Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-04-25

OTlttlt DIT TIC i Cd.
The Increasing popularity of filthy
'lays is peculiar sign of the times in
bis country, That such pieces as
'Sapho," .Zaza, "'The Degenerates,
The Surprise OF Love-" THE Second
Mrs. Tanqueray," and THE Turtle"
should be given hearing at first-cass
theatres is bad enough. That they
should employ the talents of respect
able women like Miss Nethersole and
Mrs. Kendall is worse. That they
should be sustained in offending de-
eency by those who consider them
selves the most Intelligent members Of
society is worst of all.
1t is notable that these plays are not
to be seen wt the theatres whose low
prices attract the multitude, but only
1t the high priced houses frequetned
by people of wealth. They do not at
tract the families Of narrow means,
but the class of liberal education and
which is supposed to embody the ma
ions culture and refinement
We have always had public enter
linments avowedly appealing to the
iepraved. The theatres devoted to
his sort of amusement were and are
Known and avoided like other dens of
vice. Not until recently, however,
lave we ha da deprdved drama sus-
aimed by these persons who are sup
posed to be the pillars Of society The
'eason for this seems to lie in the fact
hat we have in the United States an
Increasing number of persons with
mort money than they know how to
pend advantageously and more time
han they are able profitably to en-
ploy.
These conditions are certainly un-
wholesome. Toward the close of the
second empire the burlesques of Often
zach, wherein any virtue is deridat
md every sensual vice treated as the
,rder of nature, were the favorite di-
'ersions of the leaders of French So
iety. France considered herself the
ichest, most powerful and most cul-
ured of nations. The Germans were
elatively poor, and were deemed al
lost barbarous in their dramatic taste
low the French empire proved brittle
the top, with what swift precision
ne Germans smashed it,and how vain
the French people struggled agains,
heir fate, are well kncwn. And to
that end persistence in the same
curses will bring nation may be
een in France today, with its people
isibly declining in physical strength
nd decreasing in numbers.
The question of filthy plays is noi
ne directly of personal morals, bu'
lther one of the public health. TIL
ldividual who with his eyes open anC
moving exactly what he does chooses.
} be diverted with these exhibitions
Ohh IT,
,mption. But we have also large
umbers who are led to these plays
ecause they are fashionable, because
ley are supposed to depict a life
hich the respectable woman know
ut vaguely, and because of the cur.
ent cant about "art for arts sake
A community which becomes brittle
the top either perishes altogether OF
regenerated only by some social
itaclysm which tears off the top and
'ars it under foot This country's
'isure class may well reflect whether
cshould poison itself for the sake of
nriching a few degraded purveyors o!
ramatic filth. 1t may well consider
neither doctrine if license, dis
uiseed as personal liberty" and mas.
uerading as art" ought to be per-
ritted to dwarf the peoples moral de-
adence like unto that of France.
Dramatic immortality is but one
nall side of the enormous question OF
ational development, but it is
lrge enough side to give a sign worth
eeding.-Chicago Inter Ocean.