New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-13
MR.. IBSEN'S "GHOSTS.'
"a WORK WHICH A soDDENED sATYR MlGaU
HAVE WRITTEN"

"a WORK WHICH soDDENED sATYR MIGHS
HAVE WRITTEN"
Mr. BENJAMIN Wolff the Editor and the dram
attic reviewer OF THE Boston Gazette" has written
In that paper a true and strong article against ono
OF the most loathSome plays Of this period. MI ~
sens Ghosts" 1t is a rejecting protest asain''
an abominable nuisance. and in the highest degrees
credltable to the scribe and good for the puole'
Such plays as Ghosts" The Second Mrs Tan
aueray" THE Crust OF Society" etc. are nlthy'
noxious, and detestabe. and the people VINO WIG
them and the people who produce them are sro's.
insolent and ought to be so Informed. MI "'''A
says
The performance of Ibsens play, Ghosts i Dy no;
large audience The play enjoys special dls.l my
ton the most revolving that has ever oeen souI.
on Boston stage. The story deals win IA, Tp tbs
sve phase OF heredity. and has for It's moral h,s
axiom that the sins OF the father are yssu ,Sst il
children In this case the particular SIN snA can.
not be discussed IN this place, nor are ''S a play
Ghosts" Is prmtvely artless in consWuSuhomn, ac-
consists OF three long acts of dialogue We heen
ton All that there is in to tell eoa a. iens
a, all In dramatic form Is not apparent, Irs,oned
Is victim OF psress s ma ow Sns He ts simply
snvel!ing driveller. bbulous. salaeous anu his
SG az 6sed mSra the or d4 9ysSi has
ing has taught no lesson that was n STramatIsi
and has never risen above the level OF baby
prosaic report of a medical clinic such plot as =, ~ u
piece has is disgusting from every standPon| snecs
a homily on nameless disease. ana one OF ~ hero
is the animal craving OF IT'S marr0Myiess 80 very
for his illegitmate sister II may possyS The real
be fl for illustration on the sta,ssssa nas,i-
is reached In this three hours or undisgulseu
that the play has received. for IS ABOUT n nan Il
and spineless piece as IL Its nero as b same
is one prolonged flood OF talk; In when NJ, tne as
things are repeated over and over aga'' nm the
the dramatist found a delight In turning Ia np .urs
maodorous mass with stick. for the P work
which the filthy scent AFFORDED nI have written
under the impulse OF morbid retrospecuon nnhoie-
tire atmosphere reeks OF me m, srnr such cold
blooded dissection OF social cancer IN pubic ess
cause the special cancer with which TINS PHI destroy
their health by excuses will absorb corrupSiSoS2
diseases into their blood and VIII, 10 Wy s., must
time remain reeklessy ERE bodIes and souls
OF their progeny to blight their exlstene dn what has
sand such plays as Ghosts cannot a'oD - radically
weak IN human nature and is the result S.rs
heredty that will exert i,s iniiu nn, Those who
are nterested in such matters may obtain az ooSs
informal ion they desire regarding inein paresis
There S is Is or nG m D form there S.
discussing scrofula catarrh or the ~ these Is
or a hob-naed liver; though every ryay than are the
subjects which the grimy ana gre lions OF
Mr. bsen inspire INN TO ,Ss here are assesses
ms, ahscesses contain pus and that the arse very
abscess the more pus IT contains. ,h srsct truth
realistic 10 dramatic an an tSe stage but the now
OF pus would not be any the less 81 the operating
ness because 1t was real ana. oregon is the place
for opening the abscess So Is :, w hs father have
Of weaking whom the SINS ,s,o os from the secu.
s oesn IN which i Is placed to exhibit rs UR =
s s:s: Is a. Insult " '