Mexico Missouri message., 1908-06-04

| VI NNll NuaNAllHN anu W ANa NAHANaeAth
Of sentiment not genuine or sincere. &c
corrupt the integrity OF human deal
ings." In Rome gross exhibitions
and llcentious buffoonery became the
common rule OF the play THE
Roman theater," says DIR. Schaf, be
came more and more the nursery Of
vice and deserved to be abhorred by
all men OF decent feeling and refine.
mont" OF England Macaulay writes:
From the time that the theaters we're
opened they became the semlnarIes Of
vice" And Sir Walter Scott says of
the theater Of his day: 1T was aban.
doned to the vicious. The best por.
lions OF the house we're set apart for
the abandoned characters"
The Modern Theater.
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 n theater or have any visiting
connection with actors or actresses"
Dumas, the play.writer wrote to a
friend: You do not take your dauEh.
ter to see my play. You are right Let
me say, once for all, you must not
take your daughter to the theater. II
is not mainly the work that is Inn.
moral; IL IL the place" Mr.. Sothern,
In a newspaper article over his own
name. says: Il have known some OF
our best performers who have found
II necessary to first attend a play be.
fore they would allow their wives and
daughters TO go. Why was This neces-
sary? Why, because they knew
that there was very little clean.
ness In those places. and who
better than they should known" John
Gilbert, the veteran actor. wrote in
the North American Review: II be.
lieve the present condition of the
drama, both from a moral and artistic
point of view. to be a subject of re-
gret." An actor, In passing a theater,
said to friend OF DR.. Cuyler: Be
hind those doors lies Sodom." Edwin
Forrest, hearing DR.. Brantley de-
nounce the theater as an immoral in.
stitution, fingered long enough to as,
sure the preacher that he agreed with
him only he would put It stronger.
Purity on stage impossible.
Mr.. William Winter, 4 dramatic
critic, asserts that Christian ethics on
the stage would be inappropriate. Mr..
A. ii. Palmer. the Nestor OF the the
alter 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
Ns,a. -.
ing 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-mlnded girl who might
enter the profession to make a live.
llhood and to pursue the dramatic art
And here are his words: stage life,
according to my exerienoe, has q tend
ency to disorder the finer feelings, to
crush the inner nature Of men and
women out and to substitute artificial.
ity and hoIlowness for sincerity and
truth. and. mind you. speak from an
intimate experience OF the stage ex.
tending over 81 years. Il il nearly
impossible for q woman 10 remain pure
who adopts the stage as q profession.
Everything Is against her, and, what
IL more 10 be deplored, q 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 II Is still more terrible that II Is
true. but none who know the life Of
the greenroom viii deny H."
The Passion Play.
The modern stage had its birth al
q time during the dark ages when men
were playing at religion in their daily
lives, and they would not, OF course,
refuse 20 play at Il for the entertain.
ment of an audience. Lecky Is right
when he says that the Mystery Plays"
led 10 the degeneration of religion. and
Il Is equally true that the degenora,
ton Of religion led 20 the Mystery
Plays" Playing al marriage and al,
yOrce on the stage weakens, n Il does
not destroy, the sanctity OF marriage
and keeps the divorce courts busy.
Playing at vice cannot fail. sooner or
later, TO make an actor vicious. II IL
one OF the Encouraging signs OF the
times to-day that religious plays are
becoming popular. Il proves that
the religious instinct In the theater
going people Is thing to play with,
and while faith. prayer and praise are
Eeigned Il IL evident that real faith,
prayer aud praise are lacking. The
Passion Play" though perfogmcd by
nimpie country people with deep roll.
gious feeling, has not improved the
state OF true religion AZ OberammeF.
eau. and can think Of nothing that
would so farther toward breaking
down real Christianity than the pro
sanitation Of this farlcal cruclfxion o.
onF Lord in the theaters OF the worla