The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-03-10
Representation Of Moral Leprosy by Author
and Playwright is the Genius That
Guilds the Tomb.
Asks For a Contemplation of Sublhmest
Tragedy IN the Worlds History, the
Tragedy of the Cross.

Archbishop Glennon delivered a pow
erful sermon at the Cathedral in st.
Louis ON last Sunday, in which he de-
plored the present tendency to patron
ize Immoral plays and to read books
Of a salacious character.
The prelate cast cold water upon the
supporters Of authors and playwrights
who present pictures Of immortality, de-
clarins the producers are not genuises
other than that they possess the art
which guilds the tomb. He said in part:
1T has always been difficult and
delicate task to bring the various
methods Of amusement and recreation
within the bounds Of decency and the
moral law. Indeed, amusements al
ways appear to be more popular in
proportion to their deviation from the
strict code Of morals-while those who
think they have q mission to criticise
or oppose them apparently only advo-
cate them and gain neither gratitude
nor results.
"And this is specially true in the
field Of literature and the drama. The
author or the actor generally intro
iuces his book or play. by doing some
thing to attract attention. libel suit
or divorce court finds the greatest IA
vor-then comes the production fitted
to maintain the lost character of the
author. and the dear public flock to
applaud for genius what is simply a
salacious story.
"And yet I don't think that the ac-
tor or author is primarily to blame for
what is admittedly the low condition
Of popular literature and the present.
day drama. If the people did not pur-
chase bad books or patronize cheap
and vulgar plays they would not have
such presented. We get what we want.
It is the old law of supply and de-
mand.
II was speaking once to an actor of
national reputation, very respectable
and our conversation drifted to his art,
it's uplifting quality, when the people
behind the footlights try to show not
only a conservation to their art, but
a conscience in their every production
He said to me that all modern art, in
80 far as he knew it. resolved itself
into dollars and cents. Art for arts
sake was dead, and commercialism
represented by the gate receipts, was
supreme dictator and director.
Nov. If this were even partially true
1t is much to be regretted, and gives
u.s. room for pause, in the face Of the
fast-growing book-reading and theater-
going habit. II It. be a thing Of bar
gaining. we ought to bargain for the
best. Otherwise we will lose our last
distinguishing American trait Of being
good traders.
What books, then, you may ask me
should you buy, and what plays ought
you to see? I would say, first Of all
by way OF limitation. that most Of oul
people read too much, Bacon says thai
reading makes full man. believe
that the popular reading of the books
Of the day hlls the reader with non
sense, and to be full OF nonsense Fl
neither restful nor hopeful condition
And the same may be said Of thea
ter-going. To go night after night Il
the theater is one Of the surest marks
OF decadence; such decadence as afilict
ed old Rome when her citizens SOLE
their birthrtght, their liberties ant
their glories for the bread and games
which their tyrants gave them.
but, again, to answer the question
directly. requires a knowledge Of book
and plays, Of authors and actors. sucl
as am not possessed Of. can con
sequently only set before you certai'
principles. BY the aid Of which yo'
may form yopr own decisions.
THE book Il speak Of works of fic
tion) or ne play has its 'dramati
personae'; characters who tell thei
own stories. work out the plot, delive
themselves bf certain opinions. by tn
way and. sappossdiy. rspresent peopa