The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-22
STAGE WOMEN UPHELD
MORALS OF AMERICAN ACTRESSES
DEFENDED FROM ATTACK.
Joseph jefferson, the FrOhmans and
Jacob Lift Believe the Stage as
Pure as Society.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2l.-A writer in the
Herald has been gathering opinions on the
morality of the stage. Champions of the
dramatic profession stepped forth yesterday
TO defend the stage against the attack Of
Clement Scott, dramatic critic, of London,
who, according to the cable dispatches, pro-
claimed the immortality of the greenroom.
Mr.. Scott is reported to have asserted that
it is almost impossible for woman who
adopts the stage 30 remain pure, and, what
is infinitely more to be deplored, a
woman who endeavors to keep her purity
is, almost as a necessity, foredoomed TO fail
ure in her career" adding that mo one who
knows the life of the greenroom dare deny
it, Joseph Jefferson, dean of the American
stage said, when l called on him at the
F'ifth-avenue Hotel and asked him if he
had seen the cable dispatch: Il have, end
1 was quite surprised and confess some
what shocked to see an opinion of that sort
expressed, particularly by one who has been
a dramatic critic for so many years, and
must necessarily know so much of the
stage. An expression of opinion from one in
his position would naturally excite more
comment than one from person who was
ignorant of what he speaking, though
II seems proper ludL we NC CdASA0A
criticisng Mr.. Scott as he has declared that
his article has been misquoted.
yet his excuse that he had written it for
a religious journal strikes me as being
feeble, If not humiiating to himself. Why
should he make the stage appear worse to
a religious journal than he would if he
were writing for a dramatic paper? 1t
seems to me to be more reprehensible,
doesn't it to you?"
DO you think the article logical one?
/ asked.
ION the contrary" replied Mr.. Jefferson,
II think it not only illogical, but most con-
Trajectory.
Why after vilifying the Stage Mr.. Scott
says no one who knows the life OF the
mits that the children Of actors and
actresses seldom, if ever, go astray. This
is clearly contradictory"
Then YOU do not agree with Mr. Scott,
suggested. that the greenroom of the
theater is such a dangerous placer"
Certainly not" declared Mr.. Jefferson,
''at least that has not been my observation.
If when Mr. Scott says greenroom he al
ludes to the wine room of the London music
hall he may possibly pc correct, but II ne
would so scandalize the greenroom of the
Lyceum theater, managed by Sir Henry
Irving or those OF the theaters under the
Kendall l should fancy he makes very
grave error
"Then you do not think anything lewd or
room?" L Yentured.
'That would be a broad and sweeping as
sertion, remarked the veteran actor. The
greenroom is an institution that has existed
for hundreds of years, and POSSIBLY there
have been instances of improperly in the
greenroom of the theater, but they have
also occurred in the drawing room of soci-
ETY. and in the church itself Our profess
sion is so public that the evil that is done
stands so in the electric light of public
gaze that nothing good or Ill connected with
the stage can be concealed"
Charles tronman, turning from q mass ESic Oh
covered his desk in his apartment In the
Waldorf-Astoria. burst into ready answer
of Mr.. SCOTS attack. In the first place,
said the New York and London manager,
II am willing TO think Mr.. Scott has been
misquoted He says he has, and am dis
the more readily and Mr. Frohman
laughed, las l have been so grievously mis-
quoted myself in the last fortnight
II have met MIR. Scott many times have
visited at his home and met his wife.
have always found them surrounded by the
leading actresses of London ! know Mrs.
Scott was especially fond of playing as an
amateur, and 1 know her friends are of the
Mr. Scott's appreciative remarks of stage
folk, l must think ne has been misquoted.
But as to any criticism of the morals of
actresses I know" this with great empha-
sis, "of the respectability of the women of
the stage. I honestly believe that. their
station in life. | know how earnest they
are in their work. how eager for advance
ment 4 am convinced that they nave less
temptation than women in society. Ac
tresses work too hard to have time to think
of the social side of life and its gayeties,
and this alone is a protection against i'm
morality. 1t is absurd to talk of advance
ment in the dramatic profession through
certain influences. Only the public can adj
Daniel Frohman came from the dinner
table of his home, at No. 159 West Seventy
ninth street where he ca, was entertaining
My own experience of twenty years said
he, ''is at variance with the reported utter
aIlces of Mr.. Scott. He himself seems to
have tried to qualify his own assertions by
denying the sweeping character of his
charges This may be due to the fact that
ne is doing an injustice to noble profess
sion or TO fear that the indignation he has
aroused would react upon himself.
Women on the stage are not necessarily
Impure because they are actresses, any
more than women off the stage are impure
because they are not actresses. The ques-
Although Mr. Scott 7J seems Hi'e to arraign
women of the English stage in his charge,
cannot but believe that he has made
shall hear further from Mr.. Scott on the
subject in denial of his sweeping charge"
Jacob Lift, who was Just starting out for
an afternoon drive, kept his footman at his
horses head long enough to avow his es-
TEEN for actresses.
Il would prefer from consideration of Mr..
Scott" said the New York and Western
manager, Ito leave that gentleman out of
TIE question altogether. but [ am happy
now and always in the opportunity to de-
clare unqualifiedly my respect for and
faith in women Of the stage l assert-and
] speak from anlexperience dating almost
from chldhood-that women on the stage
are as estmable in every way as women
IN society. My admiration and respect for
them grows with every day of my profess
SiOnal association with them
Mr.. SCOTS charges are pure twaddle,''
said Harry Mann. There are as good and
noble women on the stage as off it, / know
hundreds of them, pure and Open-hearted,
who would do no wrong. Evidently Mr.
Scott has aimed his attack at the stage,
using the women Il target and for
tunately the charges have no foundation.
AS in every other profession there are some
bad persons. but they are in the minority
on the stage
TIEoUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY NOW.