New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-06
THE DRAMA.
OLGA NETHERsoLE's HOLY WORK.
"sAPHc."

Moved, during recent years. IN the dissemination
Of views" and 'precepts" to the control OF the
animal propensities and as to the conduct OF tia
amatory affairs OF mankind. and many estimabe
danes. together with some who were more nctori-
Gus than estimable. have made devout efforts IN
this sacred cause. largely to the edAcatiOn %
grateful public and much to their own emoIument
and fame. Across the water the refugent Mrs
Pat. Campbell. and here, in America the illustrious
Mrs. Kendall have shown the piteous woes and the
corrosive virtues OF the torrid Mrs Tanqueray,
from whose seductive personality moral lessons
date Ike the spokes Of a wheel Mrs Carter. OF
Chicago has perfumed stage with the pious
patchouly OF zaza The revered Bernhardt has
diffused general Information as to the blandish-
ments Of the MagdaIen and the result OF their ex-
ercise. The all-fascina ting Duse, assuming the
everlasting French courtesan with the interminahle
cough, has broken the public heart and drowned
the stage with tears. others. too numerous 70
mention. have wrought in the same vineyard OF
missionary labor, and with like results and II Is
not the fault Of the stage society in general has
not become fully convinced that there Is no diner-
ence between vice and virtue. that women ought
naturally to become licentious because men are
naturally depraved. that strumpet and saint are
interchangeable terms. that. with the exception OF
leather there Is nothing like love-" and that the
kingdom of heaven is at hand
Last night at wallack's Theatre Miss Olga Meth
ersoe. an actress who. from the beginning Of her
career has been pleased to present with but little
exception errng sisters and episodes OF vice made
new and more than usually strenuous EFFORT IN
this holy work OF moral illumination. imparttng
unto the young Of this period the salutary
monition that the society Of drabs ought 10 be
avoided, and that the path OF sensual vice Is
downward path. leading. through torment. 20 the
gates OF hell. The novelty Of this Impairment
whatever may be true of its methods not likely
to startle any male person who has ever attended
Sunday school or made even passing acquaint-
with the Book Of Proverbs; but, for observers
possessed OF a strong stomach. It blessed
privilege to observe the zeal OF Miss Nethersoe. and
surely it is comfort to know that woman
energetic and persistent is active in the guardian
ship OF public morals and has resoutely undertaken
to lead the gilded youth OF America in the way
that they should go. With the bewitching Mrs.
Langtry. at one end Of the machine. to show how
good a thing it is.-and how easy,-fOr a female
rake, like Mrs. Trevelyan. to reform herself into
vrtuous wife and an exemplary mother and with
the devout Miss Nethersole at the other end Of H.
to show. in the character OF Mr. Daudets sapho
that nothing Of the kind is possible, and incidental
y. to illustrate the practical wisdom Of young men
who know the value of asafoeuda and cold water
the moral field may be said to be fully occupied
We live in a great and favored age and our theatre
is OF the noblest Of its institutions.
1t remarked by Sir Walter Scott that no
good sportsman ought TO shoot at crows. except
for a special purpose and Arm belief in that wise
rule has often restrained comment on the vacuous
iErpertinence of addle-headed scribhlers who take
banter in earnest. To speak seriously or the pro-
ceedings OF those persons who have brought
forth the play of "Sapho'' must. OF course.
be to denounce a degradation Of the thea
tire. The play indeed, is dark, dull, and stupid.
and probably it will die of it's own dulness; but
there can be no doubt as to the paltry motive OF
its producers to its dirty character, or as TO
its pernicous quality II is not necessary 20 soil
the columns of this paper with particular ac-
of the sickly sentim6ntaiity of Mr.. Daudet's
book or the reeking compost Of filth and folly
that the crude and frivolous Mr. Clyde Fitch has
dug out OF II. with which TO mire the stage
The commodity of the scavenger requires no de-
scription 1t is enougI 10 say that this heavy and
SaD-headed sentiment
putrid nonsense tells vulgar, commonplace. and
tiresome story about a harlot and a fool. showing
how, in a carnal way they fascinated each other.
how the fool Glove to hts folly. and how the
harlot having bambOOzled the fool, went away
with criminal rogue. just out OF prison Into
detail of relations between these cattle those
for muck and who can deliver expert opinions
upon 1t. Every experienced of the sid Is
aware that those details are always Of one kind,
always nasty always shameful, and always unut-
teraby trivial The concrete theme Is the
thing to be considered, and even that Is scarcely
entitled to more than a passing comment-Jhe
comment OF wonder that actors will assemble
Illustrate such matter. and that spectators exist
who will actually pay for the sight OF such =
loathsome exhibition. 1t incredible Here are
contemplate persons. gross proceedings. foul sug
gestions impure pictures. and. through all. a
purulent stream OF mawkish cant about the moral
lesson to be derived from the inspection Of
garbage; and unhapPiy 1t is incOntestabe that
communities have been found TO accept and relish
and approve the fetd mixture. with epicene
thusiasts commend its putridity and anernic
morasts to proclaim It's refcrmatory power and
saving grace.
The question OF dramatic art-that Is TO say Of
movement in play and OF competent execution in
the acting of it's, OF course, distinct from the
question of morals but since morality either posi-
tive negative Is Inherently present in everything
moral quality never permits Itself 10 be ignored.
II you break bad egg, at breakfast you will per-
ceive its odor and you will find it difficult to derive
complete consolation from the whiteness OF your
tabecloth. Impurity OF food is not redeemed by
either luxury Of accessories excellence of service
and neither does vile play become salutary and
acceptable because happens be prettily set and
cleverly acted. Much specious doctrine on this sub
Ject has been promulgated. first and last by theat-
rical panderers seeking gain by ministration TO the
baser appetites # the fool multitude, but the
truth is that these dramas OF the brothel have
never done the least good to any human being
and that their sole effect aside from the srathca-
ton Of prurient public taste is 10 dehe the minds
OF the young-who. for the most part, compose the
theatrical audien ce.-with needless and harmful
knowledge OF the seamy side OF life with the faint
ed suggestions of leering debauchery and the
noxious vapors OF impudent vice.
In these dramas which are called moral tnA
spectator always encounters the Lesson thar van
cradle didacticism, bearded with moss bur SIN
murmuring. and, probably. destined TO nurrur az
long as there are ounces TO pirate and fools
to listen: for the tenet is that YOU NAV fell
any sort Of story. 10 you will only tag
ii with a correct precept As long ss tina
lesson is good. the method OF the teaching nav
smell to heaven: in other words the best wsv p,
discover the true inwardness OF decayed FISH is to
swallow it-because the man does not live who
under those circumstances. would not get wisdom
and get il in convincing abundance The sophistry
Of such pleading announces itself so clearly that
mistaken nd Lad Sftrh