Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-06

Sordld vice and dramatic wIckedness
continue TO be fruitful and profitable
themes for both playwrights and ae-
tors, Notwithstanding that the gospel
OF problem play publication is ex-
pounded more or less forclbly by the
critics OF all Chrlstendom, The pres
entation OF scandalous suggestion and
compromising situation has become an
art--a soulless, mercenary art TO which
the profession, or much Of It. bows, and
TO which the public contributes sup
port. Were this not true Il would Ian
gulsh and die, and soon be thing Of
memory.
These observations are the result OF
the visit Of Lily Langtry and the in
ferential nastiness with which Mrs.
behring's Divorce" and 'The Degener-
ates" abound True. they are SO con.
structed that they do not directly Of
fend the aural and moral senses In the
announcement Of vulgar. coarse or in
elegant language. but they bristle with
pictures and insinuations that rasp and
assall the proprletIes in the indecorous
portrayal Of the intrigues and llasons OF
unfaiihful spouses who wink at or boast
OF dual lives, The remedy; That Is an
entirely different question. While the
81
against the gilded immoralities OF the
stage, and shrieking themselves hoafse
In foolish and Illogical fashion--dolng
everything. In fact, but strike at the
root Of the evll, the authors who write
the syndicates that handle, and the
stars who simultaneously read their
noxious lines for pay, and their way
to fame, are waxing as rich as the
holders OF Silver King mining stock,
while their detraetors are generally as
poor as the proyerblal church mouse.
Meanwhile Il Is healthy indication
locally to note the difference In the re-
ception OF Paul Gilmore in THE Num-
my and the Humming Bird and the
Jersey Lily In her society scandals
OF the half world. particularly in the
impressions made, The first is pleas.
antly remembered and the latter have
left a taste In the public mouth that
m"et 'eapire several tcothsome theatri-
cal menus TO remove. OF course "Way
Down East ls dolng i,s hest IN ,ha,
a,.o.,tor ,.,,n A.. 80
u"e1uop WIN lS pam ana simple
story OF honest country life. Then pa
vld Harum" win be here ON Monday ana
T,,esasv ne ntoos.n, 80, - 49,
$3.50 10 p'"'''' iV"o" VI tne
same hra'
''s
incidental to the coming OF "Dayld
Harum' II Is interesting TO note that I'm
looking over the list of successes OF
the last half dozen years one cannot
help noticing the fact that they were
rural comedies. "The Old Homestead
"Shore Acres and Way Down East"
To their number an addition has been
made In David Harum." Like the
others IL deals with rural types and
country scenes, but there all similarity
Nlln HIS lINutiNkgOIq QnuN. The DRAMA
tlzafon OF Westcotiis story ,s not ,rhat
the public has got 10 know az n ,'h,gnsh
drarnmer" Joshua Whitcon,h Sed
tramps from, his Kitchen Don ana an
The civ felI a victim % tSo VII, liz
the aharner Nathaniel Harry nod
sacridces I'm order maj Ne Sroihs,is
farm might bc saved and sonjrc par9
telett OF "\Yay Down East y was 90
a.. -. at..t
charity for the girl who had peen de.
celved David Harum" possesses
none OF the traits which mark the aver.
age stage here from the country. He
Is a shrewd, cunning old chap. who be.
lieyes In the golden rule as expounded
by himself do unto the other Teller
as he would like 20 do unto YOU only
do him first He could navigate
around this city's busting streets with.
out any danger Of being hit by the
cars, and the confidence man who made
mis- acquaintance would undoubtedly re-
greet Il.
One OF the good things I'm the book
was the horse trade between Harum
and the sanctimonlous Deacon Perkins,
ana this Is made use Of In the opening
act Of the play Mr.. Turner It is said,
gives an interesting portrayal OF Har.