Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-05-28

Of evil character and by Its expression
OF sentiment not genuine or sincere, to
corrupt the integrity OF human deal
lngs." In Rome gross exhibitions
and llcentious buffoonery became the
common rule OF the play" The
Roman theater." says DIR. SchafY, be
came more and more the nursery OF
vice and deserved to be abhorred by
all men OF decent feeling and refine
ment" OF England Macaulay writes:
From the time that the theaters were
opened they became the semlnaries OF
vice" And Sir Walter Scott says OF
he theater OF his day: 1T was aban-
toned TO the vicious. The best por-
tions OF the house were set apart for
the abandoned characters"
The Modern Theaser.
Is the modern theater any better.
let US hear the testimony OF those
who know. None Of my children"
said Macready. the actor. shall ever
with my consent. on any pretense.
enter a theater or have any visiting
connection with actors or actresses"
Dumas. the play-writer, wrote 10
friend: You do not take your daugh-
er TO see my play. You are right. Let
ne say. once for all. you must not
AXE your daughter to the theater. IL
s not mainly the work that is i'm
moral: IL is the place" Mr.. Sothern.
n newspaper article over his own
name. says; Il have known some OF
our best performers who have found
I necessary to first attend a play be-
'ore they would allow their wives and
daughters to go. Why was this neces-
sary? Why. because they knew
hat there was very little clean
less in those places. and who
better than they should know" John
Gilbert. the veteran actor. wrote in
the North American Review: Il be-
ieye the present condition Of the
irama. both from a moral and artistic
point OF view. TO be a subject OF re-
greet An actor. in passing a theater.
said to friend Of DIR. Cuyler: BE
hind those doors lies Sodom" Edwin
Forrest. hearing DR.. Brantley de
1ounce the theater as an immoral in
stitutiOn. fingered long enough to as
sure the preacher that he agreed with
him only he would put 1t stronger.
Purity on Stage impossible.
Mr.. William Winter. a dramatic
critic. asserts that Christian ethics on
he stage would be inappropriate. Mr..
4. NJ. Palmer. the Nestor of the the
lter managers says in a Review"
article: The chief themes of the the
alter are now, as they ever have been.
the passions OF men. ambition and
jealousy. leading to murder: lust, lead
ne to adultery and death: anger,
leading to madness" Mr. Clement
Scott, distinguished theatrical critic
of the London press. was asked to give
his views as to the effect OF the stage
upon a pure-minded girl who might
enter the profession TO make a live
lihOod and TO pursue the dramatic art.
And here are his words: Stage life,
according to my eXerience. has a tend
ency to disorder the finer feelings, to
crush the inner nature OF men and
women out and to substitute artificial.
lty and hollowness for sincerity and
truth. and. mind you. l speak from an
intimate experience of the stage ex,
tending over 81 years. II is nearly
impossible for woman to remain pure
who adopts the stage as 4 profession.
Everything is against her. and. what
Is more to be deplored. a woman who
endeavors to keep her purity is almost
Of necessity doomed to failure In her
career. Ii is an awful thing to say,
and 1t is still more terrible that 1t 10
true. but none who know the life OF
the greenroom will deny It,"
The Passion Play.
The modern stage had its birth at
time during the dark ages when men
were playing at religion in their daily
lives. and they would not, of course,
refuse to play at 1t for the entertain.
ment Of an audience. Lecky is right
when he says that the Mystery Plays"
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