Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-24

not say how honesty IN public once Is 70
be secured. nor does It tell how political
bosses are TO be circumvented when they
have made up their minds to pull on a
coup. Il does tell how the public Is be-
trayed by those who are trusted. but this
is hardly novelty. As an illustration Of
applied politics IL may be effective but not
more SO than the columns OF any 1--we daily
newspaper.
straying a little further aheld, but keep
ing within the pale of sociology, Prof
Moody's Great Divide" tackles a more
dificult and abstruse phase Of the topic
What a pity he couldn't trust his play to
the New York public under its original and
more descriptive title of THE Sabine
Woman" Surely there are enough people
in New York familiar with Roman history
to have made the application plain to the
rest OF the Gothamites. But Prof. Moody
devotes his time to trying TO prove that
a woman may learn to love the man who
has ravished her Just why this question
should have been obtruded is hardly APP
parent Even were 1t answered decisively,
no matter which way, 1t would not serve
any useful purpose. The affirmative would
not render the crime more popular, nor
would the negative make It more abhorent.
II seems TO be presented for much the
same purpose as was the famous debate
OF the German monks as to the exact num-
Der Of souls that could find standing room
on the point OF fine needle. 1t is not
Just now recalled what figure the monks
finally arrived at as being the correct
total, but 1t is morally certain that II the
test were made nowadays. and a selection
a. -
Moody's excursion into savagery for a
theme is not likely to add anything to the
sum total Of human wisdom. Some tribes
there still be where courtship is carried on
by means OF a bludgeon, and among these
the husband is seldom bothered by any
consideration for bis spouse born of finer
feelings. II is just barely possible that
in the case OF his Sabine woman there was
reversion to type, but even this is in
conformity to accepted teaching. AS a
contribution to sociology, the play is no
more important than either of the Klein
or the Broadhurst productions, no matter
how much It may excel as mere literature.
Rev. Thomas j. Dlxon's treatment OF
the so-called race problem is characteristic.
He goes to a bygone day for his theme
and by lndirection argues that conditions
that prevailed in the south during the lat
ter sixties are still dominant His argu-
ment is unsound, for the reason that 1t is
palpably defense and, being SUCH is not
free from partisan bias. THE Clansman"
is interesting as a play. but 1t is not
useful contribution to the literature of the
modern sociological trend.
o
From Holland COMES play which, be-
cause It does get down TO fundamentals.
is probably more vital than either of the
American productions. The Good Hope, e"
offered recently in New York by Ellen
Terry, is a translation from the Dutch
OF Herman Heijermans It Is a pitiful
tale of the sodden life of the nsherfolks
of Holland. Its principal character is an
old woman who has seen her father broth
ers and husband swallowed up by the sea,
and is now called upon to see her sons
follow. One of these boys, a fine young
fellow, has been dismissed from the navy
in disgrace because he struck an officer
who had insulted the girl he hopes to
marry. He returns from prison and ships
on the Good Hope to earn money that
he marry his sweetheart, who is also his
cousin. The younger brother has a con-
genital horror for the sea, but Is driven
aboard the same vessel by his mother
who insists that he shall take his part
IN life and aid in earning the living The
Good Hope is a rotten hulk, a floating
coffin, and Is overwhelmed in a storm
During the storm the women folks gather
around a fire in the hut of Kniertje-
played by Miss Terry-and listen to the
roar OF the elements that sounds the doom
of those on the Good Hope. Kniertje re-
calls that while she was driving her
-. l.. n
keep an appointment with the elder which
was to signify that she had forgiven him
for his conduct and for fiery speech ir
which he declares his manhood and his
rights. The thought comes to her that
her two sons, the last she has to offer
are sucked down by the sea, the elder
thinking her hard and unforgiving, the
younger looking upon her as having driver
him to his death. II is a sermon and 6
picture of life among the lowly that might
be softened by very slight changes. How
utterly dull and hopeless the existence Of
its leading characters is made plain, while
the careless selfshness and avarice o,
those who are to large degree charge
able with the conditions is vigorously por
trayed. The greed of the shipowner Il
responsible for the tribute of lives.
.
All this agitation suggests that tn
altruistic movement is taking on a con
crete CORN. While the case is presented
in tentative and not especially convinc
ing way. enough is offered to start though
along lines that must eventually converg
somewhere near the truth, Thus the ap
narently useless play becomes useful, ant
Klein and Broadhurst. Moody and Heller
mans may be but the forerunners of
school Of dramatists who are to aid othe
agencies in bringing about reforms tina
are needed. Economists are agreed tina
the problem OF production is solved; tina
the needs OF mankind may be daily salts
} fed, and that the accumulation OF wealt
as represented by the surplusage of labo
is assured. The question OF distribution
; now the point of attack, The discussion o
, the various and varying aspects of life a
, the theater help to direct US TO a con
I clusion Just as certainly as do the academi
; disquisitions Of the schools. More viril
4 and effective debate is likely to follov