New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-18
CASE OF PROVINCIAL DISTRESS.
Ias following editorial article appeared n ''1ha
EfoT1dence Journal" OF January Il:
THE TAINTED DRAMA"


II IS natural that SIS a man grows older he should
n-Ss9le Iaudator tempOris actt. but the venerable
~ experienced dramatic critic Of The New YoTk
lt that he is unable 10 90 justice to the present
e III Winter the names Of Maeterlinck Ibsen,
!Asy are the writer's Of The tainted drama" and
80 aoos them u as horrible examples 20 the scorn
= J2e yrtuoqs. Nor does he spare those who have
pttoeaced their plays. He IS amazed that women
=. 1h.ent-al position should appear IN them. The
--selevous lbsen movement" he says was begun
e oaF Theatre d the beautiful romantic actress
r-.-s .AooJeska, and 1t has received encourage
w M ron Mrs, Fiske. Mss Blanche Bates, Miss
cay Shaw, Mrs. Patrick Campbell. Miss olga
tS SsasIss 4 Nine Bernhard Mrs Kenaal, Nine
5 I1s AIne Re1ane and Nine. Kalich. all of whom
-e spkeaTed IN either the tainted trash of that
rfSe- -'oI Weglan pun4i,. or IN plays Of a kindred
=. the theatre IS always to provide milk
a -. ceees and never meat for strong men then of
iiLse dramas which deal with the serious phases
4 .aInaa conduct must be barred It is perhaps.
~, -'1uy upon the s0TJid. But q play is not i'm
1.FSl because Il is unpleasant An excitIsiye diet
1esen might lead 10 intellectual jndigestior7
& .aTleSs ae has message for his time Nor
-. - as Nj. Winter says, breaking down the bar-
az between the sexes 70 deal in art with The Re
rs. 1.s OF men and women r is q curious fact
- persons WHO applaud farces that make sport
: morality viii rebuke with fntoleran1J zeal The
ffe est who illustrates the wnrld-old fact that
fefv ~ sss Of sn IS death But this fact is the
;-s s- AF. Winter give 10 Hamlet" If fl were
eos sidtT As z modern problem play? would he
It's So t2o teoaslng for discussion and say that
Gsrr s.sAe between Hamlet and his mother was
a r. 70 the stage? Shakespeare was too great
rI,:s,.s st 70 deal continually with the darker
aEsssnoo ne Yet he wrote 'OtheIlo'' and
Ng5d -. !9 2- Measure" well as Twelfth
fs-.Is no me Merchant Of Venice" Mr. Winter
ssas,f9. |9Iid not object 10 The School for
ns ~ a4hough Il skates over some toIerahly
t..s, assumption that the modern dramstists are
rez :. S.-t upon destroying the institution OF mar
flgTb. tu5e!y Eratuitous Mr.. Winter argues at
q te5,@ ID4lt which few persons will be disposed
cy1ii, marriage IS admittedly "the cornerstone
tsf ---sQ human society," Bur & does not follow
!: Marriage under ideal conditions should alone
eaditf1..' upon The stage, that q picture of
Qls NJ Lar from ideal VIII loosen moral bonds
b ~ disagree with the conclusions reached
Ter1t CO., - a Dolls House." but hers is a case
tedy b,.S ieerng- Mr. Pinero's Iris is painful
ssiu,.rt ~ II thoroughly wholesome and conveys
D the e. lesson In the only way art can do So
1ospbe,s s o. example. And surely the moral at
had ftseie o. this city would not have bSen tainted
Etdss c .i5 artist. Mrs Fiske, been able 10 give
JpubtesS' SSJIeI during her TOO brief visit here
Fhcb : ar; winter would approve the problem
cs,lIyo7 e. INC root Of Leah kleschna," the re
.sss ;rorr- human soll. But would It have been
E0nlrasgGselIe or less valuable had the Seventh
Fake? 0''e rather than the Eighth been at
Tar co... a.. me theme after ALL but the treatment
e nAde % ne-e are subjects which can easily
hsadi1, OilrenSiye by Incompetent or interruptions
s4fideT ,tfey are subjects which life has 10
ave bes1 a lie is the material for art There
fhieh Ynjct pays, unfortunately. the influence of
ss.t IT. !eaSolls by be regarded objection
s.iy cid {. S &c &c criticism would Go less than IT'S
- naivc-sIAall 20 reprCbhte them Jncons4derate
Era innate attack however, fs likely 70 DO
sssobr .L .t lt&n good. Mr. Winters fierce denun-
Itc arr - Unjust both 10 the writers who treat
sh tSsSe ttoesly ana 10 the actors who cooperate
q an !" HE-cHg the theatre a place for seri-