February 22, 1929 ·wiLMETTE LIFE DEDICATE GYM -MAR. 9 '~THE OLD HOMESTEAD" a $60,000 War Memorial OF~ERING Kenilworth' Building to Be ~rmally Opened aa NEXT GUDWD Social Analyst Community Center Present Famous Drama of American Home Life in Eigbti,s; Appeal for Costumes A Chicago newspaper critic recently remarked that the long run of "The Trial of Mary Dugan" would probably equal the record set by the Denman. Thompson drama of former days, "The Old Home,;tead ," which, in the late eighties, br0ke records in the leading English and American cities, and is soon to he staged by the North Shore Theatre Guild. But "The Old Homestead" is very 11nlike the pre se nt popular drama at the Adelphi. Instead of being an unusual drama appealing to the emotiom, this play is as simple as everyday life in Oshkosh, Wis., or Keokuk, Ia. \Voven arounci the story of the prodigal son, it is the adventure of the father ·5ee king his wayward hoy in a hig city. But to tell more of the play would hr. cheating, though it can probably be tnld in full by most any grandfather who remembers the dramas of two decades ago. However, for the present the di scussion has concerned the cast that wilt present the play for the Theatre Guild, under the direction of David Owen . And, with the cast '3 elect<:'d, v.:herc to get the costumes: that is the puzzle that the re sidents of the north shore \\'ill be given a chance to an~\H'r. ~--------------------------~ NEW ·TRIER SDENTS10. I. GET "nPS" ON COLLEGE Dr. M. H. Bickham, Research 'Expert, to Confer With High School Students Wednesday Plea for Costumes The play require s many c0'3tumes of days g-one by: hoop skirt , pipe hat'3, high top shoes and what not . Just where these properties can be secured is the problem, but the members of the t~uild have vntured that there are many relic3 in attics between Evanston and Lake Forest that could b e well used in the production. A general appeal for anything that ,,·as or is of the period betwen 1875 and 1900 to be sent to the North Shore Theatre Guild has been issued, or better still, by c:-tlling University 4728 a messenger will be dispatched to pick up the relics. "The Old Home·3tead" was first produced at the old Boston theatre in Roston. Mass. · For twelve years C';eorge Reyer wrote and rewrote the play until it became "audience proof." Kenilworth's new $60,000 memorial gymnasium addition to the Joseph Sears school will be dedicated Saturday, March 9, it was announced this week by Supt. . E. L. Nygaard. Construction work on the gymnasium, wh~ch is serving as a community recreation center as well as a center for the school activities, was started in June of last year. A drive is still in progress to complete the collection of funds for the erection of the building. The gymnasium has been in use since about February 1. A definite program for the dedication witt be announced later. The building will be open for inspection on the night of the ceremonies·. Five hundred new chairs have been purchased, to be used when the gymnasium serves as an auditorium. Stage equipment also has been installed. The $60,000 gymnasium construction project is only part ·of a big building program at the Joseph Sears school. which has been in progress for the last year and a half. The Joseph Sears Dr. M. H. Bickham, 429 Ninth street, addition proper, erected at a cost of \Vilmette, director of research for the $140,000, was opened for use early this committee making social analyses of year. college communities in all part'3 of the United States, will spend next WedMilan Lusk Concert Date nesday morning conferring with seniors Announced by Legion Post at New Trier High school for the purWednesdav, March 13 has been announced a s -the definite date for the pose of advising prospective college appearance of Milan Lusk, concert students cqncerning social condition'3 violinist, at the Wilmette Woman's facing students in American colleges. club under the auspice·,; of Wilmette He will talk to groups as well as with Post No. 46 American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary. This will be Mr. individual students who seek his advice. Lusk's first appearance in Wilmette after his successful European tour just Drum and Bugle Corps to completed. --,- Resume Rehearsals Today Three Automobile Fires in Wilmette This Week The first alley west of Main street between Central and \Vilmette avenue·3 was the scene of two minor fires this week. On Tuesday morning a car belonging to the Hess Motor company backfired and caught fire, and on 'J\T ednesday morning- the same thing happened to a car belonging to Frank Friedl, 1334 Isabella street, Wilmette. The fire department was called to the SPECIAL STORY HOUR Walter Blunt residence. 