The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-21

A noteworthy feature In connection with
the presentation OF 'zaSa" Tuesday night
a. last week was afforded by the fact that
the audience which saw the piece. con-
corning tho moral tone Of which 10 much
has been said, was not only one of the
largest OF the season. but was, perhaps.
more truly representative 81 tho hest ele-
iuent of tho Houston tbestel going public
than has been amy similar auscmbage for
sape time past
The opinions Of tho people composing
that audience. After thcy had seen the
play, we're as many and as widely varied
as were the colors on the coat Of Joseph
OF old There were those who claimed
that Miss Howard's portrayal OF The tiue
role entitled her IN place among the
Bernhardte. the Torrys. the Arthurs, aud
The Fiskes of the stage. and there were
pthers who contended that Miss Howard
gave but few evidences OF the possession
Of those qualities which characterize the
true artist. There were people who had
seen Mrs. Carter In the original produc-
ton who said that Miss Howards work
did not suffer in the slightest degree when
compared with that OF her better known
contemporary. There we're still others who
bad had the pleasure of seeing the auburn
haired ex-s2ciety woman as the unfor-
innate and unhappy zeza, aud who said
that her Interpretation OF the role was as
Tar above that OF Miss Howard as the
stars are above the earth. There were
sthers-uld theatefgoera who had seen
many Of the notable productions OF several
decades past-who claimed that they had
never been so moved us by The work Of
Miss Howard and there were OTHERS
equally experienced, Who aald that he
portrayal OF the role by the head OF Mr..
Frohmans company was wooden and soul
less and mechanical 10 degree.
.Nll Of which is mentioned for the pur-
pose OF showing how widely Intelligent
and cultured people sometimes differ in
their opinions Of the same subject No
dramatic writer, notwithstanding tho
nature Of his profession. which naturally
elLies him to look more or less closely
Into matters connected with the stage, IL
Infallible Even Mr.. Clement Scott. who
believes that he Is the greatest critic in
existence, Notwithstanding the fact that
William Winter and few others are sui
alive, confesses to making mistakes al
simply an opinion and It's value increases
in ratio corresponding With its degree
OF honesty Therefore when the Views
expressed by a newspaper regarding he
merits or dement's Of a production no not
agree with those held by some people whc
have seen the Same production, 1t does
not follow that tho paper Is preiudiced nor
Tor the matter of that that II Is wrong
and the people are right
The Post was thoroughly sincere in eS'
pressing the opinion that the value of tn,
moral contained in 'Za2a" is 80 extremely
small as to surround the matter OF tn,
proprlety of the play proper with con
siderable degree OF doubt The pteco
is undoubtedly true to life and to th0s,
who are familiar with the phase OF eN.
istence depicted no harm can come iron
seeing IL. Bur such theories as that o
2aza are not ppuolarly supposed 10 b,
talked OF in the drawing rooms OF tn,
country, IN The presence OF pure and inno
cent young womauhood aud, as has al
ready been pointed out 4 seems question
able whether the toling OF such a ator!
or the purpose OF pointing the moral con
iained in II Will either tend towards To
elevation Of the stage or the bettermen
Of the moral condition of the young peo
rle OF the land
This question naturally leads UP 10 tn
manner In which the story is told. Their
arc periods in the play when the super
lative art of a great actress might max