San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-14

noblest and best in the human race
The morale of a play should ever be on the
side of virtue. Vice should never be glori-
fled and rectitude in man or woman be-
Titled Such action cannot be productive
of good The old or the young will not
profit by 1t. Indeed upon the young espe-
cially at the formative period of life, its
effects cannot but be pernicious.
/ am moved to these reflections from the
fact that during the past few years it has
become the fashion to import and produce
in our leading theaters a class of plays
which, while they possess the highest lit
erary and artistic merit, are decidedly
risque. Indeed these plays are more than
what our French friends call double en-
tendre In downright plain English, they
are sensuous. No American playwright
would, if he could, write such plays. He
would be anathematized by press and pull
pit from Maine to California, from the st.
Lawrence to the gulf. Like Othello his
occupation would soon be gone, for theat-
rical managers, who watch as closely the
pulse of public opinion as ever does care
full physician that of a fevered patient,
would cease to extend the gladstone hand
and beam upon him with the welcome eye
when he appeared with other productions
of his pen. Self defense would compel
such course, for, having pulpit, press and
people arrayed against him, where would
the manager come in?
No. it is only the daring genius of
Dumas or Sardou that can evolve plays
of such caliber and not only make them
pass muster, but actually capture and in
thrall the public I mean to speak in all
fairness. Not being a playwright, 1 can
not be charged with professional jealousy.
Neither am Ia iot jealous Of any of my fell
low actors, men or women, who have
achieved success in the dramas of the great
French playwrights. As the Irishman
says, more power to them. hope they
will win gold and glory galore. would
like to see all of my compatriots prosper,
for know how tempestuous is the great
ocean of trial before the haven of success
is reached. No, 1 repeat, 1 am not par
ticle jealous of any fellow artist, for, like
the eminent Mr.. O'Reilly, whom Poet
Dana has immortalized, 1 am doing
quite well' myself in my new play, His
Wife's Father, now running at the Fifth
Avenue theater, n. Y. will not weary my
readers with description of it, as 1t has
been freely and extensively analysed by
people far more competent to criticise than
your humble servant. Suffice it to say
that it is clean, wholesome comedy, the
very best that talented lady, Martha Nor
ton, has ever written. 1t abounds in comic
situations and fairly bubbles over with
mirth throughout, yet there is not a single
prurient detail in the play.
Having thus, like good lawyer dispos-
ed in advance of any charge of professional
jealousy which may be brought against
me, l now return to the main argument.
l believe play should DO healthyin tone
rs well as strong in dramatic action. If a
play of the more serious sort, like ''Shen-
andoah," for instance, patriotism, oour-
age and honesty in man and virtue In
woman should be the stellar features. OF
course vice, too, If present, as it almost
unavoidably is, should be skillfully depict
ed, but 1t should never predominant and
be made the feature of the play. A play,
like sermon or good novel, should bear
a moral 1t should bring out in bright
colors what is best and noblest in man,
not what is ignoble and depraved. Let
me exemplify. In the play dramatized
from Dumas "Three Guardsmen," Por-
thos, one of the noYElists heroes, is hui
morously depicted as living off the bounty
OF MS mistress, tne Wl1e OF a petty mer-
chant, and commended by his comrades
for his cleverness in forcing tribute. In
one of Sardou's latest and most brilliant
efforts the heroine, who is deeply religious
as well as arrogant and opulent, declines
wedlock with the hero of the play, for
whom she acknowledges her love, because
he is beneath her in station, but suggests
an amour as being most satisfactory to
both parties In interest.
What sort of lessons are these to incul-
cate? What impressions will they make
upon the hearts of the youthful of both
sexes, lads and lasses, whose minds are
not yet developed, but like tender saplings
easily bent to the right or left5 What feel
ings will they engender in the minds of
giddy men and women who look on life
as perpetual holiday, and who are con-
stantly studying new methods of enjoy
menti
will sum up in one brief sentence my
opinion Of heroizing vice: 1t is danger
Gus precedent to establish and may lead
the weak TO evil
Let Us now look at the other side of the