New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-01
LIBERTY LESS THAN Law.
DR.. Hrsch Finds the Problem
Play Untrue to Life.

Some Modern Plays the subJect.of a lecture
last evening by the Rev. DR. Emil G. Hrsch. Of
Mount Sinai Temple Chicago. before the Young
Mems Hebrew Association. Ninety-second-st. and
LeNn6ton-ave. After "A concert and an introduction
10 the audience by PercivaI s Meuken president of
the association. DIT. Hirsch said in part:
. Il would be strange if at our day the play had not
Throughout the world the cry Is heard for q Larger
liberty. so that men may live themselves ont. Men
y and quality Of life They have come to reject the
OH creeds and 20 turn deaf to their appeals.
other one Of her creatures The eagles is not re-
live himself out? That Is the argument adyancSd
~ certain school OF modern prophets. and these
ern plays. Let Us see whether they appeal 10 our
we can fiad stars 10 Lad rs to RirSe- free4a
without doing violence 10 the sanctities Of lie.
The FIRST Of modern playwrights 20 AFFORD his
hearers The new problem was that sage OF scan
~ avis ~ nose feeL toT one generation AT least
shipping. Most Of his women characters ere mar
Fted women men who have found marriage yoke The
understood and cannot 1--we with their husbands.
matter what She weird may say. The world IS
70 y hem !, an , old grandmother. ,
wonan's club will recall tho female Character OF
the Scandinavian sage I'm The Dolls House and
"Iiedda Gabler" In the former the husband re-
vies tho wife. and she leaves him. We can under
a woman could run away from her children Is
pSychoioglcaIly untrue The sage oi Scandinavia
merely reasoned out a proposition and clothed It's
different members with The sernhlance OF humanity.
tomato Of the saRes fancy. The same s. tho case
with the other drama. whore Ibsen attempted 60
create woman OF IRE. have read ths whole
weary five acts in the original.
II that is the gospel Ibsen has 20 preach %
women, better let uS turn 20 Jewish utera-
ture, 10 the women who had the power 20 bear and
the strength 20 bear. 4 Jewish Nora would have
sat BY the cradle ~ her children and ssund that
life has its compcnsat'ons n 70 Is touched By the
magic Of duty. That idea Il Sudcrrnaur's that life
Is for tho strong is' founded not solid rock but
guiCkEard.
They do not write plays any moro. The ancient
play was meant O. stir. 10 arouse sympathy.
There was humanity on the rack. humanity scourRad
under the lash Of repentance that came too late
shame and without Contrtl0u. Shall become
mechanical exponent Of brutal doctrine that men
are more than tho beasts God f0rhlGt
\ German playwright. Paul IftySt. felt l-rpoi'ed
10 bring upon the stage the woman ~ tho scarlet
robe IFS Judas Tscartot.'' for tho moment. n
carration OF deviltrr on the throne. tho car ~
Russia. pleads tho character of Judas IFcaript i1
eXteau3tion 81 HIS own policy. Heysc makes "JuJ-s
IscaTi0t' play OF power. He is patriot. FIa is
a living human being. lIeyse preached the doctrine
Of sanCtiHcation unto duty.
La Giocond1" is by tho master writer ~ mod
Italy. painter ir words. "a worthy competitor
OF Raphael He who has read - Anuunzio'4 works
in the original has had occasion 10 admire the
way he plays on human lonCtrEs iustru-
mont In la GiOconda' the artists model is
defeated through the sacrifice Of faithful wife.
The Jew has always recognized the final word
Of lie Is liberty. but Law Judaism has found
last word IS not the doctrine that appetite shall
rule and passion dominate. but that man is only
man and woman only woman when free 20 ho true
70 duty and loyal 10 responsibility