New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-24
As TO SANDER OF THE STAGE.

Az article published in a paper called Men and
-.-s-" makes several eLtravagant statements,
"a me that is scaudaloUsly false, with reference
!, The theatre and 20 members Of the dramatic
.r,sssicn The article IS anonymous,-being
go zone Who Knows. but the Editors Of
-J,ss and Women" las 20 whose qualifications 10
--srs q theatrical morals there is no testimony
.,5,-ss and zrrrove It. The writer OF the article
sss.rnates himself as q veteran character actor
n eli actors by the way are not character
s..o-s what are they?) The accusation is de-
g5erstely made. By this veteran actor, that the
rso1le connected with the theatre are, 'as class.
-s-e eyposed 10 temptation. and consequently.
more morally caIoused, than the members Of any
o.hsr profession OF art" The temptation" as
seen b. this veteran actor, appears 70 be that Of
EnatoFy immortality.
he accusation Is absurd There may be men
a1d women Of loose morality on the stage, but
tasl- presence does not vi-iaCs the profession OF
acting. Such men and women exist IN every p-0-
sssson. and il their existence vi-iates one class
q society IT would vttiaJe al. and by that sort
q reasoning. al professions would be proved i'm
neral The veteran actors assurance that he IS
an actor" was reeded-for. In default Of testi-
n01y Cu thai point. his readers might suppose him
% bs 5auIdiced country clergyman, saturated
WITH bE1r-v and Ignorance. There is & certain
esss Of frivolous entertainment, auxiiar TO that
Of the theatre. and, OF late years FAR TOO ample.
tloacus young women But the stigma Of i'm
morality Goes NOT. for thar reason. rest upon the
theatre. nor should Il be placed there The blame
EIQerta--s 70 The el-erprising business men" who
export such forms Of entertainments and who
create The immortality By selecting their coupau-
ions from such resorts q known folly and probable
vice
Z Is pity that falsehood about "the temptations
G. the stage IS Sc often uttere- There is how
az NJ Faer~0---r -a+ eETHpaS a-+fra-
nsat SPEAK the truth about the theatre The
T--sss5L 81 the actor IS a laborl0us and exaCt4ng
Gre Digsnt. continuous study. toll. and self-denIaI
ar nperatvsly essential 20 the accomplishment Of
Egt1ing fl The theatre. In It's practical working
r. F-ags Is about as tempting as q machine shop.
~ ana women nj the stage who behave IL an i'm
IRA manner would behave in that manner any
ra-e else. Character decides conduct immoral
y On The stage is colacldent with immortality in
ne COMMUNICATING neither greater nor less
acting IS no more an immoral profession because
l11-a- plays are produced on the stage than
asraiure Is IN immoral profession because vie
e''Es are printed. and vile books are, probably.
h''e NUMEROUS than vile plays Good sons and
goo daughters q good parents" 60 quote the
veteran actor. cannot make & better choice Of
I''.eszo1 tha1 thai Ct acting ii they have the
lsaessary dramatic talent very few beginners are
N-aa 10 possess any talent whatever. and II they
A2 nave the set-respecr and the strength OF char
s'sf 70 Work hard 10 endure trials and 10 be true
e noble ambition
--sIe Is personal aspect 70 the attack so grossly
-@-5 IL Aen and Women. upon the morals Of a
-'Es elss o. The community. The veteran actor
=, Oe'9l--1g his own nest. assais the morality
v ne Whole dramatic profession. has exhibited the
.-',laiaiy solcitude Of seIf-complaoent virtue
-'els aesirols % cersure the conduct Of other
.--e7-anl with this is combined the usual vain
s.-'',-s notion OF moral superiority. COne sign Of
---a-e power ~ goodness Is its capacity TO sur
me -a9ors ~ most Of IT'S representatIves) This
- ACTOR. u appears. has passed unscathed
- ,-s- NE residential atmosphere which he says
-'--a Do all MS experience Of the stage. Il
-. nee. Cod thar am not as other men are"
- Ie FAsr-s5e 'or even as this publican" In
= -0lior-a--e frame q mind the veteran appeals
- s s1eal BODY o. theauegoers. asking them
80 10 refuse - par-orlze plays that are pre-
3! performers Cf known immortality"
''-.1 be more 10 the purpose and much more
---'e 70 tie ignorant multitude. II the veteran
-,-a specify the performers Of known I'm
stating their names and location. It
a. y more honest aIc respectable when bring
mage ~ der-avity against the members Of
~. sAo ponllous profession, TO 90 It openly,
oN1 -ame and not under the cowardly
A.. ne anonymous signature The veteran
a.. 7-ares thar II was only 20 save his daugh-
r'a the moral Ieprosy OF the theatrical
- mar he consented 20 give 70 the world his
&C., -5esar al ambiguous SANDER II the vet
daughters needed salvation. why not have
80 hem st h0me7 Surely those children
So, nave beer privately apprised OF the dreadful
49,. % t-f cl-ruel house that their sire thinks
r., -.e- while passing 20 the dramatic ell
T.. ZIG H-es- successful character portrayal
"a, --7~ i-af be- mas reached as writer is very
'.a --ed.rs6Is %. MIN. y. ".