New-York tribune., 1902-08-03

How spperfluous the action of the censor is was
strikingly demonstrated some time ago at Paris,
when, his intervention having been invoked IN
vain to prevent the production OF play re
course was had to the ordinary tribunals. which
AT once proceeded TO proaibit the piece The
play dealt with the life of the most famous
French actress OF the last century-Desclee-and
represented her falling in love with Baron
de Renzis who was al the time aide-de-camp
Of the late King Victor Emmanuel, and who
died as Italian Ambas assaior to the Court of St
James The family Of the baron took exception
to the role in which h figured in the play, de
claring that il calculated TO bring discredit
upon his memory. and the French courts imrne-
dately granted the application and forbade the
production of the drama their action in the
matter having been indorsed by the tribunals OF
most other European countries in similar cases.
Indeed, the courts afford ample protection to
the living as well as TO the dead from plaV
calculated to bring them into ridicule or cow
tempt. SO drastic, in fact, has been the 2cto7
Of the courts in this respect, especially in
France that paywrights have plaintiVely petit
toned that some period might be fixed by law
on the lapse of which historical characters
might be portrayed in the drama without eX-
posing the playwright and the theatrical man.
ager to legal action on the part Of more or les'
remote descendants
In Germany il is the Kaiser who acts as cen
sor Of the stage. Not by statutory right, as in
England. but by means Of administrative meas
ures-that is, through the police-he prevents
the production Of any drama that does not meet
| his al rroyal or which he considers likely to cx-
| ercise an injurious influence upon the theatre
going public. Several Of Sudermanns plays are
still withheld from public representation by or
ders of the Emperor, much to the resentment or
a goodly portion of his subjects, who consider
| that they are thoroughly qualified to look after
| their own morals and those of their families.
| In fact there is no doubt that William would
vastly enhance his prestige and his popularity
were he to abandon his attempts to act as censor
Of the stage, a self-imposed duty which he takes
so seriously that it leads him not merely to su'
pervise personally and direct rehearsals at the
court theatres of Berlin, Wiesbaden, etc, but
even to school the actors and actresses as TO
| the way in which they should play their parts
an occupation which is a source of considerable
entertainment to his subjects al home and 10 his
many admirers abroad
| suppose. however, this reductio ad absurdum
is inevitable where the crown acts as censor OF
the drama Every one Will recall how, some
wears ago. when certain portly American foot
light favorite was disporting herself at the Cal
etv Theatre in London, the crown, in the person
of the Lord Chamberlain, intervened on the al
legged ground of prOpriety, and threatened to
withdraw the license for the production OF the
piece in which she appeared unless she added a
scarf or sash to her somewhat scanty costume
The length and the breadth Of the scarf formed
the subject Of important negotiation between
the late Mr.. Hollingshead who was then man
ager Of the theatre. and the Lord Chamberlain
who represented in the matter the sovereign Of
the British Empire, tho late Queen Victoria.
EX-ATTACHE.