1618 Elmwood · Miss \Vinifred Bright, children's Portrays American Life avenue, on Wedne·3day morning also . to librarian at the , Wilmette Public The play truthfully portrays Ameri- extinguish another automobile fire. library, has announced a special story can home life of other days. Denman Small damages resulted in all cases. hour for children this Saturday mornThomp·.;on , it is said, was brought up ing at 10:30 o'clock, when Miss in just such a home as the play indiPRESENT PLAYLET Gladys Lunder, of the National Kindercates. The "sweet briar and honeyAt the regular monthly meeting of gart~n college, will tell the story. suckle," the old brown kitchen, the teachers of the Joseph Sears school, ~ench and basin beside the door, the Kenilworth, Monday night, the Junior kitchen garden, the beehive and the old Girl Scouts presented a playlet enoaken bucket are all remnants that titled "School in Abraham Lincoln's play a prominent part in the play. Time." The piece was arranged and Largely because of the simplicity of directed by Miss Gertrude Herrick, ~ the heart appeal was this play selected literature and playground instructor at as the spring production of the Theatre the school. Guild. That it will be as interesting as anything the group has ever at- Aunt Matilda .,. Mrs. Laird Bell. Winnetka tempted is vouchsafed for by any old- Rickety Ann ....... ... MiRs Helen Sanford Evanston ti-mer. But to make the play a success, north ·5hore residents can lend a Annie Hopkins .. ... Miss Peggy DeL::.y Winnetka helping hand furnishing costumes and Nellie Freeman .... Mrs. Arthur F. Byfield Highland Park relics that can be used in the preMa~gie 0' Flaherty ..... . Mrs. B. E. Fill is sentation. . Winnetka Following is the ca~t of characters Mrs. Henry Hopkins . Mis~ Hope Summers for "The Old Homestead": Evanston . The \Vilmette Drum and Bugle corps will resume rehearsals thi's evening after a brief rest, it was announced this vveek. Practice session'3 are held in St. Francis school hall. Tonight's meeting will . witness the addition of several new buglers to the corps. Harry Bridwell, an expert drummer, who has been ill in the University h0'3pital, Chicago, is expected to be back at his position in the near future, it is stated. WANT -7M SHORTEST \ LINE \BETWEEN Dr. M. H. Bickham, of Wilmette, director of research for a commit·t ee ich is making social analyt3es of col; e communities in all parts of the U ited States, will devote the entire morn1ng Wednesday, February 27, to individual and group discussion·s with members of the senior claS's at New Trier High school. During the last two years Dr. Bickham has visited and made a detailed studv of American colleges and American college students. The New Trier setiiof13 will have an opportunity to find out what college students are saying about their own experiences·. Exact situations that students face in the colleges will be presented to the senior clas'3 as a whole for discussion. and Dr. Bickham also will meet individual students who may wish to confer with him about personal problem s as they look forward to their college day . ;;. Visits Many Colleges In January of 1927 Dr. Bickham was employed by the Central Regional Student council of the Y. M. C. A. to make a survey of the student Y. M. C. A. work over the nine states from Ohio to the Dakotas. In the course of these studies which continued through 1927 about fifty educational in3titutions were visited and the conditions of student life hriefly observed. In addition Dr. Bickham par_ ticipated in several conferences with leaders of student life from all parts of the nation. Attention was centered upon plans and technique for making an extended scientific analysis of college communitie3. During the autumn of 1927 and in January and February of 1928, ten college communities were so analyzed as a sort of preliminary exploration in the field. Form Committee In January of last year a committee on the social analy5is of college communities was organized, separate from the Y. M. C. A. This committee, which has 3et out to obtain scientific guidance and financial support that. will make possible the continuance and extension of this social research project in American colleges, is composed of : Dr. Bickham. director; Dr. Edwin Holt Hughes, of \Vilmette, bishop of the Methodist church for the Chicago area; E. E. Rail, president of North Central college, Naperville, Ill.; Alonzo A. Stagg, director of athletics at the University of Chicago . : Dr. Horace G. Smith, pastor of the Wilmette Parish Methodist church; Adam Trdschmann, chairman oj the board, Northwestern university Y. M. C. A.; W. R. Bimson, asshtant treasurer, Harris Trust and Savings bank, Chicago; Harry C. Kinne, Chicago attorney anp president of the \Vilmette Church federation, and Thomas H. West, president of the Wilmette Council of Religious Educat.ion. Joshua Whitcomb .... . . J. Lincoln Gibson Evanston Cy Prime .... Donald Morrison, Winnetka Happy Jack .. Robert James, Jr., Evanston Frank Hopkins . .. .. . . . Dr. Davies Lazear Winnetka Ebenezer Ganzey .. ·. .. .John Armstrong Evanston .John Freeman . .William Fisk, Evanston Henry Hopkins . . . . . . . L. L. Buchanan, Winnetka Reuben Whitcomb ..... Laurence Norem GJencoe · Seth Perkins ... . Leslie Parker, Evanston 1 Doyle . . ... ..... . .. Waldo Allen, Winnetka Mrs. Murdock .... Miss Marguerite Stokes Evanston Nellie Pn tterson . Miss Margaret Stafford Wilmette The Old Homestead mixed quartet ; Mrs. Byfield, Miss Stafford, Dr. Lazear, Dr. Wilson Fisher. Music will be by ' the North Shore Concert Ensemble, W. N. Pilgrim. director . An interpolated reading by Troy Parker, Evanston. USE tM \ ·· ~ TO CRUISE MEDITERRANEAN Dr. and Mrs. Donlam M. Gallie, 1115 Elmwood avenue, sailed on the White Star liner Calgaric on February 14, for an extended cruise of the Mediterranean. Their voyage will take them first to Madeira, and on to Spain, Afric:t, Greece, Italy, Syria, the Holy Land, Egypt, to King Tut's tomb, Italy, England and Scotland, and bring them on the Laurentic which will dock in Montreal May 7. PHONE "The · Old Homestead will be presented at the Wilmette Woman's club Tuesday evening, March 12. HAVE I I ----1 \~ LIBRARY CLOSED TODAY The \Vilmette Public library will be closed in observance of Washington's birthday.