New-York tribune., 1906-04-18
CAST OF THE LITTLE FATHER. ="
TAINTED TRASH AT THE LIBERTY.
"The Strength of the Weak"

A tedious and malodorous composition entitled
THE Strength of the Weak brought forth last
night at the Liberty Theatre, and Miss Florence
Roberts, an experienced and more than commonly
able. powerful. and sympathetic actress of the
school Of Mrs. F1ske and Mrs Carter but having
her individual force and way acted the chief
part in II. Plays produced at this temple are OF
course, sacrosanct. and nobody must laugh at them
This one is suggestive of anything but laughter yet
perhaps the better way to dispose of such preten-
uous, addle-headed and mawksh stuff would be to
dismiss 1t with one comprehensive epithet OF rid-
cule. The young woman who has been lost long
ago obtained precedence the most oppressive and
intolerable of all theatrical bores No experienced
playgoer could have expected TO see her surpassed
She hides her diminished head, however alongside
of the heroine Of this piece-for this amazing
female has not only got lost but has written d
book about it, She is the Erring Sister turned Blue
Stocking She seduced by her guardian She
said that she did not know any better. She COM
posed novel on the subject. She fell in love with
young man, and told him all about it. The young
man turned out 10 be her seducer's A prolx
prelude leads 10 the display of that situation.
There is scene of banners and chatter, a scene
of lanterns and chatter and terrific scene Of tea
and chatter; and many excessively vulgar young
men and women cucumber the stage and waste
time. but the Tanqueray situation is reached at
last, and Miss Roberts, Mr.. Ormonde. and MI
Power present about nauseous a triangle as
ever invented. It is all trite however alI
tawdry, all hackneyed, and all false It has all been
said; 1t has all been done; and over and over
again. Nothing could be slier than the stream
of sophistca nonsense that the blue stocking pours
forth Men do not escape from the consequences
Of sin. any than women do It does not rest
Win society: the record is in the mind, is on the
heart; and the punishment inevitably arrives No
body denies 10 women, any than to men, the
right to redeem their errors start afresh TO live
a good life: but neither women nor men can do
wrong and hope 10 escape the retribution that
awaits all sin This play presents one exceedingly
frightful example of the consequences that are
possible as a sequence Of amatory license and the
forfeiture of chastity. Such example are not nee
essary. and if they the stage is not the place
for them.
one serious word, by way of farewell Many
things may rightfully be written which NAV not
judciously be shown. reader, in the library
possesses the liberty of choice: spectator in the
theatre, has no liberty, but must take the thing
that is offered whether he likes II or not-and
therefore. as 10 the stage, it is a sound doctrine
that. with due and reasonable qualification dra-
matte art should present the ennobIing beauty TO
be emulated. and not the loathsome horror to be
Stunned
There is depravity in human nature and there is
founess in human life. and those facts come within
the proper scope of philosophical observation; but
it has been desirable and IL is not desirable
now. that mans possible bestiality should. through
the medium of dramatic performance, or through
any other medium. be made topic Of familiar dis
cussion in family circles, in the newspapers and
in the colloquial intercourse Of everyday life. Dig
nifed reticence has always been considered one of
the finest qualities Of character in the individual
and there is good reason why II should not be
equally valued attribute 10 the character of
civilized society.
Much sophistical prattle is vouchsafed on this
subject. and people are frequently instructed that
artistic progress and development only possible
through the exposure and public discussion Of those
privacies which even the beasts OF the field are
heedfu 10 maintain. Writers who make odious
exhibitions of themselves are called Original"
and powerful" and compositions which are
" nasty are eXultautly proclaimed as strong" II
is not sufficiently remembered that the poIecat
possesses means Of acquiring original dstinc-
uon. whenever he peases to II. and that there
is strength" Of a distinctive. unmstakable kind
IN a barrel of onions.
The notion that literature. art, and society
TO find freedom, vigor, and greatness in a
abundant and exultant life Of the animal has been
spasmodically declaring itself ever since the days
OF Guy Livingston" which was the first Of the
modern English Berserker ebullitions; but it
nothing. Readers who would realize the depth
OF degradation to which the would descend, IL
the animal doctrine were permitted TO prevail
have only to look back 10 the English court of
James the First and TO the worst plays OF such