The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-06
THEATER VS.. PULPIT.
Manager Miner Says Some Bible Pas
sages Are as Bad as French
Farc0s


Is the Bible more suggestive than
French farces? Mr. Henry Clay Miner,
who is known from one end of the coun-
try to the other as the owner of sew
eral New York play houses and the
tions. says it is. Mr.. Miner passed
through Topeka yesterday afternoon on
his way to New York city.
The remark which is likely to throw
Mr. Miner into disfavor with the min
listers of the country was made while
sitting in the smoking room of a Pull
man car on the Santa Fe eastbound
train between Topeka and Kansas City.
The New York theatrical manager was
discussing theatrical tastes. and hap
pened to mention the phenomenally
successful run of 1.-THE Turtle" one of
farces brought to this country, at the
Manhattan theater in New York.
while I don't believe in this class of
stage attraction said he, lit makes me
mad to hear the preachers rage against
them. What right have they to criti-
else them while they hold out to man.
kind the Bible, which is more suggestive
in the reading than any French farce
ever produced?
why, if I had a daughter who per-
sisted in reading the Bible" continued
Mr.. Miner, Il would take the book and
tear out the pages of suggestive matter
before would let her have it. If 1 had
to choose between allowing her to read
the Bible as it stands today and sending
her to an acknowledgedly suggestive
French farce, I would send her to see
the farce without the least hesitation.
I don't believe such attractions are
necessary to the stage, although it must
be admitted that they prove wonder
fully successful; but at the same time I
don't believe in the preachers condemn
ing them as long as they stand with
both feet on the Bible.
1.-The theory of the church people in
condemning French farces," went on
the New York manager, lis just about
as consistent as the theory of condemn
ing the fallen women of our big cities
while they send missionaries to far-Off
lands to ChriStianiZe the barbarianS.
1 have had something to do with the
police affairs in New York city and I
know that the majority of women who
are leading lives of shame there have
been forced into their condition by
necessity. All these women need is a
helping hand, so to speak, a kind word
and a show of interest, to cause them
to reform. Who, in the name of heaven,
should be the ones to take this kindly
interest in them but the ministers and
the church people? But, instead of try
ing to help them out of the life they
have been driven to by necessity, they
turn their backs upon them and take up
collections for the advancement of
Christianity among the cannibals.
"Of course, I don't mean to say that
all church people and all ministers are
alike. There are many church people
who do all they can for the unfortu-
mates. and there are many ministers
who do something else except look for
CALI where the salary attached is
larger than the one received. But what
1 mean to say is, that religion, as it is
generally accepted and practiced, is in
consistent. A minister who will stand
in the pulpit and read certain passages
from the Bible has absolutely no right
to say one word against the suggestive
lines of a French farce"
Mr. Miner is accompanied on his
journey by Mrs. Miner. They have
been in southern California for the past
two months, and are now going to New
York to remain during the spring. Mr..
Miner owns the Fifth Avenue, Peoples,
Bowery and Eighth Street theaters,
and controls many attractions, among
them the productions of James A.
HRrna