Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-02
PINERO ON MODERN DRAMA.

However much we may admire the
poetic drama, however heartily we may
desire it's prosperity on the stage, II Is
modern dramatic drama which springs
from the life of the day, the drama when
deals with the character as we see II our.
selves developing under the influence or
modern advancement or of retrogresslon,
the drama which lays bare passions and
emotions we are feeling-round which
critical controversy most Hereby RACES.
1t Is the modern drama that gains most
readily the suffrage of the general pubic.
The poetic drama might be hkened IN It's
effect upon the general public to a piece
of statuary or a classic landscape, the
modern drama to a painting full OF color,
of arrested movement, of story. Inc
crowd gathers before the painted story.
Some people profess to regret the popu-
larity of the picture that essays to tell a
tale and to deplore the imitation OF life
on the part of the modern drama. how
ever, would say that the modern drama
is admirable in proportion to the close
ness of it's relation to life.
1t is surely the great use OF modern
drama that while in its day it provides a
rational entertainment, in the future 1t
may serve as a history of the hour that
gives it birth. History is the world de-
sire to impress most strongly upon you.
1t is. in my Judgment, the word which in
a breath defines the task, the duty of the
writer's of modern drama. These writer's
are the abstract and brief chroniclers OF
the time. And yet one of the chief diff
culties in the way of the modern drama
fist arises out of that very point. 1t is no
new difficulty, at any rate in our country.
1t is always swapping at the heels of the
writer who takes the tanners of his day
for his material. TIL. license of the dra-
matist is the cry raised, the protest con-
tinually being made against the practice
of the art of the playwright.
Last year there was more chatter about
decadent stage plays and decadent litera-
ture generally than usual. I do not mean
on the part of professional and qualified
critics. who are entitled to deal with the
question:; but on the part of certain gen.
tlemen conspicuous in walks of life re-
mote from art and literature, who are. In
my opinion, not SO qualified. I do not
propose to quote from the utterances OF
all these self-appointed critics; but I Sc
lect for examination the words of one OF
the most eminent of them, BECAUSE to my
thinking, it follows that their expressions
having regard to their positions are the
most mischievous nj regrettable.
At the opening of a public library in a
london suburb in October last, the LORD
Chancellor, after laying down certain
rules as to what one ought to read and
how one ought to read. was reported tc
have said under the heading, "Decaden'
Stage Plays" On all sides intellectual
development is visible, yet there are darl
es in respect to our literary taste
Familiar public amusements, plays, ant
so on are tainted with what, with all rev
erence l might call the spirit of thos'
who made a mock of sin. And to m.
mind 1t has become a serious question
whether, seeing some of the plays now be
ing enacted, there is any great advantag
IN finding somebody to act as censor, an
70 prevent them from being played. I