The Washington times., 1903-02-10
EXTREME OF PROBLEM PLAYS
RECEIVED CALMLY AT NATIONAL

that which crowds the Office Of coroner
to view the corpse Of suicide, but
would not walk across the street TO view
a whole gallery Of paintings. The
stigma put upon the critics suggests
that these who can argue need not de
scend to abuse. II Iris is lovable, Miss
Harned's acting is sadly deficient, and
all the natural impulses are dehed. II
she is not intended 20 be initiated why
not choose some character who is? For
all the rest IL is sufficient to say that
fate" and lack Of courage" consist OF
weighing all the qualities OF woman
hood in one hand and animal comfort I'm
the other. with a deliberate choice OF
luxury. For the one woman who thinks
in any audience there must be several
hundred whose minds-either through
non-development or inaction-accept
such lessons at their face value and 20
away half persuaded that evil Is not
disease. that sin is not evil. and that
the glory OF life lies rather in submits
sion to appetite than in the ascendancy
Of character. There is no lesson in
Iris" which cannot be better taught
otherwise.
But this talk OF problems" and les
sons" is the poorest sort OF rubbish
Even Mr.. Pinero advances no such &C.
Tense. If press dispatches are 10 be trust
ed The manuscript supplied Tho Times
by Miss Harned's manager sets this
forth in the following terms: 1t is SAID
that in Iris he (Mr. Pinero) wanted to
create a problem play so intense. so
positive in its conclusions. that IL might
put an end 70 the morbid tastes OF
theatergoers for the so-called problem
plays" This is his own indictment:
His excursion into filth has affected him
as it must affect any other man of his
intellect. W,sh no especial reference 70
Miss Harmed. the fact OF the case is tha
such plays are rarely II ever presented
from any ethical impulse or with any
purpose OF art. They are offered 10
morbid patronage OF a higher class as
the owners Of dime museums display wax
images Of diseased hands and feet.
Even taking these people at their own
estimate. they have no case Their
great realities" all concern weak. de-
graded women and blacklegs. Sexual
passion is their only theme. Infdelities
with opportune discoveries supply all
the dramatic force" Everybody is dis
I eased, nature is a cess-pooI and al
honor is lost What man OF the world.
what man OF broad experience. will &C
cept that as his view Of life? Their
very conditions, like their arguments.
are as false as pewter Their only
teaching depends on the ugliness OF vice,
a picture painted with far more force
and fidelity by the reporters for daily
newspapers who work in the courts. Art
does not consist OF making people afraid
but OF such a presentment OF whatever
/ IS beautiful and good as will arouse the
deepest and most uplifting impulses
men can know. II the stage fuIdIIs that
mission II will have done its part
For those who believe in the sweet
ness OF life. who rejoice in purity. who
/ find nature beautiful. who believe that
! marriage VOWS should be kept inviolate.
and who prefer to rest their eyes on
nobility TO be emulated rather than on
/ the overhead OF depravity. this play or
Iris" will have no interest and cannot
enlist their patronage. They will con-
denim Iris as il deserves to be con-
/ demned. FOR II is a discredit 20 its able
author. disgrace to good literature. and
a blight upon the stage" For the others
/ who prefer virility. strength, courage.
manhood. and womanhood as they are
/ conceived by Mr.. Pinero and Miss Har-
ned and fairly set forth above, Iris
will be found a full expression OF their
/ ideals.
! The world must choose. and II viii
choose. and no thoughtful man can doubt
/ the issue in the end ADJ