The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-10
The DeCadent Drama
Protest Against the ProduC-
ton of Plays That Profess
to Teach a Moral, But
Simply Exhibit immortality
and LiCentiousneSs.

At the very outset OF the theatrical
season comes a timely protest against
the class of plays that parade under the
specious title of precepts of morality, but
which in reality are neither more nor
less than purveyors of thinly disguised
immortality of the most pronounced and
repuisive type The protest is entered
by tiht veteran critic. William Winter,
and contains so much of strength and
truth that it is here reproduced in part:
II has been the custom, says Mr.. Win
ter, ever since the tide of French nasti-
ness first began TO flow into the Ameri-
can theater, to defend the production of
cecadent pays, usually of foreign origin
tplays for example. like Camille, .
"Magda- Ghosts "Sapho." Iris"
THE Second Mrs. Tanqueray'' and 1.-The
Gay Lord Quex," the production of
which is an offense against public de-
cency). on the ground, first. that they
are strong" and hence desirable for
dramatic use. and. secondly, that they
teach a good and Tnuch-needed lesson"
and are, therefore. appropriate in the
theater- The season that is now be-
ginning promises to be active, and also
IT promises to provide many fabrics of
this nauseous filth.
Bad in Morals.
These plays should be prohibited and
prevented. They have never done even
the slightest good. and they have
wrought a prodigious amount of evil
They are bad in morals, bad IN taste,
and with here and there an exception
for verbal yivacity). bad in style. The
spirit of this age. however. fayors large
individual license, and restrictions that
the experience of the human race has
shown TO be right and salutary are no
longer possible.
Whoever wishes to produce a l10xiocs
and deieterious play is free to do so,
and. unfortunately, he will receive a
measure OF public support and newspa-
per communication. while whoever ven
lures to protest against the enormity
viii be assailed as a tedious prude and
fossil strong these rancid pieces GER
tainiy are; but so is an onion, or a
polecat.
Filthy Stage Exhibition.
1t is no adequate defense of a filthy
stage exhibition that it is made in a
clever way. II should not be made at
Gil The rectitude OF the moral does not
etone for the defiement of the mind.
The greater the cleverness, the greater
the offense. and the greater the mischief.
Some things can be taken for granted
sewer gas. for instance. and garbage.
The fact that these things are strong
has been ascertained. People are not
made wiser or better by being deluged
with strength" of that kind; nor is
there particle of sincerity. logic. or
principle in the pretense OF good moral
drift.
The majority OF peddlers in this theat-
ricai muck care no more for good
morals" than they do for stewed prunes,
they care for the box office receipts, and
that is all
These self-appointed teachers OF
morals" and lessons" have an i'm
portant truth TO learn-which is that
both themselves and their dirty preach
fnents are superfiuous, intrusive. and
impertinent. Carnal, libidinous PLAYS
like 'Sapho." ''Quex," and Iris the
dull. dissecting-room dramas of Mr.
lbsen and Mr.. Sudermann; or the NOR
bid. prolix. and base ebuIlitions of Mr.
DAnnunzio are not moral, and have
nc moral effect. The dramatic scaven-
ger is not made clean because you put
surplice on him
Drenched With Slime.
A theatrical audience, in contact with
one OF these vile plays, is first drenched
with slime and then instructed To avoic
it-and this is called morality" Moth
ting more clearly demonstrates the fu
tiIity OF such moral" precept than tn,
complete practical disregard with which
II IL received. There never was an,
virtue yet I'm the force of 1.-The frightfu
example" People are not deterre,
from sin merely by knowledge of IT.
evil consequences. Experience is fun o
proof that men and women do wron;
with complete and present knowledg-
both of the wrong and it's probable o
certain results. The fact is, that what
ever may be the high and holy trutl
with which this form OF drama i