New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-19

public nose'-as II any human being. having access
70 me New Testament, stands In the slightest need
/ OF preeepts commendatory OF clearly Iife OR,
TX any person. having access 70 the newspapers,
has any need OF additional information as TO Great
ures OF depravtty. deeds OF crime and scenes OF
horror. 1t does not signify that those PLAYS are.
in some respects. clever; that they display more
or less ingenuity OF construction and felicity OF
language Their pervasive defect Is that they
needlessy and fruitlessy Obtrude offensive topics
Graat that the human heart il deceitsul above
all things and desperately w1ctedi-as a matter OF
fast. IT Is nothing Of the kind for. with all its
faults. human nature contains attributes that are
noble and beautiful while the history OF human
conduct abounds with examples OF herOis-n: but.
taking the worst view OF IL that cynic can take.
what good can possibly come OF perpetuaIly ap-
prising our fellow creatures that they are dwell
ing IN the gall OF sin and the bonds OF tniQuity2
II grows very tresome Let agree 70 II, and
have done with IT. Graves. in the old play, COM
forts himself with the reflection that this beastly
world will one day be burnt up. That thought
surely might console the most inveterats Ibsenite
comedian. said 20 his intimate friend, Arthur
Sketchley' who was always grumbling:-'Every
thing is wrong. Arthur: damn everything
and let's go 10 breakfast
Where should the line be drawn? The mOralist,
dramatic or otherwise. rule. assumes.-and
acts on the assumptiOn-that there IS no crime too
alroclous. no obscenity too vile. no nasttness too
putrid' for obtrusiOn the public notice. IL only
ZIG OOtEusion is tagged with good moral That
doctrine. once admitted. opens the door 70
limited volume OF filth Many reasOners maintain
It, and not long unhappily. IT received the sup
port OF legal sanction-for, practically. It is the
doctrine sustained by the decision OF the Court OF
Special Sessions. IN the DaIy-Shaw case. that was
tried last July. The decision does not deny that
play called Mrs. Warren's Profession" presents
wee; that fact on the contrary. was admitted:
but says the justice who wrote the decision:
vice. at least. is presented in odiOus light,
y ~
and his concurring associate appear believe
that because vice is presented In odiOus hight
the Observers OF that presentment will Wow vice
with disgust" and. necessarily, viii be moved 20
avoid IT. That kind OF reasoning has been IN
vogue for long time. and 1t has done q ire
mendous amount OF mischief. It Is exceedingly
specious. and IL is absolutely unsound- The lOgi-
clan who assumes that attitude might Just
sonably maintain that open cesspoOl in a publa
place VIII exert sanitary and salutary influence.
by causing disgust for a foul odor. and thus
showing the people OF the neighborhOod the neces-
stty OF cleapliness ana pure air. In each case.
obviously, there is Teaching; but in each case the
method OF tuition is vulgar odious offensive. and
hurtful. The outrage 70 the physical sense IS on
the surface and evident: the outrage to the moral
and spiritual is subtlei but though subtle e
IS not less positive. The poet Lowell was aware
OF this. when he said. with reference 70 the act
ing OF Nine. Sarah Bernhardt. that he would not
attend the performance OF such plays she
toInariy presents ola TOsca." The Wife OF
Claude" etc. because he coEId not aloe hts mind
70 De dragged In the gutter.
The excitation OF disgust IN the mind OF
human being Is not necessarily benefit! more
often il is positive harm. Furthermore. expert
ence has shown that the presentment OF VICE
that is 70 say, Of the frightful eXample."-doss
not deter the spectator from vicious Human
beings, almost as custom. do wrong with a full
consciousness OF their transgressOn. and, not un-
frequently. with inward approval OF il: and even
il the presentment OF the frishtful example ever
dd deter from vicious courses. It still true
that the mind is de6ied and injured by being made
q receptacle for exemplary muck The right way
for the dramatic art IS present the beauty that
should be emulated-nOt 10 linger the infamy
that should be Stunned. Even that impracticable
pubucist. the poet Sheley.-who proclaimed moral
code that. in its practical application. would COM
plstely disOTganiZe society, and who wrote the
nauseous revolving tragedy OF The Cenci,"-
clearly perceived. and cOsently stated. the law
that should govern moral drift IN the work OF
dramatic art:-"There must he said, ''be nothing
attempted 10 make the exhibition subservient 70
what is vulgarly termed a moral purpose. The
highest moral purpose aimed at il the highest
species OF the drama is the teaching the human
heart through its sympathies and entipathies. the
knowledge OF Itself IN proportion 70 the possession
OF which knowledge every human being IS wise.
just sincere. tolerant. and kind. II dogmas
do more. It is well; but drama Is no 1T place fOz
the enforcement OF them"
Nothing IN the theatre OF to-day IS so essential
70 the welfare OF the public as an adherence 10 ths
lovely and cheering drama OF simplicity and beauty
The PubHc-that convenient scapegOati-is forever
supposed 70 want something and something
nasty. That Is an error. The public wants
something iHtsTestiHO-good acting. for instance,
IN good plays. Il might be worth while 10
experiment a little IN that directOn. There
are many good plays IN our language: plays
OF Shakespeare; plays OF the order OF The Road
To Ruin" She Stops To Conquer. Caste "Our
Boys" The Ticket OF Leave Man" "FOrget-Me-
Not" The Two Roses'' "The Favortte OF For
tune" "Au For Her" False Shame" "Jenie
Brown" "A Pair OF Spectacles.'' The Middle
man" The Royal Family" The White Pilgrim"
THE Man OF AirIie" The Rivals" @virginius-
Beckett" Judah The Magistrate Faust"
Sweet Lavender, etc, etc; plays OF many kinds
recurring talents OF wide order for their suitable
interpretations but such plays need actors. and no
one OF the speculative persons who. so largely, now
control our stage has shown vestige OF ability 20
organize and really manage q dramatic company.
The shop Is open-but it Is only shop; and shop
n will remain until control OF the stage reverts 10
rightfu authority; that Is 10 say, TO the hands OF
self-respecting. capable actors. o. az least. Of
managers who possess the actors artistic tempera-
rnent and are conscious OF their intellectual ohl-
CATION society. W. w.