Evening journal., 1904-02-06
LETTERS FROM
THE PEOPLE

a 500 - - - 49,
Editor of the Evening Journal.
Sir: 1 deeply deplore your recent edi-
toriai uttornnccs on the subject Of amuse-
mtnts. The press is the modern Titan. 1t
Is almost omnipotent for good or evil. AS
an editor you are q teacher OF civic ethics
and public morality Your editorial in
nuonce has a reach and potency far be-
yond that OK "A private individual. My re-
gret further arises from the fact that the
people OF This city have recently develop
ed a nania for ihc Theatre Most of the
plays here are low In tone. morbid in sen-
timent, and many Of them decidedly i'm
moral IN language aud suggestion. In your
issue of February ], you say editorially:
THE age of acknowledged Puritans
is past. # any church wants to insist
on its members denying themselves these
amuscments IL has The right. But it must
not assume superior attitude. roll its
eyes hcavenward and consign to perdition
all who will not see through its blue gog-
glcs."
This Is the customary cry Of those who
resent the faithful rebukes OF the church
for their unwholesome living and vicious
example The young people who are given
TO convivial feasts nocturnal, and all
kinds Of questionable amusoments, are
thus taught 20 regard religion as a Queru-
lous old iaicrmoddler and the church as
ii,tle better than a spectacled old beldam,
whose imporiinont eyes are spying every
body's business and who. with compul-
sorry virtue u virtuous az all, points at
the Joyous balances Of the young and
gay. For shomc, that the professional de-
Tenders Of vice are not capable Of a more
ingenious defense. II Is p.ayed out my
brother; long ago moss-grown and moth
eaten. No enc Of intelligence will in this
day accept the sneerlng cry Of hypocrisy
as affordng amy excuse for either i'm
morality or lnhdellty.
II Is true that you generously allow
that III any church wants 10 insist on its
members denying themselves these amuse-
ments, it has the right" In lhonking you
for this chivalrous concession. pardon an
innocent lNtle smile at a generosity that
seems So much above ones means. Then
YOU cautiously hedge by saying-"But il
must rot assume a superior attitude" etc.
THAT Is TO say, 'It must not mcddle. "
Here we diner ana occupy the most
] L. I
tend that The church not only has the
fright. but IS under a divinely-imposed
duty 10 constantly "meddle" with these
things, and 10 assume and maintain "a
superior attitude" on all moral questions.
1 contend that every parent every citizon.
every christian minister has at least the
same right 20 expose traps that others
have set them5 tho same right to prevent
mischief that others have to plot IT; the
same right to attack vice that vice has 10
attack virtue; a better right to save than
awful men and women have TO destroy.
7 contend that we hnve tho same right "a
lcrlticisc amuscments that others have 10
lenioy them. Any other view would give
the pre-emincnce to champions Of vice
and immoranty.
You graciously refer 10 theatrical per.
lformanccs which are as moral and elc.
waiting as many Of the sermons we hear. '
L can only imagine the kind. Of sermons
you ere accustomed TO hear, but { would
like 10 suggest a text or two TO you
preacher. In regard to the morality Of IN,
theatre, is it ndt rather peculiar that ID
Ia school Cor morals the teachers never
learn their own lessons?
1 have been acquainted with some OF
tho greatest actors and actresses tha
lever trod the stage, and their uniform
testimony has been that the theatre a.
Ian Institution. Is immoral IN reply to youi
inquiry as TO my familiarity with IN,
theatre. 1 answer directly that during ter
years Of my life I was thoroughly ac
lquaintcd with the theatre. IN an It's com
poncnt parts and composite effects.
t. d
ears. I hone you DO not count IL as fan
atheism Tor ono in the use OF these ex
cellent senses. to reach the concluslo,
that an indecent deficiency OF clothing an,
a salacious sugsesuveness OF language ar
no, The best means OF teaching virtue t.
our sons and daughters. Pardon me if
canno. believe that Christian parents ar
ready to turn their children over. for IN
s'ructon IN morals. 70 men and womei
who have evaded an the depths OF deprav
ity and burned every passion to IN
socket.
) You say-"fhese rigid Ideas are keepin
( lout Of the church many OF our youn
people who cannot think that good plays
q dance ia the home OF friend and al
occasional game OF cards are wrong. ''You
deep solcitude for the church. and 70
these dear young people thus kept out O
! the church. is extremely credltable. Bu
fear that YOU are wasting this Hood d
sympathy. II these young people VIII,
only want TO attend good plays" an
b dance in the hore of a friend" ana en-
gage in an occasional game Of cards.
p were $50 very anxious to enter the churc
there are plenty Of churches that woul
gladly receive them without placing an
embarrassing restraint upon their persona
I habi's or social engseements. II is
Q ls.ngularly significant fact. however. tina