The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-01
STAGE MORALITY.
rion BoucicnuIts Defense of "FOrmOsn.''

Viou BoucicnuIt's Defense Of "FOrmOsa."
Some severe criticisms having been made on
Mr.. Dion Boucicaults new play Formosd
soon to be brought out at one of the theatres in
this citv) he defends il in letter to the London
D0iy Telegraph, in which he says:-
We Know there are certain vices, like certain
thOrOughfares reserved for the exclusive enjoyment
of the upper classes. The exposure of scenes OF
arstocratc pro1igaCy forms the subject OF my play
Fo,7n0sa. or, The Railroad 10 Ruin. | am charged
with violating the reverence | ought to feel for the
blac kguardism OF my betters. II my frail heroine
had been, Ike Jane Shore, poGuo pros pr0qstitutei
tic dramatst; so my heroine is fact, a natural
production we see daily IN the PARK ana nightly
at the opera Her existence Is the onense OF
which | am guilty. The truth is the trouble
IL is not cOntended that the scenes ] have
represented are false; but 1t is urged that
such scenes and personages should not be exhibited
at alsuch vices should not be pillOrled IL is not
altered that have done my work in an indeicate
manner; but had no right TO present such picture
The patent adultery in The stranger is legitimate
1t is in five acts. Besides, 1t takes place in Germany
The drama of George BdrRreU, in which the appren-
tice, at the instigatiOn Of his paramOur, "MiwOOd,
murders his uncle and benefaCtOr, was supposed to
exercise salutary influence that it was for many
years performed on every Boxing Night to edify the
prcntiCes and working classes of London assembled
on those festive occasions. But when now exhibit
a young gentleman OF rank and fortune hurried to
ruin 10y a modern Anonyma and her .niederates, [
am told that tread on forbidden ground It is in
delicate. Vice in low life is one thing, but vice in
silk and satn-the uniform Of respeCtablity-that
is really a kind OF blasphemy we cannot tolerate I!
Had had the common decency to have told my
in another country, aud performed the piece before
select audience at the Opera or at the ST. James
Theatre, there could be objection But to expose
certain vices Of my betters in vulgar English to the
contempt and eXecratiOn Of twO-shil-
ling pit and siX-penny gallery! on,
it is indecent! 1t is quite true that
these priestesses Of ruin, whose lives | have re-
VCaled in FOrHOSG, are the great implements of
destruction in the families of the wealthy classes 1t
is true that they are the pioneers of beggary and
disorder. Protected by the grandeur of their in
fanny, they insult our wives and sisters in the Park
and at the opera, where they hold public levee,
impudently attended by young men Of rank, il not
OF character This uDdsguiscd homage paid to
these cOuresans excited at one time, the contempt
OF virtuous wOmen-nOw it eXctes their envy, The
fashions OF female dress are undergoing palpable
change and the sO-Called 'girl of the period is a
specimen and type of intermediate class that
serves to connect virtue and vice. and to ODliteTate
the line OF distinction between them. | hold the
stage TO be the proper place OF execution where the
vices and folies of the age exhibited under eX-
patton, especially those vices and fOlies for
which the law provides no remedy Some
journals wish to restrain the social jurisdiction of
the stage, and undertake to dictate what subjects
the dramatst may select and what characters he
may portray. decline TO submit to their control,
and disregard their censure. They usurp the pre-
rogative Of the public, which, on questions of de-
cenCy, is always summarily and ealouslv exercised,
and never delegated to journalist say this with
the greatest respect for the press, but with still
greater respect for the London audience