The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-06

II viii be many days ere quiet succeeds
the storm which Clement Scott evoked
when he wrote his article touching on the
morality Of women on the stage Not .
woman nearly or remotely connected with
the profession. who had anything OF true
wemanfiness within her. but repudiated
his attack; since his opinion was published
the world has learned more Of the inner
nature of actresses than IL could possibly
have learned without some such stirring OF
the elements. Champions OF the sex and
the profession have arisen In unexpected
places. and Mr.. SCOTS aiatribe may be
accepted a. a not unmixed evil
Mrs. Robert Droaet is a keen observer
and a critical analyst: therefore. when the
Clement Seott article Jared through the
press IL was easy for her to take up her
pen In defense of the women in the pro-
fession, whose good she has at heart.
She Is impartial in her observations. but
she asks for justice 10 the women whom
love OF art. as often as personal
vanity and love of admiration. sends to the
stage She admits the presence of the vain
stage woman: II Is not possible 10 omit her.
but she d-cries the tendency to pass judy
naent on ali alike. The question is old and
often discussed in the drawing room as
behind the foo,llghts, whether because the
influences OF the stage are supposed TO DO
evil rather than good. pure and good
woman mas not lead her life as singiy as
In any other profession. Mrs. Drouee
speaks from the standpoint OF an observer,
but an observer who was suddenly trans
ferred from the social life to the scenes or
the theater. Some Of her words are worth
quoting:
~ do not wish 20. nor will I. defend the
women who crowd the stage merely for
the satisfaction OF personal vanity. to have
a pretty face or form admired the inordi-
nate craving for admiration that ! am
forced 10 admit belongs to many OF my
sex One cannot discuss such women by
any other standard than one discusses
them in other walks OF life. Their vanity
displays itself at all times--in all stations
The stage. I am sorry TO say. has more
than It's quota of such women. Why?
Because there the vanity may be satisfied
I'm a large. more public, way than in their
circles in private life. II is by this STAN
dard-of whom much is published-shat are
judged all stage women.
o O O
rs this Justice Do We In social life say
all society women are immoral because
some fall by the wayf Do We say all non.
professional women are immoral because
40 many on our streets are tainted? No.
Yet by the class of admiration seekers
foolish women who would still be foolish
women on the stage OF, We judge all
professionals. Is this fair? Ii Is criminal
injustice. Some one interrupts me. But
stage werk demands so much freedom Of
speech and manners. Do you think for
one moment stage business is not like any
other trades? man or woman goes TO
tho theater to work. True. many love the
art. but they work for compensation! Do
you fancy for moment the hero In love
with the heroine7 DO you think the love
scene means anything beyond the playing
or a parf2 Very seldom. The tender
love you Ia more apt 10 mean j dislike
you behind the scenes. Do you think the
woman Is thinking OF the actual man, or
he OF herr They both would tell you they
were thinking OF their lines. their work
lost perhaps In the emotion they are depict
ing. bat each almost unconscious OF the tn
divsdual.ty Of the other except as that In
dividuality IS the part
II 81: in front. oftentimes. and listen 90
the comments OF the unsnitiated. They
would be amusing were they not so often
hidsopsiy untrue and so often the result