The record-union., 1894-04-05
THE QUESTION OF DEcENcY.

caLeO GnaC MaQeIno~ fOllarQ mas Deen
offered a high weekly salary to go upon
the stage, and that she will probably ac-
cept. That manager to compile his outfit
should include Congressman Brecken-
ridge in his scheme.
Since the melodeon has vomited upon
the legitimate stage all the foulness with
which its bestial stomach was charged,
the legitimate drama has neither hope of
success nor reason for attempting it. Fat
calves, slim ankles and barred bosoms
up the stage; leering bawds and unblush-
ing women with no uncertainty about
their reputation; plug uglies and prize
fighters, ex-convicts and the like draw
nowadays, while genuine art languishes
and willis. This is simple recital Of fact
IS every one knows.
The Stockton 1IalE may well ask:
On what manner of dramatic times have we
fallen when q man has but to be noted
bruiSer or a woman successfully unchaste in
order TO make herself drawing card" for
theatrical managers? Nay, let US change the
application OF the question and ask, What OF
the moral and Intellectual condition Of the
pubic tnaJ turns out IN Datt4llODS ana pays
its money for the privilege of seeing a mus
cular pug or woman OF forgotten virtue
murder art?
During this very week in Sacramento
true art in the hands of competency and
officered by refinement and virtue has
been playing at our chief theater over a
chasm of empty benches, and to a hand
full of citizens who have still some re-
spect left for the honest dramatic artist.
The reply to the question, why is this
SOP" is common; "hard times; the peo-
pie have not the money" Which is not
true. Announce a "leg show" at the
same house, bill a nose-smasher for the
same dates, proclaim the advent of new
prostitute upon the stage, or the appear
ance of a woman who has broken the
moral code from A to z and the house
will be filed, the money will be forth
coming.
What is the matterP Simply this,
lascivious print, indecent literature,
bawdy reports in the public press, and
the metal-clad consciences of theatrical
managers have corrupted public taste
not among all the people, but sufficiently
to affect the box returns to an extent that
forbids true art living.
But "you must never scold the public"
cries the critic. True, for it is not en-
boded, it is not palpable. not a person
ality to be affected by frowns. But none
the less, the truth should be spoken of
these things We are reaping upon the
stage the harvest of sowing that could
produce no other crop. The police-ga-
zette literature of the last thirty years has
so largely dominated in the matter OF
general news reading and current print,
that it is simply silly to attempt to deny
that it has perverted the taste of the
generation that has come on in that time.
To-day young women whose repute is
that of modesty sit beside their escorts in
theaters and witness exhibitions Of which
the young women of the last generation
would not even think. Are our children
wiser, better. more refined in taste be-
cause Of the change?
Would we have a censorship of the
press? By no means; but over nastiness
yes. That which is admittedly public
nuisance: which unnecessarily affects the
health of the community; which depreci-
ates property values because of its public
offensiveness; that which interrupts the
right to quiet and happiness in the home
because of noise, foul fumes, or threat OF
injury, may be abated as public nul-
sance. Why not that which on the pub
lie street, in print, book, paper or stage
exhibition threatens to substitute inde-
decent for decent tastes; to create morbid
appetites that demand and can have salts
faction only by nasty, criminal and i'm
modest supply.
of course morals cannot be legislated
into a social code; men and women are
not made modest by Act Of Parliament.
The line between prudery and protection
of the plastic minds of youth from con-
taminatfon is very fine one, difficult to
draw. The law at present goes TO the e4-
tent of putting its condemnation upon a
very large class of corrupting literature
and it is enforced with measurable sue
cess, We're it not for that law the forbid
den prints and books would be boldly
displayed and sold, since there are peo-
pie in plenty whose greed for coin would
lead them to traffic in human souls.
So that it comes to this question. How
much further may the law be extended
with safety to the freedom Of the press
and the inalienable rights of human be-
ings, in the interest of public decency and
with view of conserving all efforts to
improve the public taste?
THE affray in Kansas City was most
lamentable affair, rising in its sigpIh-
canoe above the fact of the loss OF lie.
All contests arising out of religious con-
troversy or the injection of religious IS
sues into politics are dangerous in the
extreme. We do not believe that there
was occasion for the kindling OF the STRIFE