Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-18
Decorum at the Theater.
Editor Of The Evening Star

To the Editor Of The Evening Star
In your Issue Of Tuesday appeared short
appeal from Mr.. VIM. D. Goddard for de-
corum in the theater, apropos of the de-
havior of audiences at the performance Of
'Everyman." i attended the performance
later, and the lack Of consideration COM
planned of was again painfully in evidence.
The audience rose in a body while the final
hymn was being sung so that the effect
was quite lost on the handful of people who
really wished to enjoy the full and COM
plete beauty CT this wonderful play. In adj
dition to this annoyance, 1 was unfortu-
nate In being compelled to sit In front of
three women, who insisted on talking OF
whispering through the whole performance
One glance was enough to convince one
that they were of the most ordinary, vulgar
type. but l hoped that appeal to their
sense of decency might have some effect
and respectfully asked them IL they would
not refrain from talking so that others
might be allowed to enjoy the play This
request was impertinently denied, and it
was suggested that l buy a box or whole
performance so that 1 might have things TO
suit me, and / was dubbed a crank.
All this is but one phase of great and
growing evil in our country. and one that
the earnest minded should strive to remedy.
Vandalism but describes this great
American vice. Lack Of reverence and of
that perfect courtesy so dear to our fathers
l. ~, utter
indifference to the feelings of others, is the
| sourse from which all these evils flow
1t is this lack which prompts Americans
abroad land Englishmen, too. be 1t said to
rush noisily through churches and cath
edrals while service is going on, to snip off
pieces of valuable tapestries, to pry bits out
of priceless mosaics, to mutilate statues
and carvings and to scribble their foolish
names on the holy Of holes
1 am writing more in sorrow than in an
ger for the evil is too widespread to be
checked or lone away with in a day, or a
year or decade. l have never yet at
tended a musical or theatrical performance
in this country without having the illusion
more or less marred by thoughtless or self 4
ish persons talking. laughing, hustling in
or out, or in other ways making themselves
Is there a remedy? i think there is but II
is one which will take years to accomplish
and which will need the earnest efforts Of
all who have the best interests Of our coun-
try at heart.
Let us take a lesson from the Japanese
and make the teaching of courtesy obliga-
tory In our schools, both public and private.
Such vandalism as / speak of is unknown
in Japan. A work of art is as safe in the
busiest thoroughfare of Tokyo as in
museum under glass Consideration for the
feelings of others is one of the earliest du-
ties taught the children in the families and
the schools
Our public schools are the best In the
world. Let us make them better by teach
ing the children reverence for works of
art, whether in literature architecture
music, painting or sculpture Let courtesy
and consideration for the feelings of others
be inculcated by precept and example, and
perhaps in time the good seed may bear
fruit.
I am afraid 1t is hopeless to attempt to
reform the present generation, but let US
try to influence the next.
The press of the country could do much
by urging such teaching in the schools all
over the country. and the Washington Star,
which always stands for the best and high
est In our civilization, can surely be relied
on to lead in such righteous crusade.
EDWARD L. MORSE.