Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-03
| r.

two grades OF Americans; one 90
KH hypOcritical that It dare not face
49, the truth, the other so puritanical
that IL can not abide any approach 10 q
sacred topic, Mr. Strauss, happily, IL
wrong on both counts. Only a very small
portion Of the American people IL open to
the charge Of being in the least puritanical.
while II lie hard to think that any impor-
tant number o. this country's citizenship
Is 50 corrupt morally as 20 fear 20 discuss
It's worst faults, II Mr., Strauss were more
familiar with the trend Of American
thought, and knew more Of the American
spirit. he might have spared himself even
in his chagrin, the ridiculous position in
which he has been placed by his effort 10
defend the actual obsceuity Of his opera.
'Saioune" was written by a convicted de-
generate. Oscar Wilde, one Of the most
brilliant Of modern writers, a man Of posi-
tive genius, proved a pervert, and the pub
lie loathing that followed on his exposure
has blotted out all recollection Of his fine
poetic fancy. His name Is recalled with
obloquy, 'salome'' was almost his latest
production and It's conception and de-
movement exhibit the inroads made by
the poison OF moral degenerncy on wildes
nature. II Is barely possible that in some
other country than England or America
Wide might have retained his standing, or,
at least. have suffered little through the
cause that wrought his downfall. hut II Is
70 the everlasting credit Of the Angio-Saxon
race that he forfeited by his moral obses-
sion all that his power as a poet had won
for him. ,t.s.
Mr.. Strauss adopted the play as a theme
for his music. II is said he has trans
cended established canons Of musical com
position with as sublime disregard as did
Richard Wagner, and has achieved some
wonderful harmonies as a result Of his or
iginaity. But he has used HIS genius TO
decorate a story whose banelity and beast
lness appeals only TO the grosser emo
lions, or TO minds so shblimated as TO DO
beyond ordinary human passion. He is ex-
culpated, though, from his self-accusa-
ton of approaching a Biblical topic. Be-
yond the fact that John the Baptist, Herod,
Herodias and salome are mentioned in
the Scriptures, there is no sembiance 20
the Bible story In "SaIome9' Even the
apocryphal tale on which the play was
based has been changed wilde substitute
ing Saiome for Herodas, in order that he
might make the refusal OF John 20 be Sc
duced the more remarkable. II was likely
that John might Withstand the blandish-
ments of the over-ripe Herodias but that
he could deny himself the freely proffered
charms of the lovely Saome was basis
for wonderment beyond wilde's conception.
He could not understand that purity of
mind he depicted, and set It out merely as
foil for the pruriency Of Salome. In the
story II was the incestuous Herodias who
lusted for John; her daughter was merely
the instrument Of the mothers revenge.
These are the facts in their nakedness.
.
A VnIa I,ot ,.ff oft ty4ax
be artistic, but 1t is Objectionable Just as
picture may be drawn and colored with
exquisite taste and marvellous beauty and
still be obscene. But IL Is not enough that
this outline should be filled in. Details have
been supplied Of the most revolving sort.
The physical aspect of the lust Of Salome
for John is made most manifest throughout
the progress Of the plays action. and this
Is accentuated rather than diminished In
the opera. Strauss only succeeded in em-
phasizing Wilde's brutality in his adapta-
ton. A spiritual love, such as John might
have tolerated and maybe dreamed Of could
have been possibles but not the fieshly love
a degenerate. II this exhibition of de-
seneracy were not enough. the opera offers
the picture Of a suicide, driven to self-de-
Btruction by hopeless desire for the girl
who has fixed her eyes on the preacher.
The horror Of the closing scene In which
Saione kisses the dead lips of the severed
head of John is beyond expression It Is
revolving finale to a tale that is unre-
heved from start to finish by a single flash
Of decency. Herr Strauss may have found
for IT a hearing and plaudlts in Dresden
and other European capitals. but he may be
also assured that It is neither hypocrisy
nor puritanism that has driven his opera
from the stage In New York. II Ia decency,
and the protest Of a public taste that is
neither decadent nor perverted
%
Americans are far from being soueamish
about the handling OF Biblical or sacred
topics on the stage. On the contrary, where
such matters have been approached with a
spirit Of even seeming reverence. great sue
cess has been accorded them. Mary of
Magdala'' was one of the greatest II not
the very greatest of Mrs F1skes tri-
umphs in every aspect and 1t deals in a
most intimate way with the life of Christ.
all but presenting him on the stage In per-
son. Ben Hur'' Is STILL after many tours
OF the country. one OF the most popular of
plays. and II Is also dependent for It's chief
interest on the personality OF Jesus and in
dicates his presence with unmistakabie d.
rectness. Similar themes have been handled
in similar manner by Others and have won
both praise and fortune for their authors
matter how delicately 1t be yelled, cannot
hope TO hold attention long in America
%
Joves thunderbolt has been loosed, and
now the head OF the octopus is bowed, while
with shivering grasp his tentacles cling 10
his prey and he awaits the final thrust
that shall end his career. or. maybe Il
was Prometheus, waiting for Hercules; or
mayhsp, again. II was Andromeda, pa.
tiently hiding the time when Perseus should
put in appearance. At any rate. some
thing had to be did and II was Bill
Jerome has sunk his spear into the flesh OF
the Theatrical Trust, and II now hangs
quivering on the barbs Of the law Ar
indictment has been found against the
Syndicate" by the New York grand Jury
charging II with being combination IN
restraint OF trade. double triumph foI
Art Is thus secured. Greatest. probably
is the fact that It is recognized by the
law as trade. This is Just what the mer
who make up the syndicate have claimed
for II all the time, but the other fellows
have been shouting that Art is not com
merce; that 4 Is Art. and has nothing e
do with dollars and the like. But now Il /.