The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-10-24
THE STAGE DEFENDED.
A Writer who Insists that the
Stage is Not Immoral,

All arts, all professions, are more
generously treated (perhaps 1 should
say have been) than the stage; it de-
tractors are legion. Few seem to b. We
thought for themselves upon the sub
ject; all appear cramped and euveloped
in the opinion of others. Daily we
hear the question: "Is the stage IN.
moral2' ana upon this subject have l
been tempted to fly to the ink bottle
and put upon paper my humble
opinions. Is the stage immoral +?
No Are those upon the stage
immoral : Some are, perhaps, as
in every other calling or art under the
sun; but are all to be condemned for
the sins of the tew2 That the sta e
breeds5mmOrality most emphaticaLy
deny. That a vicious person will
develop vice as quickly in other pro-
LESSONS L am not prepared to say, but
that there is less immortality upon the
stage than in many other CALI g 1
have no hesitation in sayine A re-
port toolishly invented, perhaps as an
advertisement. is circulated. 1t is OF
some very popular actor, whose name
is in every ones mouth; the report is
repeated until 1t is perverted, altered
AID doctored to such a degree that the
originator wOVld not recognize it as his
own
The public is ever eager to he, ? of its
favorites and-I regret to say-a cruel
evil report is more readily believed than
a kinG one.
Islander lives upon succession
Forever housed where il QPtE nOE9aQzfnv
Reason and common sense are seldom
called upon IN judging an actors per-
sonal character.
1t is not long since an artistic visited /
our country of whom the most vicious |
stories were told-stories of nights and /
days OF dissipation and wrong-doing. !
yet this artiste's daily life gave the lie /
to these ISLANDERS. She was in the theatre
from ten IN the morning until twelve |
at night, with but an hour or so to eat ]
rest and prepare for the nights IB5or.&
Certain it is that if an actress WORKS
conscientiOusly during the time she is
IN the theatre, she has no time either
for silly nothngs, dissipation, or nom
sense.
An artistic who loves her work. and
has reached the pinnacle in her art. /
VIII no. for instant forget it, or lose one
step that she has proudly attained.
No one who has won name and fame
honestly, and possesses talent, could l.
retain either il her nights were PASSED +
In dissipation and her days in bed.
l believe that why the stage is called /
is because those that call II so
are ignorant of it. If the foundation
progression, and gradual DEVELOPMENT
OF the stage and drama were taught in
our schools, as other branches of his
tory are taught teaching all the good
that has been in ito the pupils. ano
showing how its light has been a steady
one, SHINING forth through these years.
en!lghtenlng, amusing and cuItiVating
II TINS was done, time would soon
etface bigotry, and the habit of condern
nation would grow less and less. and
me stage would be Judged as other arts
and callings are judged.
: Because a minister sins. is the eb1rob-
condemned Because a drunken can
AIN loses the souls under his care a.
a, are ships condemned Because
aWyer Is rogue, and runs away with
Win MS nelghbor's wife. is the law for
aver lost! And because an actor sins
must the stage be forever presented {?
shall all vines be DESTROYED becsuse
some men become intoxicated . WITH
he juice OF the grape2 An ill use
las oeen made OF most sacred things
yet should we condemn sacred things
or this reason! How many entered the
enjoying regulations appar
.ntIy Vlrtuous, have in a short time g ,
IelSped into characters both immoral
tnd sinful: They but needed the OBJ
;ortunlty. ana brought into the profess
ION the badness within them.
Let The drama second the efforts of
ne pulpit and it will be found an active
ND powerful ally in the cause of virtue.
IL is the public who can do this. Lei
hose " no are all powerful resent vice
no drive 1t from the stage. as in
our churches you would not entertain
.lnI, SO IN the theatre condemn il. not
" SANDER and talk. but nv acts which
yer speak the lOudest. That the stage
as deiects, crying ones, 1 frankly ad-
1lti put they are not irremediable: ,
ney olsgrace, but cannot destroy the
T0TTGF m ODnnTmon1