St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-16
SAINT PAUL.
DISCUSSED THE STAGE.
An Interesting Session and Talk
by the Twilight Climb.

The second of tee series of winter meetings
of the Twilight club was held at the Hotel
Ryan last evening. There was full attend
ance and m interesting discussion Among
the members present were Ambrose Tighe,
EN-. Smaley, Rev. 5. &. Smith, Dr. Willard,
Col ID, A. Monort DR.. j. r. Fulton. Rev.
H.b 8, Fairehild, H. A. Robinson.
A,o NJ: Peabody. Prof. Baker,
Rev. II; II. Hart Russell r. Dorr. A. y. Kei-
ioeg, Theodore l.. Schurmeier. Capt. Corning.
w. Peet, G. A. Severance DIR. Alden. o. NJ.
Metcalf. Prof. Arrowsmilh, Howard L. smith.
frof. Gilbert a. 5. Talmadge, Prof. Carmen,
S.5b. Woolworth and IL. Ii. Herbst.
Ambrose Iighe presided. and after the
banquet had been served presented the FOL
lowing topic for after-dlnner discussion:
''phe Contemporary Stage In opening the
discussion, Mr.. Tighe said the drama was
art, not ethics: therefore. il did not possess
an educational quality. 1t was not its pur-
pose 10 give moral instruction. Like paint
ln@ ana sculpture. It's object was to please
the senses. The opera was the highest form
OF dramatic art, and the fact that IL was TAX
ing leading rank i'll stage work was an evil
dence OF the growing culture of the theater
going public DR.. Butterick questioned the
proprlely OF the clergy participating i'll Il
discussion of this charscter. 1t might
pose their ignorance of The subject, which
would be bad, or 1t might betray their knowl-
edge of it, which would be worse. Still. he
was not inclined to a Puritanical view
of 1t. lie thought the pulpit often made
mistake by an indiscriminate denunciation
Of the Stage. There were some Things to
condemn and some 10 approve. He drew
distinction between the literary drama and
stage interpretations of it. The tendency
vas too much to the spectacular, which low
cred the dignity and DESTROYED the intel
lectuality of the true drama. Capt. Moffett
was of opinion that the stage was an educa-
tional institution and capable of performing
equal service with the press and the pulpitin
imparting moral instruction. He disIin
guiShed between the horse play and the
legitimate as Interpreted by a Booth or an
Irving, get both were capable of conveying
useful lessons. The drama was sentiment
animated. The grandest dramatic perform
ance of history was the scene played on
Mount Sinai, when the decalogue was pro-
duced with real and not imitation stage ac-
cessories. Mr.. Smolley sustained the view
that the stage was a useful instructor, and
that it taught morality. lie related his recent
experience in New York, where he attended
number OF leading tneaters, and
was impressed by the high charac-
ter of the performances. Prof. Gilbert
thought the function of the stage was to
please and TO entertain. 1t answered its use
ful purpose in affording mental recreation
and diversion to the busy, careworn re ,ple
who laid aside business and went to the the
ater to be amused Mr. Peet liked the old
out of fashion. He liked to have his eyes
moistened occasionally while Witnessing
some emotional stage acting. He was
going to New York in few days
and was going TO hunt around for theater
where Hazel Kirke" was still on the boards.
The discussion was then participates in by
Messrs. Severance, Schumacher. Herbst, Pea
body, Howard Smith, Capt. Corning. Prof.
Arrowsmllh, Mr.. Robinson, Mr.. Dowsand DR..
Smith closed with Il beautiful roundup of
all the poinls that had been MADE. He con-
fessed that ne had been mystifed by the
genial Oscar Wildeism of the chairman when
presenting the topic. But Notwithstanding
made one of the handsomest speeches ever
delivered before the CLUB, and paid glowing
tribute 10 the eXcelleucy of the stage as ex-
emplitied by such men as Booth, Barrett and
Irving. Hon. e. ID. O'Bren was selected to
PRESIDE at the next meeting of the club. Mr..
1ighe was reelected secretary for the ensu-
ing year. Locke Richardson, who had ac
copied au invitation to be present. sent his
regrets, as he was not well enough to come