Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-30

who VIII do this work for the uramatlc
element of our natures. We need
new institution TO meet and recognize
and develop and defend the dramatic
element of our nature. 1t needs to be
distinct from everything that is or has
been.
would have this reformed amusc-
ment association having In charge this
now institution of the specta cular take
possession of some hall or academy.
1t might take smaller building at the
start. but it would soon need the lar
gest hall, and even that would not hold
the people, for he who opens before
the dramatic element in human nature |
an opportunity of qualification without |
compromise and without danger does
| the mightiest thing of this century. and |
| the tides of such an institution would |
rise as the Atlantic rises at Liverpool
| docks.
new institation.
There are tens of thousands OF Chris
| tian homes where the sous and daugh-
! ters are held back from dramatic en-
terta!nment for reasons which some OF
you would say are good reasons and
OtNcES NOuiu sHy ulc ppoi tcoeobo' phs
still held back. But on the establish
men. of such an institution they would
feel the arrest of their anxieties and
would say on the establishment OF this
new institution which l have called
the spectacular "rhank God, this Is
whnt we have all been waiting for"
Now, as l believe that make sug-
gestIon Of an institution which wiser
men will develop. want to give some
characteristics of this new institution,
this spectacular. II 1t is to be grand
social and moral success. In the first
place, it's entertainments must be COM
pressed within an hour and three-quar-
ters. What kills sermons, prayers and
lectures and entertainments of all sorts
10 prolixity. At reasonable hour ev-
cry night every curtain Of public en-
tertalnment ought to drop, every
church service ought to cease, the In
s.ruments Of orchestras ought to be
uustrung.
On the platform of this now institu-
ton there will be drama which be-
fore rendering has been read, expurgat-
ed, abbreviated and passed upon by
reformed amusement association. If
. there be in drama sentence suggest
| ing evil. it will be stricken out. If
+. there be in Shakespearean play
q word with two meanings-a good
I meaning and bad neutrality-suspicious.
/. word will be substituted, an honest
U word looking only one way. The ca
p terers to public taste will have to
/. learn that Shakespearean pastiness Is
no better than Congrevean nastiness.
You say, "Who will dare to change by
expurgation or abbreviation Shake
u spearean playT dare. The board of
trustees OF this reformed amusement
v association will dare. 1t is no deprecla-
u ton of a drama, the abbrevlation OF 1t.
l would like to hear 30 or 40 pages of
i Miltons Paradise Lost" read at one
u time but l should be very sorry to
u hear the whole book read at one sitting
.. Authorization is not depreciation.
u On the platform of this new institu
10 tion this spectacular, under the care oi
:, the very best men and women In the
~ community, there shall be nothing wit
w. messed that would be unfit for a par
d. lor. Any attitude, any look, any wore
k- that would offend you seated at YOU
~ own fireside In your family circle, vii
IL be prohibited from that platform. BY
III what law of common sense or of moral
y, ity does that which Is not fit to bt
'l seen or heard by five people becom'
it fit to be seen or heard by 1,500 people
: On the platform of that spectacula
t. all the scenes of the drama will be Al
le chaste as was ever a lecture by I'd
H. ward Everett or sermon by #. W
W Robertson.
W Platform OF Morality.
'N On that platform there shall be N
'n carouser, no inebrlate, no cyprian, IL
'u foe of good morals, masculine or fem
mine. 1t is often said we have no righ
y! to criticise the private morals of publ
~ entertainers. Well do as you pleas
he with other institutions. On the plnt
us form of this new institution we shal
w have only good men aud good wome
'S' In the ordinary social sense of gooC
U" ness. Just as soon MS the platform q
W the spectacular Is fully and fairly es
IN tablished many a genius who hithert
III hns suppressed the dramatic clcmer
us in his nature because he could not fin
ne the realm in which 10 exercise 1t wi
OF step over on the platform, and giant
'er of the drama, their name known th
Oh world over, who have been toillng &c
'ut the elevation of the drama, will ste
'e over on that platform--such women q
zee Charlotte Cushman of the past, sue
NC men as Joseph Jefferson Of the prescn
'' Do you tell me this plan is chlmer
se cal? I answer 1t only requires or
o. man somewhere between here and Sa
OF francisco or between Bangor and Ga
sn weston TO see it and appreciate it--or
man of large individual means al
great heart, and with n hundred tho
us sand dollars he could do more go
than all the Lcnoxcs and the La
ny rences and the Peabodys ever acco,
icn pnshed. He would settle for all Il
n"t tions and for all times the stupendo
IA question OF amusement which for CO
nv turtles has been under angry ana VII
IN perstiye discussion and which ts
ave nearer being settled today by all
'ec- pearanccs than it was nt the start
on would go TO such an institute
IL such spectacular. ! should go or
'e week the rest Of my life and tn
'ry' my family with me, and the major
pos' of the families of the earth would
i's TO such an institution. l expect