Wichita eagle., 1889-01-20
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
MRS. POTTER.
Her Ideas of EIevmiiug tho Stage-The
Relati n of Pink Tights to the Higher
Dramatic Art.

Her ideas of Elevnsiug tho Stage-The
Relati of Pink Tights to the Higher
Dramatic Art.
Mrs. Potter still continues in her self-in-
| posed task Of elevating the stage. Just
cow, says the Chicago Herald, sbe is fur
thering that noble and most important in
tcrest by encasing her lower limbs in pink
tights and permitting an imitation asp to
feed at her alleged maternal fount In order
TO add romantic tinge TO this elevating
process she graciously yields 10 the realistic
caresses of the too ardent Belew. and
leaves nothing to the imagination that it
is possible TO risk without fear of police in
reference. How this spirited emulation
OF the Might Owls" ct id omne genus -
TO result in the elevation Of dramatic art is
one of those deep, dark, unfathomable Sc
crets in the thin bosom Of Mrs. Potter
buried. II may all come out in due time il
the Society for the Suppression Of One
Thing or Another in New York does inter-
vene premature!y and cut short this amato-
~ exhibition.
But when the explanation is made 1t will
be profoundly interes ~, particularly SO II
Mrs. Potter enters extensively into the
case and states to what extent, IN her hum
bic estimation, an undraped actor may pub
Icly fondle q half-nude actress without
overstepping the bounds OF high art or Of.
Tending common decency. TIE opinion
Of an ordinary burleseue actress on this
point would be of TO consequence at all.
She is not engaged in eleva,ing the stage.
Her function in life is TO evolve the stage
butterfly By discardiRg the superfuity Of
clothing. she elevstcs and eliminates skirts
without any pretense OF high art purpose,
and as consequence her testimony in such
case as this must be thrown OFT Of cour.
as altogether unworthy Of attention. Bat
with Mrs James Brown Potter the case is
altogether different Born and bred IN the
sanctifed atmosphere Of good society
taught, line upon line, and precept upon pre-
cept, al the principles OF modest virtue and
gentle womanhood; versed in all the higher
moral and social attributes BY reason Of her
education and surrou ndings-her opinion in
regard to tie elevation Of the stage by
means Of indecency viii be Of fresh and
stirring interest
II is now several seasons since she
stepped into the arena full psnoplied-by
Worth-for the frsy. Assuming comedy
and tragic Characters IA turn; enjoying IN
each first the assistance Of Worth and then
Of Beilew, she has bad a ample oppor.uni-
~ 70 redeem Der promise of eieva;ing the
stage. The theater- gong word, in fever
Of expectation, las awaited tbs upward
movement confident that promise 20 fair
~ made would be redeemed, as matter Of
course, By this gratitude from the rresen-
TOYS sweifof1 Of Gotham With each new
character they have sid: sNow prepare
20 see the stage move up peg; Mrs Potter
has hey hosting apparatus al ready" BIT
for some reason or other and in steady de-
fance Of ner much nerA-ded patent motor
the stage has not budged al ioch Com
pisseiy Ignoring the tendcrest s.notsors Of
society amateur seeking fame aad fortune
IN unscccstcrned paths, il persists in re-
naming upon tho exsc. level where IL vss
placed By toe feeble efforts of Edmund
Kesn, Siddors, Rachel, Tslna, Booth, For
rest Irving, Bernharot, Coqrelin, JeEcr-
son. C1shuaa, Nelson, xocsesxs and .
score OF other MISTAKEN soals, who fassed &c
grasp the sirrs..ea- Weighted down by 100
Eisdirected aud uninspsred eHorss Of soesa