New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-31
TIE MORALITY OF THE STAGE.

DION BOUCICAULT-A LETTER IN DEFENCE OF
"FORMosA"
Some severe criticisms having Deen made on
Mr. Dion Boueicault's play Formosa" tsoon 70 be
brought Outat oth theaters in this city be dbends
in letter to Tie London Daily Telegraph In which he
! gays: ,gaI;;s1A--1' --rev-
We know there are c{tain vice. Ike certain thorough
cas5 The exposnr Of sne a, :, stocratIc proaIfaev
IOrl's tie su9eGt or play" FOrmosaS or, the Rail
ence ought to feel for the backguardism ol my beers
III my ffal heroine had BEEN like Jane Shore poetic
stlc dramatiat, my heroine is fact natural
PROF. action daily in the Park and nightly at the
The truth trouble. 1t not contended that tie
have represented false; but IL Is urged that
such vices should not b" piOried. IL Is net alleged
that have done my work ~ indicate manner; but
adGiteTy IN The Stranger" is lesti@ste II is R 1--WE
acts Pc dee, 1t takes place IN Germany The Drama
prentice, 81 the instigaton of bis paramount,
Miwood murders his uncle and benefactor, was sup
many years performed every Boxing Night to edify
the prentces ana wo king classes OF London assembled
on those festive occasions But when now L exhibit
young gentleman of rank and fortune hurried to ruin by
modern Anonyms and her conederates, am told that
tread on forbidden ground 1t is Indelicate. Vice in
low life 10 ona thing. but wee in silk and san-the uni
form OF respectabythat is reallya kind OF basphemy
we cannot tolerated Had had the common decency 10
have told my story in Italian French! Had placed
the scene IN another country and performed the piece
Theater there could be objection. But TO expose
certain vices ot my beters in vulgar English 70 the
tempt and eXecratiOn iOf two.shilng pit aud six
penny gallery OH u Is Indecent quite true
these pretesses OF ruin, whose lives revealed
FOrmOsa" the great implements OF destruction IN
tho families Of the wealthy classes. II is true that
they are tho pioneers Of begsary and disorder
Protected by the grandeur OF their infamy. they
suit wives and sisters IN the Park and at the
Opera where they hold public levee, mpudenty at
tended by young Of rank II noe Of character This
undsguised homage PAID to these courtesans excited at
ono time, the contempt OF yrtuOus wOmennOw 1t ex-
cites their envy The fashions Of female dress under
going papsbe change, and the so-caled girl OF the
period" Is specimen Fad type OF al intermediate class
that to connect virtue and vice. aud to Oberate
the line Of distinction between them hold the stage 10
be the proper place OF execution where the vices and
foes OF the ags exhibited under expiaOn especially
those vices and fO3 which the law provides
remedy. @Jil' journals wish to restrain the
social Jurisdiction OF and undertake to dictate
what subjects the dra ltsI may select and what char
acters he portray. decline TO submit TO their
troll and disreguard their censure. They usurp The
preTogaYe Of tho public which, questions OF decency
always summa y and jealousy exercised. and
delegated TO jourLast. say this with the greatest
respect for the Pess bpt with still greater respect for
tue London agdiuuce.