The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-12


be- had. In the first place, it should be IN
dc7s.ood that the American theatregoing
public is rot just like that OF France. In
France young girls are not allowed toattend
the ordinary theatrical performance. In tbs
country the matinee girl forms large
part Of the audience at every popular play.
There is 10 way 20 prevent this. Whether
the girl Of sixteen. eighteen or twenty
goes TO the theatre or not, she will hear
popular plays discussed. and it is impos
sijle that they should be kept out Of her
way Il therefore behooyes careful and
self-respecting parents TO see that the stage
in reputable theatres is kept decent. There
viii always be the variety theatres at
which considerable license is allowed, but
when a frst-class house allows company
to occupy its stage that fact should he
tacit promise TO the public that the play is
Mt 10 be seen. Until comparatively re-
cent date this was true in most large cities.
Il is only of late that respectable managers
have allowed themselves. or been forced.
70 present TO their patrons dramas which
a decent man cannot take his wife and
daughter to see.
II may be argued that innocence is not
ignorance. and that a seIf-respecunE girl
can Rad novels and see plays which we're
tabooed TO the girls OF former generations.
Tho fact remains that the play, more than
the novel, appeals to a girls imagination,
and that some foolish young creatures. fas-
oinated by ths glitter and dazzle Of bad
play. are led 10 experiment with life in
way which they viii afterUard have bitter
cause to regret Whether they do this or
not it is certainly not good thing for
them TO be- familiar with the under side
Of existence to the exclusion Of all that is
fair and lovely and of good report. and if
the French farce is to dominate our stage
1t may come TO that. Another factor in
the situation is the large proportion of
children in our great cities who are born
OF foreign and often ignorant parents.
These children too often come to regard
their parents ideas as old-fashioned and
worthless. and the newspapers, the stage,
and The cheap novel become their social
authorities. The public, which has 50
weakened the control Of the family over
these young people, certainly has a duty
toward them. and that duty is to keep
the public standard Of morals from de-
basement.
Another point which should be con-
sidered in this connection is that the work
Of American playwright%- is crowded to the
wall by the continual use Of French and
English plays OF doubtful character. There
is infinite opportunity Tor the playwright
here in America and without INDUCING in
any mons ense about the protection Of home
industries, it Is well that he should be
enabled TO use it. He should not be forced
TO spice his work with immoraliy in order
to compete with foreign farce-makers and
effect a sale. That is not the way in which
the true. strong. rich American drama is
to be developed. It is a significant fact
that several of the overwhelmingly sue
cessful plays OF the last ten years have
been American, and they have been clean.
The public has shown its appreciation of
good work in the most telling way-by
paying its money at the box Office.
The long and short of it is that we do
not want our social life modelled on that
OF French novels or plays. The latter
is not suited to the Anglo-Saxon character
There are iunume1able pure homes and
lovely women in France. but apparently
there are not in French dramas. why in
the world should We. a home-Ioving. decent
people make a deliberate study Of the
worst and most c0rrupung side Of French
society. even If il is Illuminated by good
acting ard a welI-eonstructed plot?
It Is generally acknowledged in Great
Britain that nothing would be more pleas
ing or useful to Her Maiesty's Government
at the present time than knowledge that
the feeling OF the American people was
one Of friendship Tor the Empire. British
journals suggest that a good deal might be
given or forgiven to accomplish such an
end. This reminds us that England had a
remarkably fine opportunity to establish
fraternity with this country after the Span
ish war but threw it away. Eighteen
months ago old scores were buried and for
gotten. and Americans were fun OF good
fellowship and a sense Of kinship with
their transatlantic cousins. There came
the Canadian attempt to steal slice Of
our Alaskan sea coast and. later the Hay
Paunccfote Treaty It is much to be doubt
ed that the sentiment Of this country to-
ward Great Britain is as friendly today as
il was in 1881
We are sagely told that the Adminstra-
ton wants the French reciprocity treaty
to became law. Then why does not 81 send
for the Congressional managers and
threaten them as it did iu the Porto Ricau
tariff case? It has the power Of coercion,
which is better than a constitutional right
because it is one capable Of being respected
under Republican Administration.
The Hay-Fauucofote situation remains