Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-23

public Of this city In my Judgment
The Sign Of the Gross II an imperfect
and therefore n false drama. " stops
short Of the actual facts Of tetory'
ana comes 10 very disappointing con-
ciusion. II shows. indcef. but win
scarcely sufficient clearness. the self
conscious satisfaction Of the early
christian. ana sharply contrasts the
eynltation uf spirit Possessed by
the disciples Of Christ. with u Q dirap-
pointment which follows mefs sorldly
pleasure and sensual gratifica' ION. In
two scenes II exposes the ~, ness.
the disgusting and low reality. which
are hidden beneath the glii;clns ex-
terror Of vice. II also presents one
magnificent chnrnctcr--M Marcus super
bus. and II shows how much Drawer.
how much greater. Is true hero OF the
cross than a mere man OF arms The
gradual change IN the character OF
Marcus 4 interesting. and the picture
of Roman life and manners = instruc.
tive. and. believe. true TO historical
fact. Beyond these points ! see little
10 praise IN play which has 70 great
~ set the world aname. For N play
portrnys. In colots u horrible and
painful reality. a onc-sidcd TACT 90,
rather. only half OF one of the great
facts OF history. II shows that virtue
h overcome by vice In this world. how
wv " WNNN w W wv NV w aFNNft
The play represents that the faithful
Christians are thrown 10 the lions.
while hypocrisy. vice. crime, and super
stition. In the persons Of Nero and his
adhercnis. continue TO bear THU nphant
sway ana TO riot In the unhnly pleas
urcs Of sin. The play SUI f-rta that
people who live ~ faithful disciples Of
chriet will be- thrown TO the lions. or
VIII meet some similar fate. while the
Notarics 81 sin nnd the lovers ~ for
hidden pleasures. will. at least IN this
life be- exalted and viii live long In
the land enjoying the envy and praise.
oven u not the real admiration and
arrrohaiion ~ men.
u may b. said that the faith In
glorious future compenHater, In this
play. the loeaeH sustained In this life.
ny thoAc Who nrr represented a. It's
heroes and hcrolnos; but this optimistic
View can be taken only by those Of
strong religious faith or Of wide range
uf thought. For such people, the play,
! admit, would be beneficial. and would
act ~ an Incentive 10 n good life. but
To- the plain Average American, whose
faith ~ not strong and whoac reading
OF history II not extensive. would not
the play suggest 10 him that II docs not
pay Ia be- a disciple u Christi Would
not the average man. IN whom the fact
Of u future existence may be- matter
OF some doubt. conclude frum this play
that II II not good policy 10 DE right
eouH ovcrfnuch"G The man without
great faith or knowledge h too prone
already TO prefer tho enjoyment %
present pleasures. even II that enjoy
ment be- somewhat tlncturod with sin
ful elements. The maxim that bird
IN hand u worth n whole nock In the
bush, already CunmendH Itself too
strongly To the average man. without
its being enforced and demonstrated hy
such an exhibition 81 the present tri-
ufnph OF Vice and the defeat OF virtue
a. Il Afforded by the conclusion ~ the
drama. THE Sign ~ the Crpss." Had
that drama been carried further, A. Il
should have been In order 10 be histnri-
cnlly true. - NJ 20 represent the igno-
fniniour death ~ Ncru compared with
the triumphant death ~ Marcus and
Mercln, then the death ~ the good and !
the true would have been compensated |
In some degree by the death ~ tho cor- !
rupt and hlnodthirrty. hut the drama /
falsely land I might ada UNANIMOUSLY |
alsol ends With the murder 81 the vir- |
tuOur, while the Wicked Htili prosper |
and reign. The only ray ~ comfort. In |
this Ito. ~ least. which the play onerr |
Ia the follower ~ the cross. II the death |
uf one OF the miserable informnntH |
along with the Christians whom he has
betrayed. ! claim that the tendency 81 /
witnessing this play would h. tn lenv.
on many minds the false impression.
tina, so far ~ worldly success ana hon
ur are concerned. honesty II the very /
worst policy And because ~ this lead
inE impcrfection. I Hay the value ~ the
play A. moral agency " very doubt
ful. while IT, effect IL, In all probability.
pcrnlcious upon the morals of the
masses ~ the people
have never seen an unfnNornhle
criticism Of this nature against the
play; but I suspect that such criticisms
may have been frequently. made.
Truly yours.
j. ~, PAUL.