The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
WARM FOR
CLEMENT SCOTT
Prominent Theatrical People
All Over the World
Express Indignation at His At
tack on the Stage.
WHAT A CRITIC SAID.
1t ArOuses the Resentment of
Madam Janauschek.
Says Scott Could Not Enter Her
Glass.
WHAT A CRITIC SAID.

New York, Dec. 9O.-Clement scotts at
tack on the English stage has aroused
great indignation in London and America,
and prominent theatrical people are re-
plying TO the Indictment in strong words
A cable dispatch from London says:
Sir Edward Lawson, proprietor of the
Daily Telegraph, has been urged by in
huential theatrical people to dispense with
Mr.. Scott's services as dramatic critic,
on the ground that his convictions. as ex-
pressed in the Great Thoughts inter
view, unfit him for the fair performance
Of his duties as a critic ard make further
relations between him and the thea tricaI
profession practically impossible.
Although Clement Scott's position on
the Telegraph has undoubtedly been seri-
ously damaged by his fndiscretion. the
CO. respondent can deny, both Scott's au-
thority and that of the proprietor of the
Daily Telegraph. that his services for that
Journal have been discontinued. The re-
markable fact is that, even in the profess
sion itself, the substantial truth of Mr..
Scott's statement is admitted by many
actresses, although they dare not for OBJ
Vious reasons. say so over their own sig
natures These. however are the unsuc-
eessful ones. who attribute their continu-
Gus occupation in the back seat of the
profession TO the causes recounted by Mr.
Scott
Actors and managers. on the other hand
iercely resent the gross tmputation made
upon them of blackmailing methods. In
divtdual examples may be mentioned they
admit, but they claim that their dealings
with actresses, as a rule are perfectly
honorable as between employer and en-
pIoye.
Through the courtesy of the editor of
Great Thoughts. the correspondent is able
10 send the text of the interview, which
viii not be published until January / It
reads:
If anyone loved insisted upon going
on the stage contrary to my advice. l
should be terrified for her future. hope
less for the endurance of her affection. or
even our friendship. For stage life, ac-
cording to my experience. has a tendency
TO deaden the finer feelings and crush the
inner nature of men and women. to sub
stitute artifciahty and hollowness for
sincerity and truth. L speak from inti-
mate experience with the stage, extending
over thirty-seven years. OF course, 1 re-
fer now to the inner life of the theater,
that which goes on behind the scenes.
In dealing with this inner life I leave
out all reference to what 1 may term the
theatrical families of the stage-those
well known people of generations of play
actors They are like doctors and art
lists, to whom the whole thing is a mat
ter of training for the profession They
either do not notice or are unaffected by
what. perhaps, comes as shock to the
novice I speak. rather, of and to the
hundreds of young people, especially of
the opposite sex. who have an unhealthy
craving for matters theatrical.
1T is really impossible for a woman
to remain pure who adopts the stage as
profession. Everything is against her !
The freedom of life. speech and gesture |
which is the rule behind the curtain rem
der it almost impossible for a woman to |
preserve the sweet simplicity of manner
which is her greatest charm. Her whole |
life is artificial and unnatural to the last /
degree. Therefore, it is an unhealthy life |
to live.
But there are far more serious evils to /
be encountered than these. The draws /
backs mentioned are things that render /
1t impossible for lady to remain a lady. |
But what is infinitely more to be deplored, !
is that a woman who endeavors to keep |
her purity is, almost of necessity, fore |
doomed to failure in her career.
TT is awful thing to say, but no one |
who knows the life of the greenroom win |
dare to deny it, More need not say. I !
could give chapter and verse for my au-
thority by the dozen, but it would not be
very savory reading. All that can say
is that marvel at any mother who al
lows her daughter to take up a theatrical
career
Still more am I astounded that any
man should calmly endure his wife to be
come an actress unaccompanied by him.
self. He must either be a fool or a. knave
Nor do I see how any woman is to escape
in one form or another
surrounds her in every shape |
and on every side. Her prospects fire.
quently depend upon nature-and the ex>
tent Of her compliance and, after ALL hu-
man nature is very weak
Two things I want to be made clear.
First that it is quite possible to lead a
good life on the stage. Thousands of peo~
pie do SO. Miss Blank, for instance. is as
good woman as ever lived. But the
fact that many people do lead good lives
does not remove the great temptations
from their weaker brethren. Second. that
am not canting prig, or a Pharisee.
who makes broad his phylscteries Thank I
God, am as other men are. The tempta>
tons of the stage have been quite as bad
for me as for anyone else if not more.
1t would disorder any life shipwrecI1 any
temperament, however religious. to have
your whole mind devoted to snowy and
alIuring things for thirty-seven years.
The worst Of the theatrical profession
Is that it induces vain and egotistfcal
ideas in all of us to a degree scarcely
credited by an outsider Actors, and very
particularly actresses, cannot bear a word
Of dispraise.
You may lie in praise of an actress un-
til your very soul is blackened. but once
tremble in the confines of veracity. and
your life is a burden to you from that
hour.
I have received letters literally nv the