The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-03-23

On the platform of this new institu-
ton there Will be drama which be-
fore rendering has been read. eNpurgat-
ed, abbreviated and passed upon by a
board of trustees connected with this
reformed amusement association. IT
there be i'm Il drama Il sentence sug-
costing evil, it will be stricken out. If
there be in Shakespearean play
word with two meanings good mean
ing and bad meaning, another word
will be substituted, an honest word
looking only one way. The caterers TO
public taste will have to learn that
Shal<espearean nastiness is no better
than Congrevean nastincss. You say;
"Who will dare to change by eNpurga-
ton or authorization Il ShakcspcareaD
play?" / dare. The board of trustees
of this reformed amusement associa-
ton will dare. II is no appreciation OF
a drama, the abbrcvintion of it. |
would like to hear 30 or 40 pages of
Millions paradise Lost read at one
time, but should he very sorry to
hear the whole bool, read at one sitting
Authorization Is not depreciation.
On the platform of this new institu.
ton this spectacular. under the care OF
the very best men and women in the
community there shall be nothing wit
messed that would be unfit for n par
lor. ANY attitude, any look, any word
that would offend you seated at your
own fireside in your family circle will
be prohibited from that platform. BY
what law of common sense or of moral
ity does that which is not fit to be seen
or heard by five people become fit TO
be seen or heard by Loo people? On
the platform of that spectacular all
the scenes of the drama will be as
chaste as was ever lecture by Edward
Everett or a sermon by +. w. Robert
son. On the platform shall come only
such men and women as you would
welcome to your homes. | do not make
the requisition that they be professors
of religion. There are professors OF
religion that I would not want in my
| parlor or kitchen or coal cellar. 1t is
not what we profess. but what we are
All who come On that platform of the
| spectacular will be gentlemen and la
dies in the ordinary acceptation OF
| those terms. persons whom you would
/ invite to sit at your table and whom
( YOU would introduce to your children
and with whom you would not be com
promised If you were seen passing
down Pennsylvania avenue or Broad
way with them.
On that platform there shall be NJ
I'M "a,
foe of good morals, masculine or femi
nine. 1t is often said we have no righ
to criticise the private morals of publ,
entertainers. Wen, do as you pleas,
with other institutions, on the plat
form of this institution we shall hav,
only good men and good women in tn,
ordinary social sense of goodness. Jus
as soon as the platform of the spec
tacular is fully and fairly established
many n genius who hitherto has sup
pressed the dramatic element in hi
nature because he could not find tn
realm in which to exercise it will stel
over on the platform, and giants of tn
drama, their name known the worlt
over, who have been toiling for the ele
walton of the drama, will step over o.
that platrorm-such women as Char
lotte Cusbman of the past, such men a
Joseph Jefferson of the present.
The platform of that new institu
ton. of that cxpurgated drama. occu
pied only by these purest of men an,
women. will draw to itself millions O
people who have never been to see tn
drama more than once or twice in thei
lives, or never saw it at all.
As to the drama of your life an,
mine. it will soon end. There viii b
no encore to bring MS back. At the b,
ginning of that drama of life stood
cradle. at the end of il win stand
grave. The first act. welcome. The las
act. farewell. The Intermediates act.
bapoilct and bnttlr. professions. brid,
and funeral. sonps and tears. Iaughtc
and groans.
II was not original with Shak,
er,orc ,vb,n Inc eniI. "\lI t,c,vntl,I'