, 1874-05-03
A Reply to His Sermon Oh the
Drama.
h1r. Chanfrau Defends The Reputa-
ton Of Ills Colleagues.
And Calls Attention to the Record Of
Exposed Clergymen.
What Actors Recently Did for Bap-
tist Church.
Shall There BE a Libel Suit?

Shall There Be Libel Suit?
For the second time in tho past ten years a
Chicago clergyman, on Sunday last, in sermon,
charged actors with being hypocrites and
actresses with being almost universally vicious.
''No man who wanted virtuous wife would
marry an actress" remarked this clergyman Of
the Christian Church.
An1ious to discover how this sweeping charge
would be answered, q reporter subjected Mr.
TnANK g. CHANFRAU,
1.-THE Arkansas Traveller" to an interview.
Mr. Chanfrau, be it remarked, is man Of e1-
tremeIy moderate habits, and looks ten yeh1s
younger than his age. q circumstance not gen.
orally considered indicative OF fast and reck-
less life. He is a man Of culture, and has the
good fortune to be the husband OF one OF the
most popular ladies on the American stage "a
lady against whom no breath Of scandal has ever
been uttered; one whose private life has been
pure and womanly, and whose professional
career has been equally without stain.
It Was natural thnt Mr. Chanfrau should feel
indignation against tho preacher who deliber-
at ely charged his wife with unchastity, aud
used the privilege which his profession afforded
him to Tilify lady whom ho had never seen.
The reporter was not surprised, therefore, on
asking his opinion OF the eermon, to hear him
reply with some warmth:
"You will excuse my feeling somewhnt keenly, :"
said he, TIT is not easy to DO digniied in such
q case, but will not 1etort On tho clergyman as
be dcs eryes."
Ropoyter-You read the sermon, perceive.
Mr Chanfrau-Ycs, MT attention IVES called to
it, Who is the preacher?
Reporter-I believe his mama is Frost. but
never heard OF him before,
4 sESsA T1oSA1 MOVE.
Mr. Chanf1au-I supposed not. It is not
clergymcn OF whom any one has heard before
who vilifv virtuous women. 1t is unnecessary
Do you not see that young aud obscure preach
er can make himself suddenly prominent by A.
smiling tho stage7 It is dodge to attract at
tention, nothing moro, on the part OF these &C.
e,sonal obscurtles: a1.tn W' not efasry Mt
noticing him. Individually, such . man is be-
meath notice. The clergy, as rule. are above
the ignorance that manifests itself in such IN
array Of folly. 1t the same time, there arc
Beoea feesa snoaeh people, beeFo sa''a nj ths
such man tolls them. They have
nevor seen play only judge Of actors by the
reports OF their equally ignorapt pastor. and,
therefore, receive them without question.
THESE FRosr8 AND uATF1ELDs,
granted even tl.nt they are sincere, what do they
know themselves? Has this particular specl-
men ever visited 4 thcatre7 II be has he stands
condemned by his own words. If not, where
can he find the brazen impudence TINT can criti-
else that OF which he knows nothing.
S1r. G. r. Gardiner-It has always puzzled me
to know where the pulpit obtains its private in:
formation Of the Erong-doing OF actors and
aotresses.
L PLAIN WORD TO FROST.
C,.n -. f1,fu EYrH+
.ra beneath argument. But cannot let the OPP
nort,,nitv nass to snv something In that line
throuch TIE TRIBUNE. Did Mr. Frost-I speak
h him "A sort Of laY-figure-eyer condetcend
tn lool At facts Whcre arc the temptations to
m sctresa to 90 astrav, The very gaYety which
nlavs A conspicuous part in the ruin Of yonng
women is part OF her daily life. She ia behind
~ sconoa ~ liYe aswell as Of tho theatre. What
ia pold to the vorking-girl, the society belle,
even the clergymau'e vito and daughter, is only
t;naa1 tn beF' Is she monster OF dcp1ayity
vnere1v hccauao aha knows tawl1ry tlnsel from
MIRA metal? Then again:
WHAT orpoaTuyrrY
does an actress find for fast life Her days are
ivan M to study. be- she never 30 insignificant;
her nights are speut in labor, for acting is not
I'm to an actregs. Tho public has IN extra
ordinary iden Of the life OF one Of these maligncd
ladies'. Bless INV soul. they don't live on
brandr-sma.hes. rniut-1uleps, and Bourbon for
hreakfast and dinner; nor do they cit Toupd
tha fastive-board nfter tho performance.
drinkine M vine until they are carried
aTay hopelcssly Intoxicated The public would
mt recornize in the auiot, modest little Indy,
WIN With her mother or sister, friond or h,,s-
h.nd steals YEARLY home to her family. for
whose support she has perhaps been labosinc,
The actress It npplauded hnlf an hour before.
These nuor girls arc n,aligned because they are
-,;annd ndarstood-maliened by men who endeayor
to coin their lies into money BY uttering them
Feon, ihe nn,nit. We're snv other human being
~ nttcr snch monstrous statements. whore is
the man Who would not resent it?
WV 'A'N' srnyo FoR LIBEL.
R,norter-Haye ron everregarded these state
n,anta from A Ior.i noint of view?
5fr Chnnfrau@ITl be ono to g1ve 81, 900 to u
fund for The prosecution Of any Clergyman who
ds1ea r. assai1 The virtue OF ladies' OF the pro-
tsas;on ~
Renorter-I have no doubt 100 moro such con-
+,,h,,t;ons 1 v.,nid he forthcoming.
Mr. Chanfrau-Whero is tho man who will
dare to aspcrse Maggie Mitchell. Little Lotta,
rhs1,otte T,e, % c,shm.n. Mis-. Charles Kean, Mrs.
Warren. whose bedside attendant was Queen
v;etaTa Wntn' Tn Fannv E.mhIo Jane Coombs, or any
~ t'I tha thourand otbers7 Let your Frosts be
enec;fic if thew dare. and breathe word against
ef~~A.l-. -. :. 1r.. c,t....f1 1F,o Arna3ar