New-York tribune., 1901-10-30
PERIL OF THE ENGLISH STAGE.
IN DANGER OF BECOMING vULGARIzED BE-
CAUSE ACTRESSES COME TO AMERICA.

CAUSE ACTRESSES COME TO AMERICA
To the American who rejoices in the growing
friendiness between his country and England
there Is one cause of frequent embarrassment He
is forced to admit that the general feeling Of Eng
lishmen toward America is friendly than that
Of Americans toward England. The old distrIst
and animosity which the natural heritage
from the Revolution, and were general until
generation or two ago. have yet quite passed
away. Therefore II is refreshing now and then to
note the petty vtuperation in which two or three
English papers are wont to indulge toward Amer
tea. showing that America is not opposing a
studied coIdness to an unblemished British mag
naninity.
According TO The st. James's Gazette" the Eng
lsh stage is in danger Of vulgarizaton because of
the habit OF English actresses Of coming 10 Amer
Tea and then going back again. The Gazette"
hopes that Mrs Patrick Campbell will Withstand
the hesmirchlng effect OF acting before American
audiences and will return home as she is now. "a
gem of purest ray serene" The paper says:
When our leading actresses tour the States we
50 many clever players have gone TO America full
IN voice and style The delicate art which lovers
OF good acting admire in London does not appeal
70 america 60 our most charming perform
eTs have often returned 10 US yulgarized, with the
more violent gesture.
Some OF the American textbooks on rhetoric used
10 say that the expression the States for the
United States" vulgar British usage. but
that is OF little consequence The astonishing news
Is that English actresses become vulgar through
visiting America Many Americans who have spent
much time In London declare that they have been
impressed with the cheapness and commonness OF
the general run Of English dramatic taste. COM
pared with the American. and that IS saying a
good deal. Certain IL is that London audiences are
convused with laughter at jests which would be
ceived with silent contempt. in such stage
pieces are are witnessed all along both sides
OF Broadway.
Unfortunately 1.-The ST Jarnes's Gazette gives no
names. but here are the names OF a few Of the
English actresses who have visited America and
presumably the meant They chosen
from various branches OF the dramatic art: Miss
Ellen Terry. Mrs. Langtry. Mrs. Kendall Miss
Jessie Milward. Miss Violet Vanbrugh. Miss Mary
Moore. Miss Nellie Farren. Miss Lefty Lind. Miss
Julia Nelson. Miss Fanny Brough. Miss Marie
Tempest. Miss Ellane Terrss. Miss Irene Van
brugh and Miss Maud Jeffries
Now. every Of these women has met with a
considerable success in America. and therefore,
since 1.-The delicate art which lovers OF good acting
admire in London does not appeal TO America"
these women must have offered more vulgar enter
tainment the Americans in order win that sue
cess And all these have gone back and spread
Ing vulgarity the English stage. except a few
OF them who are just in America accumulat-
ing more vulgarity 20 take home with them. II is
certainly TO be hoped that Mrs. Patrick Campbell
Will not much the baleful effects which these
actresses have already produced.
And IL the English actresses who have merely
made short visits here have done such dire injury
home. what havoc must have been wrought by
the American actresses who have gone England
to act and have been received kindly. not 20
enthusiastically. by the innocent British public,
ignorant what vlpers IT nursing in its bosom!
Think OF the devastation in British taste worked by
such women as Miss Charlotte Cushman. Miss
Mary Anderson, Miss Genevieve Ward. Miss Ada
Rehan Mrs. c. H. Gilbert and Nine. Modjeska the
last three born in America. but American by
choice and adoption.
II is we'll that certain English papers and
then call attention 10 such dangers as these. "Oh
that 1 could get away from II a!' exclaimed an
Engshman who deploring the degeneracy OF
the times. "Oh, that I could hide myself on some
desert island and be away from It all!''
why not try the Scilly Islands?" Of his
hearers replied