National Republican., 1883-03-01

This called up Judge Fitch, who, however.
wandered from the question and invoighed
against the great immortality Of New York
and the prevalence and influence Of the demi
monde here, and drew pleasing picture of the
patriotism and virtue of his former home in the
Mohawk valley. This alluson brought Mr.
Starin to his feet, who claimed the Mohawk
valley for his own, and there was merry
sparring on revolutionary history between
Mr.. Starin, his son-in-law, Howard Carroll
and some two or three others. The clock
pointing near 12, Mr.. Bell announced that
after recitation from Mr.. Andrews they
would bid good night, which suggestion was
acted upon, and another half hour found the
banquet hall deserted and the members
all departed with but the memory of n pleas
ant coming. LOCKERS on, however, wondered
was this Butler "boom !" there certainly
had been more politics than rhyme or reason
discussed. ..
THE PASSION PLAY.
The newspaper world are surprised to find
that Mayor Edison has not only denied Salmi
Morse q license TO open theater, but caused
his arrest Saturday evening when attempt.
ing TO give representation Of the Passion
Play for the amusement of a party of friends.
The public of liberal and enlightened minds
are not in accord with Mayor Edison in this
matter Mr.. Morse asks for license the
same as any theater manager, and is willing
to have it taken from him in case any play
produced at the theater under his control Is
| offensive. No one of the many who discuss
this matter at clubs and hotels can under
stand tho objection to Mr. Morse which has
now assumed tho form of persecution ;
and even the newspaper men say IL, though
fear of the public prevents them putting
1t into type. Why not let Mr.. Morse show
what he wishes to do2 Some imagine there
] is Catholic objection, but that is not So for
the Catholics desire TO see the Passion
Playj' Others that Mr.. Morse is jew, and
Tor that reason must be prevented, and that
is not so he is not Jew-and having lived
the world over it would be difficult to tell to
what nationality he does belong. But in a
city where licenses are granted to everything,
and the prominence of many Objectionable
places is made apparent because protected
by the law, 1t seems very narrow to prohibit
q respectable man license 10 open q re.
spectacle place of amusement.
! IL Is twelve years since Mr.. Morse COM
\ mcnced exploring the ruins around Jerusalem
and other parts of Palestine to find corrOb-
| orative evidence of Bible history with view
Of producing a scriptural play, Most of
these years have been given to writing
aud preparing scenes of such n play, and when
| 1t was completed II was submitted TO dramatic
critics and ecclesiastical Judgment None of
| them objected to the so-called Passion Play,
| either on the score of art in getting 1t up or
irrevercnce in writing such q play, except
Rev. Dir. Howard Crosby, Mr.. Anthony Com
stock, and few evangelical preachers who
cater to public prejudice and think they
| preach pure religion when they use for texts
| and illustrations scenes that the delicate
minded of their congregations mover heard of
\ or wish to, or attempt 10 show how near they
themselves are to heaven and its beatitudes
| by indulging in familiar pulpit conversations
with the Deity. This class of men are those
whose influence has induced Mayor
Edison to compel Mr. Morse to close
lVs t.It
third street, dismiss from employment 900
people, and sell the properties of this very
artistic and instructive play.
i--4hose who suppose the Passion play Is n
dramatic picture of the passion of Christ, the
awful march to Calvary, the agony in tho
garden OF Getthsemani, and the cruciflxon
| aud death of Christ, are entirely mistaken
| The story is told chiefly by mind characters,
scenic effects, and music, the more sacred
characters only appearing but indirectly as
! part OF some pageant, and thus in no way to
shock the popular religious sentiment of
Bible believers. The cruciixon is entirely
left out 1t has been suggested by the un-
| terrihedly- publc-opnion class that had this
| play appeared there would have been more
general and accurate knowledge Of the Bible
among that portion of New Workers who
cannot afford to pay the high prices demanded
| Tor church privileges, but who can for q small
sum get into theaters.
CHlLDRENS CARNIVAL.
Then, to show now consistent we are, there
has been not only allowed by the mayor, who
is Supposed to be the guardian of the cIty's
Virtues, but also by Mr.. Anthony Comstocl,
president ofthe Society for the Prevention of
Crime, and Mr. Eldridge Gerry, president of
the Society for the Protection Of Children,
but countenanccd and attended by them and
all good, pious, and charitable citizens of New
YOrk--a "children's carnival" This was
given some time in February under the aus
pices of society of matrons fora charity, and
little children from the age of four years
to fourteen were kept days and nights
previons in feyerish excitement by dancing
masters arduOus drills, and the talk and
arrangement of their fancy dresses. When
tho carnival night arrived tho Academy Of
Music was packed to see two hundred children
dance in poses and figures which would have
been immoral pOstures in professional ballet
dances and in such scarcity of clothing rs to
be immodest.
Verify, Gov. Butler may query whether
this age has advanced, whether little girls
and boys are initiated into the mysteries of
Objectionable masqucrades, and Judge Fitch
dcnounce in vain against the growing in
huenco in society of the demi monde,
when weeks Of teachinS~~is is given to
h9Yas--seiiiifiiiei- understand that there
is meaning of no elevated character in cer-
tain positions of dance, and that little girls
unclothed are more attractive than in the old
time garments our great grandmOthers put
on their children. If these same children
were learning to support themselves in any
well regulated concert or theatrical troupe the
presidents of humane societies would compel
them to leave and live as charges TO support
on city charity. Then, too, why are 10
many theaters allowed to present plays
in which the whole story is of universal ten
dency, as has been the case during the last
year or two at about every leading theater in !
the city Why are the "choruses" and "supesO
in all the theaters women dressed in mems
clothesH Modest people do not enjoy these
plays or these institutions but that Is not the
class controlling public opinion or public |
amusements. And so, twixt tweedle dun and
tweedle dee, morality will soon be out of date
because we are so religious we cannot attend |
to the minor matters of the law.
LENTEN PIETY.
To see the churches filled as..they are through |
this Lenten season would indicate either that |
piety was on the increase or that people who |
frequent Manhattan Beach, Atlantic City, |
and Long Branch on summer Sundays would |
go to church if such places were not closed |
in the warm weather. There Is no place of |
public worship that is not filed to overflow |
ing on Sundays during the winter, particu- |
larly evenings, which may be hint to
wealthy citizNns to immOrtaliZe themselves
by building churches for "the people " in var-
Gus parts of the city. Within Lent there have
been sinaugurated at Chickoring hall Sunday
evening services of tho Episcopal church, aud
because of the singing, or because of Il place
to 90 without paying, the hall was crowded
NIWa aW..