. *

PRINCE SETS FASHIONS. The Prince of Wales is constantlysetting a new fashion affecting men's clothes and any variation he adopts is quickly followed by young men about town. It will be recalled that he introduced into general use the "jazz" jumper for men which replaced the close-fitting sweater. His latest mode was to wear p. dotible collar with a morning suit and a silk hat at the christening of the Hon. Piers Leigh and Mrs Leigh's little daughter when he stood godfather. The novelty was in the double collar worn with the morning suit. Hitherto nothing but the butterfly collar has been the correct thing to wear with the "tails. ,. On the same occasion the Prince also wore the broad-brimmed silk-hat. Although this has been coming into fashion for some time there has been a little hesitancy in. adopting it; some men considered, it a trifle rustic, even clumsy. But the Prince has settled all doubts. Now the double collar and the broad hat are 'frights. ,.