New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-31
THE DRAMA.
THE WAKE OF MRS. WARREN.
Manhattan Theatre.


The wake of sister Warren conducted by sister
Shaw. has lasted three weeks. The mourning
concluded here last night The defunct sister will
either be inferred now or paraded through other
cities with view to more protracted lamentation
AS the funeral procession disappears. serious word
relative to the impudent attempt TO foist that
nuisance on the public of New York may not be
deemed Inappropriate.
Mr.. q. B. Shaw, in pTomu1gating his nasty play
OF Mrs. Warrens Profession" has alleged that
his purpose was to protest against shopkeepng
tyranny which he assumes to exist. that drives
women into vicious life. by Withholding from
them fair wages for their labor These are Mr..
Shaw's words:
The play CATrs. Warrens ProfessionO is. simply,
study Of prostitution. and its aim Is TO show
mat prostitution is the prostitutes fault but
the Iault Of a society which pays for poor and
pretty Woman's prostitution in solid gold. and pays
Tor her hones,y with starvation drudgery. and
pious twaddle"
against that statement it would be well for the
reader 10 place the statement Of Mr. Justice Ohm
sted of the Court of Special Sessions in New
york. made in the judicial decision in the case in
VolVlng the play Of Mrs. Warrens Profession"
handed down July g. 1906:
That his (Shaw'sH main idea not the
discussion or the social evil called. seems 20 be
demonstrated by the fac. that not one Of the char
acters OF the play refutes the sophistical
ing or the courtesan mother. with the statement,
Which We judiciallJ, know to be true. that tho
prostitute is not ordinarily driven to her choice OF
calling by anything other than her motive to sat
isfy the desires of her senses. without work.
That is the plain. unvarnshcd positive truth
to that subject ascertained. by experience sn the
courts Of Justice. 1t will be observed that Mr..
Shaws solicitude restricts Itself to the alleged
wrongs and sUferngs Of poor and pretty women"
There is n belize that the poor and homey woman.
when in trouble degrade ton. is jus- much
an object of compassion. and just much entitled
to help. as is the pretty But. aside from the
question of remedy for what is called "thc social
evil the theatre is not ft place for the discus
sion of that subject. of any subject like it. The
theatrical audience is largely composed OF young
people. many or them girls. at an age when they
exceptionally sensitive to impressions II Is
not prudshness II Is sense, that would bar
anything and everything tending to cause and pro-
mote reflection and discussion among young people.
or in a promisclous assCmblage. of such themes
as the social evil Those subjects thai
concern doctors. social philosophers. legisla-
tors men who bear the responsibility of gov
ernmen, No right minded. well-bred person
introduces an indicate subject for converse
ton in a drawing room The introduction Of such
a subject would be consdered-and justly so-an
Insult: and there is more justification for IN
sulting people in theatre than there wou'o oe
for insulting them in parlor. The public does
not attend the theatre for the purpose OF oo'"l"-
ing information and views about evil. It's
cause or its cure The notion that social evils can
he corrected by writing plays about them is little
better than diotIc
But Mr. Shaw writes like n charlatan whose
stock in trade is paradox. In the same comTnuni-
cation from which his absurd statement. above
printed Is taker he says that: There are people
with whom YOU can discuss such subjects. ana
neople TO whom YOU cannot mention them. Inc
patrons Of the prostitutes form the main body OF
the latter and the women who are engaged IN
rescuing women are the backbone OF the former
Get the rescuers into the theatre. and keep the
That Is exclude the persons TO whom 1.-The moral
lesson" OF his play az IT really had one which II
has noO. should be addressed, meaning the class
that preachers Of theatrical lessons might per
hans improve ar anybody could be improved by
exhibition os the frightful example, and get
into the theatre" the reformers engaged In the
charitable work Of trying To reclaim degraded
women who by personal observation and pToies-
sional experience are familiar with shocking de-
tails OF the subject. and know at least as much
about it as Mr. Shaw does and do not require nfor-
nation either from him anybody else, and then.
having got them in. adront them By nippant, in
sincere study OF the terrible condition they are
seeking 10 correct-haviug charged them from
20 cents 10 g. or more. for tho anront; and thus
obtained handsome royalties for crack Drained
English Irish socialist" Anxiety about wretched
women or about public miseries. when displayed
by such persons as Mr.. O. b. Shaw and his present
apostles Mr.. a. Woods Mr.. Gompertz. Mr.. Rat
cne, and Miss Mary Shaw. is indeed impressive.
w w.