Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-14

that Il 10 a pity that society is not more
charitable-because, really. there is no diff
except that the sinner has been found out.
The question OF the social evil and OF
It's regulstion are. no doubt: important
place for the discussion of them. The
theater is chiefly supported by the young,
an average audience only results in turning
the minds OF young people to vile sub
jects. the contemplation OF which cannot
harm. The invariabie themSe u Of these plays
is the Illicit amour. What is TO be ex-
topics, carried on between young men and
women7
Some OF the persons who are honestly OPP
posed to these bad Influences have only
added TO the confusion by ill-considered or
ill-expressed views For example, DIR. Felix
Adler's recently published statement as to
is to keep the flame Of human life burning,
and that this done. successful marriage
has been found shows az the doctor has
Gus views Of an Institution which is the cor
nerstone Of civilized human society. The
continuity. of the human race, which. ap..
parently, is the learned doctors flame OF
human life" was provided for by nature,
and no cause for anxiety on that subject
with a view to Justice. decency and order.
Marriage is legalized compact established
diriduSi female ie Sna seneraiiy, Of the COM
munity. Maternity, under the legal ar
rangement made by society, Is not only at
arrangement) with great trial to the mother.
but II entails endless labor and response
bility upon the father II the institution OF
would remain just as effectual, and the re-
suit would be indiscrtmiuate license, fol-
males desertion Of the female in his sell
fish avoidance of responsibility and trouble.
A further result would be the accumulation
tious persons who feel constrained to fulfill
their duty to each other and to their chill
dren; for those persons would have to as
sumo the care of deserted women and help
less babies otherwise left to perish. The
legal principle that causes infidelity to be
crime bad rests S on the ~ 6e
compulsory, degrading hardship of rearing
children, borne by his wife, who are not his
this subject-as 1t is set forth not only In
wild theoretical statements of amateur pub
licists, but in some of the ADVANCED
dramas" now so numerous (plays by Mr..
Pinero, Mr. Maeterlinck, Mr. Sudermann,
Mr.. Ibsen and Mr.. Jones)-is to break down,
between the sexes the barriers ~ that hat have have
munity; restraints imposed, not by narrow
minded conventionality. but by wise APP
principles recognized by broad minded
thinkers as the essential safeguards OF vir-
tue. honor and decency, and, In fact, social
existence.
The usual consequence OF marriage 10 par
entage, and the usual results of parentage,
under law and usage are care iapor; ,I sei y,
self-denial and self-sacrifice is development
of the spiritual qualities of human nature.
Theorists and dramatists who strike at tho
institution of marriage strike not only at
conventions of society,"" but at the welfare
of the human race. Strange to say, those
hare-brained iconoclasts OF moral Dalance
find their most eager votaries and disciples
among women, often young women, VINO, IN
supporting the movements" instigated by
Visionary addie-headed or licentious writer's
not only exhibit peculiarly base ideal OF
their own sex alleging. in effect, that 1t Is
become a mother, to cast away all moral
restraint, because some men dol, but they
also support a doctrine which, carried to It's
ultimate conclusion, would inevitably leave
their own sex, in very many cases, no bet
ter thar drabs and beggars, to rear In
sGrsh +, and tine IS
that these movements have received, on
the stage of our country, practical heip
from women of influential position. The
mischievous Ibsen movement, for example,
was begun In our theater by the beautiful
romantic actress. Nine. Modteska, and II
Fiske Miss Blanche Bates. Miss Mary
Shaw. Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Miss Olga
Mms pSse Nine Reane and Nine Kao
all Of whom have appeared in either the
tainted trash of that cratic Norwegian
pundit or In plays of a kindred order
The extirpation of the custom OF COM
munal marriage, the earliest form OF mar
riage among organized societies, was the
dawning of taste, as applied to particular
form or face. The delightful custom of
polyandry practiced in certain parts OF
Tibet, would, perhaps, suit Mr.. Bernard
Shaw and his serious minded women" or
they might approve the variety of the same
institution that prevails in certain parts OF
Africa according to travellers therel
whereby marriage is degraded into miscel-
laneous bestiality. Dr. Johnson, holding
forth on this subject, threw, perhaps, the
needed explanatory light upon the mystery