The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-17
MfCKfYE's OFFENCE.
The Author Of the New American Play Ex-
plains tt to the Critics.


To THp EprroR OF THE jttN-Sir: A letter
appears In The Sun to-day. attacking the mo-
rality Of my comedy drama. Won at Last" re-
comfy produced at Waliacks. In fairness to
me- I am sure you will grant me space to reply.
Tho points made against the play are az fol-
lows:
I. II Ia claimed that the play IL immoral BE-
cause ita interest Ii made to turn UPON the fact
TINT the hero and heroine are man and Wife
only in name.
q Because Miss Du Sould acts the part Of the
French adventures with such seductive fidelity
to nature.
3. Because the play gloriies suicide
This In not the order Of the points as made in
the letter but IL is the Just order OF their i'm
portanee in their bearing upon the play.
In reply to the first point. must confess that
the objection seems rather strained. The hero
and heroine have become bound by social law
as man and wife. After the bond is formed. the
wife discovers the profoundcst moral reasons
for separation from her husband. viz, her
horror OF u luvclcss marriage"
To any but the most impure mind IL seems to
me the statement of IN is fact is reply enough.
AZ regards the second poiut-if NJ | believe.
NE intent OF The who,s play is truly moral-then
the more perfectly Mss Du Suuld portrays the
character the httcr-and certainly all who have
seen her must admit that her rendering OF the
dangerously iascinati ing French woman IL some
thing unique upon the stage.
Tho charge that my play glorines suicide Ia
equally unfuunded.
The temptation to suicide consists in ing
il as an - ape from sutfcring-its cowardice
lies in Sinking the consequences Of ones own
act. or in succumbinS under the load 0i liiOs
Join Flenino's first attempt nj suicide in tho
play IL one OF total lfabucgation-the motive
II pure, for II ~ done Ia fref. woman he feels
he has wrong,d from 'he rrpilSlNe letters OF a
glor.ilation not Of suicide, but of the love that
cnnObi,s both lie and death.
1he second attempt II suicide IL made whom
Joiu, Fleming IL in the agony of revolt at the
supposed heArtcssness Of the woman he loves;
tbs snpposu n goating him to the commits
sion ol decd which the play distinctly de-
As the writer ofths letter ella ms that my play
may be detrimental 10 its influence over tho
young mon and women who form the largo ma
iority Of theatrical audience. | think may
Justly claim the right TO state my true intent as
"a defence against this un .alled-fur assertion.
me ann oi my play Is not To pr"ach nero
p"tctic morality, nor goodv -gooiy-isin; but 20
tr'it oi real me ~ solcy To- day as tionsanus
know II, IN such II way IA To throw Z clearer
light upon that morality OF nature which under:
lies and overrucs the highest civilization and
the grand"st development Of mankind.
The corner stone OF human happiness IL the
marital relation when that becomes viuatnd
10y pernicious notions. then the race and the so
ciety that springs from that relation b~ome
corrupt and degraded.
There are two classes Of thinkers who en-
danger the purity OF thus ,lation to-day:
First Those who would make marriage
mere means Of worldly or social ADVANTAGE.
hf.tpnt-l nose VINO NOlll tlSfdll us Sthfft
tics altogether and mako the relation oil the
sexes promis uOus and c9rricious. go
Against both OF these classes the story OF the
play Ia aimed. \ young American has been
educated abroad in the midst OF the efcte so
cicty ct the Old World. His experience Of life
has stiilod his naturally manly heart. and nj the
opening OF the play W. find him fascinating
man. W tn aVulOrous record. cynical and world
Nv In his notions and the husband OF n young
Woman who has Judged him out OF the limo
cent ignorance OF her own pure heart. and
clothed him in the glorious garments Of her
This man il placed between two distinct types
| OF woman. VIZ: Those who charm the senses
and thosc who ennohlc and splre the souls Of
men. The play shows that the frs, type tends
to wreck manhood. while the second redeems
| and exaltS II.
The purpose OF the play is 10 show how a
brave man. whose experience with the world
| has turned his heart to ashes. may be redeemed
| from his living death by the grand character oil
| a true woman" one whose instincts are so
| pure that the mere thought OF vice IL revolving
| ono whose heart is 80 holy that il keeps head
| and hands busy with good works.
| The play cndeavors to demonstrate the fact
| that the only safe and worthy hasis oi marriage
| is a mutual love and reverence between man
W. shall never have truly noble humanity
! until nobler love dominnu,s the marital rela-
| ton and the generation oi me rnre. ~
This play is u plea for this Kind of love. How
| then. can its influence over the coming parents
| Il the race IL. IN any way perniciuusf
There Is no subject upon which our young
men and women need enlightenment 10 much
IA this; for their ideals Of manhood and wo-
manhood are most confused. their sense of tho
grave responsibilities OF marriage to iutur,
posterty most dang rousy supr rtlcial
A. marriage makes or unmakcs both the in
dvdual amt the universal man. II seems Quit
tune that art should JON hands with science and
treat ing tnls subject with the earnertnrss II de
serves sock through the medium OF entertain
ment 10 instil into the youth OF to- day a fine
SENSE OF marital duty and IA higher Ideal o
| marital love.
THIS nave honestly cndcavored to do. and
seems strange now lhat TINS cry OF immoralit
should br raised aasal ust a play written and per
formed in this spirit. j, STEELE MACKAYE.
NEw YORK. De-. 10