The oasis., 1894-05-17
@2H Thursday, May Y. 1894.
The stage and Art.
Chicago Inter-Ocesn.

that the stage is the mirror of the
 times, and one needs but Oreyicw the
 stage for the past ten years in this
 country to be sorrowfully assured that
 public tastes and morality have dcte-
 riorated through the license of the
 senses. The radicals will inform us
 that what conservatism may describe
 as moral diminution is really indica-
 tive 0f increased culture and the
 growth Of intellectual courage. and
 will maintain their point ~o well by deductions from their own premises
 that competent minds may be per suaded to accept for truth and wisdom theories that are both false and yi- cious. Nothing that tends to the prostitution of ideals or to he sacrl- ice of that innate modeSty which is zt once the beauty and the strength ur the high spiritual nature. can make for culture 0r refinement Sophsti- cation is not by any means culture, any more than knowing k Knowledge or polish is refinement.
 The decline of moral scnsibility in this country has been indicated most conclusiyely and indisputably ill the gradually increased boldnesS of theat- rical caterers to the public appetite for the suggestive and meretriciouS Within dozen years there has been an almost incredible increase of impu- dicity in the parade of women who for hire put away the last trace of that delicacy and reserve which con stitute the beauty and the glory and the power of womanhood.
 Such exhibitions as are made now with impunity would have outraged public decency decade ago, and sub iected the offending persons to severe penalties Of the law Whereas for merly dancers in the ballet were re- quired to costume themselves ia am pie skirts and wear trunk" that ex- tended, in volumlnous folds, half way to the knees, those attired as boys be- ing compelled to wear loose knee brooches. now the aim of the costumer is to make as little cOncealmcnt as possible of curves, and depressions, and draperies are dispensed with en- tirely. The covering that emphasizes what 1t affects to conceal is many of the women who now strut and posture, shameless, on our stage would be more modest to the view were they clothed only in natures simplicity.
 The effort is 10 have every confor- nation distinctiscly defined. and sue cess to this end has been 50 complete that the triangle of satin or silk, which is the scant survival Of the trunks, has not the virtue of he con ycntional fig leaf
 Encouraged by the indifference Of the public to the attitude of iirst-class theaters and tirst-class managers aS psttluCiS tp AjAt lIbtuiliDttSs llppl ltl Ni ~ of places Of amusement on much lower plane are following the example and advertise living pictures for the delectation Of patrons who make no pretense to an appreciation ofart that does not suggest the obscene.
 It iS probably in line with the new  order of thought and enlightenment that we should accustOm OurSelye, to inc degradation Of womaDhood as spectacle. luasmuch as nakedueS5 OK. ists we may as well beroU familiar with its appearance couttmss would say thesc reformeTs IUd rcgcneratcr, Of society who dcnouncc modcsiy as weakness and who sc il mental thas- tity only ignorance. and who have rlo.nn .a u,urli atrcqdr tn .auliohfau