San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-03-07
THE AMERICAN STAGE.

the throes Of great revolution no
well informed person will deny
The direction it is incliniug is APP
parent to all, and IL it continues at
its present rapid rate it will not be
long before every sober minded
man will be forced to say, not like
Victor Hugo, that, "the theatre is
the crucible OF civilization" but
that it is the "promoter of debauch-
cry and degrader of the public in
general"
Never before in the annals of
stage history has there been
as many murderers, thieves,
toughs and scarlet women before
the public, who have no other rec
concentration as actors and act
resses, than long list Of crimes
and cheap newspaper notoriety.
From a careful reading of the
daily papers, we have gathered
the following collection.
John l.. Sullivan the pugilist,
first appeard in Honest Hearts
and Willing Hands," and later on
in 1.-THE Man from Boston," which
were very good in their way,
but did not weigh morally. Jim
Corbett, O'Donnell, Dixon, Jackson,
Fitzsimmons, McAulitfe and many
lesser pugilistic lights hold the
boards here and there.
Steve Brodie, the Bowery saloon
keeper, sport and bridge jumper,
figures in a play Of his own, "Life
on the Bowery." Tom Gould, who
was once the Tenderloin's tough
est dive keeper, is in "a Dream Of
the Sums" George Appa, Mar
tin Lowery and Negley are said to
be figuring with others who have
made names in the green goods
and bunco steering business.
The worst slam Of all is the in
PRODUCTION OF freaks of nature and
living pictures. Angelina Allen,
modern Narciss who first came
into note by appearing on the
beach in bathing costume which
was remarkable for it's brevity, is
now posing with other "gutter
cats" as living picture.
Lille Langtry, Lottie Collins,
the notorious Eva Hamilton, and
a large number Of other leg and
form showers, are kicking before
so-called respectable men and
women.
This class of performers have
been increasing from year to year,
but never have they been so
abundant, and the educated and
respe ctable actor as completely
ignored as at the present day.
Baseball players, jockeys, profess
sional oarsmen, detectives, police,
flremen, gamblers, men and women
OF all 8 amps, including those who,
like Madeline Pollard, have
gained newspaper notoriety, are
In great demand.
In looking over the history Of
the stage, we discover that the
downward course was commenced
about 1860, when Buffalo Bill,
Wild Bill, Texas Jack, and Indians
were introduced. These pictures
que representative of histrionic
dIU HluLh ultu UuSll uOuSShSlCdl
lingo behind the footlights, and in
return received shouts Of approval,
from a class Of society, which may
have been more highly civilized,
but was hardly more sensible than
the cannibals Of the South Sea.
The next venture was taken
by an eastern company, with
Charley Ford, the traitorous
murderer Of Jesse James, as it's
drawing card, but owing to the
then existing state OF public morals,
it proved a losing business. The
company disbanded in the west,
and Ford betook himself to Colo
RADIO, where ne opened a saloon and
dance hall, and met violent death
a few years ago, at the hands OF an
officer Of the law.
CHANGING back of 1860 we
find the self-rlghteous minis
tiers and hypocritical reformers
using the same undeserVed and
uncalled for attacks upon "the
stage" when it was at its best, that
they use at the present day. How
long will these sOcalled elevators OF
morals continue their ancient pes
simistic and egOtistic methods OF
Iattack? Will they never learn tC
. single out one vice and not strike
at everything in general?
1t is not our intention to be dis
, respectful to either ministers or re-
formers; but what we do intend il
the opening Of their eyes to thei
duty. A false or erroneous method
of dealing with questions of socia
reform or public morals is fraugh
9 with serious danger. Temperate