The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-16

respect their calling, the stage would nj
least aEor healthy recreation, u not in
deed n wholesome stimulus To the excr-
else of u BILE sentiments. But while the
theater is permitted to he n mere shop for
gain-open 10 every huckster OF immoral
gimcracks-there Ii no other way To d y
criminate between b pure and base
than through the experience of others"
A more fatal admission than this could
not he asked by the most violent opponent
of the theater. II freely comedies that
the thcater rs II Is tam who can sec any
prospect OF Improvement does not even
"afiord healthy recreation, much less
wholesome stimulus To the exercise OF no
BILE sentimental" Aud yet the proprietor
OF the Montana theater circuit lauds IL as
"a perennial fountain of intellectual de-
lights" and as the ''ne plus ultra" for Gull
t~ivating the ine feelings and "teaching
humanity" whatever that may mean.
In commenting on this u%tterance the
Christian Vnion, one of the foremost relig-
Gus Journals Of America, says: Their is
no popular amusement which has fallen
the defense saws IL has progressed II
failed 10 insert the word ~'downward.o To
a lower level: none which has been more
besInirched and degraded: none which
has lone more TO debase the imagination,
degrade the moral sentiments, weaken
the irresolute will, deaden the sensibili-
ties, and vitiatc the whole nature"
OF the stage Fanny Kemble says: 1.-The
theatrical profession was utterly distaste-
full to me-nor did custom ever render
this aversion less. ! nave never presented
myself before an audience without a
shrinking feeling OF reluctance, or with.
drawn from their presence without think
ing the excitement I had undergone un-
healthy, and the personal exhibition
odious."
Mr.. Haweis, n distinguished and capa-
BILE critic of the art OF music, says: 1.-THE
life OF n successful finger or an Industrious
instrumentalist Is tuli OF ~peril-p,cril to
virtue, peril to art, peril to society"
In view OF the familiarities and indie
cencies OF the stage which Olive Logan
exposed I'm her letter To the New York
Times, II IL not strange that, as she
charges, "the actual, prevailing charac-
ter OF actors, male u female, has been
not only disreputable hut immoral n
licentious.'
As To the comparative morality OF the
pulpit and stage, b writer In quite con-
tent with the popular estimate and repu-
tation. Suffice u to say when one OF his
Satanic Majesty's imps IN IN search OF q
Livery" IN which To disguise himself, IL
IL not surprising that he should visit the
minister's closet rather than the ordinary
theatrical wardrobe.
Or the average theatrical audience, and
therefore the associations which theater-
goers make themselves participants, only
a few brief quotations, out of many ant
lengthy ones at hand, can be given.
Sir Walter Scott said, together with
Gals in his day, the following: 1.-THE
most refined theaters in the world are des-
tined To company so scandalous that per-
sons not very nice in their taste of society
must yet exclaim against the abuse"
A committee appointed to inquire
into the admission of loose charac-
tiers into one of the royal theaters of Lon
don reported that IL these people were
excluded the theater could not be sup
ported"
A similar committee i'm Boston, though
favorable to the theater, reported of the
fremont theater, among Others, that "a
part Of the house was f~requented by men
of notoriously bad character, and that
there had been no time within memory
when il was not SO in every theater in
Boston. There Is ne cause Of complaint
against the fremont theater which has
not always ext tied In all the theaters."
Complaint was once made in the Public
Ledger OF Philadelphia against his evil.
IN which IL was charged upon the man.
ayers that "tney bring virtue anu vice IN
close proximity, ana parade vice under
the eyes of our wives, sisters AMI aiR
tiers; or II they disclaim such intentions
then they persevere IN "a course which
does. past all doubts, produce such re-
Suits"
DIR. Haydn IL Responsible Tor the follow
ing quotation: "The manager of the Park
theater in New York, attempting to purge
his house OF vice 10y refusing the usual
free admission To the known corrupters
OF virtue, failed, and publicly acknowl-
edged that the theater could not
he supported without the patronage of
the lcwd." There are rs yet no very clear
indications OF the approach OF the day
when theaters shall he subsidized as in
situations for the public good. From the
foregoing and other similar statements il
is a legitimate inference that until that
day arrives, the ''lewd' constitute one
class whose wishes and tastes must he
catered to by the theatcr whether those of
other classes are considered or not. Most
of the adaptations" of the better class Of
plays, the indecent exposure of person On
the stage. etc., have their explanation
here. The baselessness Of the hope of r.
forming the theater. still entertained by