New-York tribune., 1906-04-24
PAST AND PRESENT.

iH Tie course Of the dramatic season now draw
'he 70 close. there las been considerable. and
some acrimonious, reference. by various excited
PERSONS 70 the palmy days" of our theatre. and
some re1nonstrance has become vocal against an
alleged custom q extolling the past in c-der r.
disparage The present Distinguished actors If
Doh sexes. politicians, preachers, and provincial
5ouTnsls-especially such are gifted with 2
FoFaclous appetite for strong meat have rallied
. the support n the Present in our theatre
No one, however. has named The profane detractors
{" his haicyon Present except, vaguely as "those
persons who Inquiry. therefore seems .pertiner+
- 70 me identity q these injurious sconers-tbasA
'siosls VINO lay their iupous hands upon the
aefed ark Of the Present" disUaraging or DENY
'hs al present achievement because Of their ad-
lAiraton for actors dead and gone
ihere are observers Of the acted drama who
ns'ing lived through the Past" and discerned its
merits and defects know something about 81 lur
a'so they live in the Present" and they continue
70 discern developments ana events, and they per-
oe''e thai. IN many Tavs the theatre is and for
fohe time has been, on the decline of a wave I'm
- progress That perception and the assertatIon
'' y DO not however. involve either a preachnent
% hopeless oecadence or narrow view % Pres
eni achievement. Nothing seems n give the on
1aslasts OF 'the Present such acute pain and
snncyaroe as any favorable reference TO accom-
pAsAment in the Past That resentment per
maps is natural The meddler who would disturb
Rsys oe assalie5 hut il IS neither wise just.
Osparagenent of "the Past with view 10 the
eorhoation of the Present" is just as wrong
Hs converse process. and II is injurious
-eispns interested IN the theatre would do Well TO
fS'o~ more attention on rho past of the stage and
'ss on hys5ericai assertion Of transcendant excel
'ehee In Tie present
The arr n acting Is iron,orfs, h1t its influence
ms time is cJusiderabI restricted because Of
"lo coElneTcalisn on the part Of those who
.-sny control r- 30 ART can long exert in
SAoe TOT good when. primarily and chiefly. Il is
esAea u Tie freight train and used for the
= sake ~ monetary gain. That danger threat
- 'Ae theatre Of the present day The control OF
-s A's largely passed from the professors OF
u an and il has passed into the worst hands
- ot commercial spectators. who boast that
conduct the theatre , department store
80 must cater 70 all tastes. The worst tastes
=, 'fef me easiest 10 please The instinct OF evil
= ne wish 70 view It's manifestation wide
ne human race Desire for physical enjoyment
plsike for the effort of thought are almost
s'ssl 'ommercialism follows the line Of least
. .shle' that Is. instead Of catering 10 on tastes
addresses The lowest. The marvellous ease OF
p'''ailon from place 10 place greatly fac-il-
- money grubbng Much money can be gath
~ by the vulgar, itinerant Snowman The
sb' craving for novelty, a. any price, so
offlsiic of our nation. has tended 10 IN
III, 'A' number Of theatres, and al tie same
a. % 0Diitsra the old stock company system
- oss q which was the greatest INJURY
ile theatre of the Present has suffered. for.
s.u 'id stOck-c0mpany days. actors were com
80 % learn their art and 10 prove their ability
- 'aey were iatrugted with theatrical respoIsi-
- To-day the theatrical janitor must have
es IN order TO keep his house open. The
us ho dominate the theatrical field, in order that
reta.l sle.r domiIslnce Of IL 1iasf nave