The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-12-20
i Svactacular Indecency.


vor,; now the same species of exhibition is
paraded, season after season, on our thea
trical boards, with the highest commenda-
lions of the daily press, and sanctioned by
the presence of distinguished citizens. Per-
haps little more pretense of fimsy dra-
perry may be made in the Black Crook and
Its successors, than was deemed necessary
by the Model Artists, but this slight con-
cession is more than counterbalanced by
the magnifcence, the brilliancy, the volup-
tuous surroundings with which immodesty
makes the same appeal to sensuality. The
basis of the attraction is one in all those
spectacular Dramas" as they arc loftily<
called, and that is the indecent exposure/of
the female form.
Our confreres of the daily press, in their
editorial ecstacies, do not, indeed, enlarge
upon this piece de resistance offhe dramatic
banquet; no, they so into captures over the
scenic effects, the lavish Expenditures, the
silver lakes, the wonderful fires and shad-
ows, leaving the central figure to magma
tien or to the illustration, as given by some
of them in their advertising columns, Of a
female figure not quite nude.
Is this right? We do not mean to ask if
it is right to make such exhibitions, OF for
decent people to witness them, but if it is
proper in newspapers to publish such lau-
>datory critiques.
AS public virtue declines with the grow
ing luxury and wickedness of any country,
of course the public sense of modesty and
Sensuality, which was wont to hide its
bloated visage in obscurity and darkness,
comes forth with audacity into the most
public places, end shame is laughed at as
antiquated and provincial.
But, granting that the times have chang
ed-that national corruption has invaded
social manners-that manly dignity is no
longer ashamed of open pruriency, ought
the press, or leading members of it, to pan
der to this degrading taste 7 Ought they
to lend the sanction of their glowing praise
to the orgies of animal insti.r.ctq
We W 70 not insist that journalism shall
constitute itself school of philosophy, or
set up a censorship over public morals. We
do not demand that newspaperdom should
arrest the tornado with its dimsy wings, OF
auench the fires of human passion with
printers ink. We know that he who crea-
ted the elements must control the tempest,
and that he has organized for that purpose
an agency which is not the public press
But what we have right to ask Of the press
is, that it should not lead and accelerate
the tide of depravity. We have right te
feel surprise that journals which affect the
highest tone of morality and respecta
bility, which pique themselves on being
par excellence "family papers," should
make their columns the vehicle for intro
ducing such moral poison into the sanctu
airy of the home circle.
Many persons are inveigled innocent.
into these gilded dens, through the com
mendations of some journal in which the.
r have confidence. We have heard it state'
1 that even ladies and children have been see
= at these exhibitions. Are not the paper
responsible for their deception Such hig
expectations are aroused by their CLOWN
! and enthusiastic accounts of stage splendol
: while nothing is said in warning against til
: beastiy vice that is enthroned as presidin
divinity over the fairy realm, that curiosit
;, is aroused, beyond the control of a discrs
ton lulled into security.
There are characters SO pure and guile
less, that no contamination would ensu
It from such exposure, but how few'woul
II emerge from the trap unpollutedi 1t
y doubtless true that the advertising of thei
t, concerns pays handsomely, but even thong
&c advertised, why endorsed SO emphatically
s. 1t may be very well, in the way of trade,
Y write and publish unmeaning puffs, b.
to vice ought not to be painted in the beaut
v. full colors of virtue, nor disreputable e
s. cesses elevated to the responsibility of
lie Ultimate art.