The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-05
KYRLE BELLEW SAYS
 RAFFLES ISN'T BAD
That is, Moral Effect of the
 Play is Wholesome
A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY
Mir. Hornune's Books Have an Artistic Touch-Mr. Bellew Says Crime
 May Not Be mmedi-
 ately Hereditary.

What is the moral effect of the delinea- ton in literature, and the presentation on the stage, of characters like Rallies ?'
 That is the question that was put to Kyrle Bellew in his dressing room at the Jefferson last night few moments after the curtain fell on Act IL of the play in which MT. Bellew is now starring
 Why, really" said MT. Belew, do you know have never even lightly considered the subject. Perhaps l am not competent to express an intelligent opinion regarding the effect produced by the delineation of such characters as Rallies in literature. At any rate, l hesitate to trespass upon that peculiar field of criticism. It occurs to me. however. that literary work like that of MT. Hornung, the author of gRaf- fes, could have only a wholesome effect upon reasonably well ordered minds.
 "Mr Hornung's creation has a distinct and distinctive artistic stamp. It Is neith- CT vulgar nor vulgarizing. Though in- tensely dramatic at times, his stories are in no sense theatrical They are pregnant with fine sentiment, yet they are singular ly free of cheap or maudlln sentimental ity.
 "They belong neither to the literature of despair on the one hand nor to the 1itterature of horrors on the other. So, giving an off-hand opinion, 1 should say that 'Rafhes,' as literary study, would be not only entertaining and instructive, but also eminently healthful'
 And as a dramatic ereation?" was asked
 Admirable, in the last degreel" ex- claimed MT. Bellew. laughing this time somewhat immoderateIy What else would one expect me to say of 1t? Truly, though is not the character quite exempt from unfavorable criticism, in so far, I mean, as its moral effect is concerned? It does not encourage, it does not even justify crime. It presents a psychological study recognizing the while the law of retribu- ton and illustrating 1t effectively and pathetioally. It also sounds the depths of the great emotions of which the human heart Is susceptble-eourage audacity, f. delity, love, honor and the fine spirit of 'noblesse oblige. If Rallies has the defects of his qualities he has also some qualities quite different from his defects Mir. Hornung's. work, in word, artisti- cally presents for the consideration of sociologists and criminologists a most interesting subject"
 'In your effort to interpret Rallies did you study his prototype at close ranger"
 Pardon me, but what do you mean?" said MT. Belew
 Have you visited the English prisons and talked with prototypes of Rallies there?'
 There is no Rallies in prison-any- where," said MT. Bellew smiling sgnln- contly. "No, l did not study the charac- ter at close range or in the way you speak of. Naturally, I went into the psychology of the subject. and especially into it's heriditary features. In this con nection, l gave considerable attention to diseases among animals, and my ln- vestigations convinced me that diseases even those like tuberculosis--are not in- herited immediately. To illustrate, among cattle if the offspring of diseased progen- itors be taken away at the moment of birth and nurtured in healthful surround ings they escape the malady. I have sometimes thought that the children of criminals. if removed from their fathers and mothers at birth, might also become good men and women provided of course their early nurturing and loter training were entrusted to good hands
 "All in all Rallies Is not a bad fellow. He is not blind to his own shortcomings. which is well enough and what Is a great deal better, he is capable of self-sacrifiee. This you will see is true in the next, the third. act. Pardon me, the curtain is on the point of going up.'
 And with that MT. Bellew made ready to get into his overcoat