The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-19
NEEDED REFORM.

NEEDED REEUKMs
Moralists of the pess;mistic school tell us
that all human characters and institutions
contain within themselves the elements of de-
terioration and decay; that, in fact, everybody
and everything is gradually getting worse,
and slowly, but surely, going to the bad. 1t
does not require very close or very wide OBJ
servation to prove that this dreary philosophy
is not sustained by facts, or, at least, is not
universally true. An opposite doctrine to the
one referred to is, that all evils and vices have
an inherent tendency to correct themselves;
that it is never too late to expect an amend
ment, and that when things are at the worst
we may reasonably hope they will grow better.
Perhaps we may find an illustration of both
principles in the comparatively recent history
of the stage Without going largely into the
statistics or details of the subject, it may be
said, in general, that during most of the time
for the last generation or two the history of
the stage has been one of steady deterioration.
In the main, this statement applies to
every feature of the so-called modern
drama. OF the average play of the period
during the last two or three decades it might
be said that nothing could be worse than it's
literary workmanship unless it was its moral
tone, and of the stage in general, that It's
frivolity has only been equaled by its vicious
ness. 1t is doubtless true that, now and then,
an educated, earnest and virtuous man or
woman has appeared among the throng of
actors and actresses, chiefly remarkable for
their ignorance, their egotism and their vices.
True, also, that occasionally new play has
been brought out that is rather less worthless
than the majority But these exceptions
prove the rule, and the fact remains that for
agood many years past the stage has been about
the most demoralizing influence, and stage
people, as class, about the most demoralized
people to be found in the social conglomerate
called modern civilization. But in the nature
of things the downward tendency could not
continue forever and, according to one of the
principles above referred to, when the drama
and the stage got as bad as they could
to improve There are some indications
that the time has about come. The public
is beginning to discover that ordinary actors
and actresses have been paid and praised far
beyond their deserts. This is leading to a
withdrawal of indscriminate patronage Of the
stage, to higher standard of criticism, and
consequently to an attempt OH the part of
managers to offer better performances. The
public taste is improving and people will no
longer pay frst-class prices for fourth class
entertainments. The standard Of public NOR
ais is improving, and decent people will not
patronize VIGOROUSLY dissipated men and dis
reputable women on the stage Tt is no longer
drawing card for an actor that he spends his
summers in an inebriate asylum to enable him
to meet his winter engagements and debauches,
or for an actress that she is the undivorccd
mistress of a lord Along with this improve
ment in public sentiment though caused, we
suspect, more by financial and managerial
considerations, is some improvement in the
show bills of the period. Not quite so much as
formerly are every dead wall and board fence
disfgured with great glaring pictures almost
as 1epulsive in art and as indecent in morals as
the stage itself-more indecent than would be
tolerated in the lowest slums of the worst
capital of Europe. Public opinion has toler-
ated these object lessons Of vice far too long,
and has only recently begun to make itself
felt against them, feebly, as yet but appreci-
ably. Perhaps the pictures have not inn
proved, but they are not quite as profusely dis
played. If the authorities had done their
duty the nuisance would have been abatcd
long ago. If public sentiment will but assert
itself in some practical way the streets of our
cities may soon be rid of the great daubs which
tend to educate our boys in the mysteries Of
crime and familiarize our girls with TIE man
ners of the bawdy house. We have adverted
to some of the indications which seem to point
to an improvement, perhaps not yet here, but
it is to be hoped near at hand, in the moral at
mosphere of the stage. 1t had become so bad
that an Improvement seemed inevitable.
MINOR MENTION.