New-York tribune., 1908-11-29
THE WELFARE OF The STAGE.

The theatres. Offering satisfaction % a taEts
which Is. IN It's own nature. perfectly pure, msY
surely be declared most important agent IL ia
education OF a people. What other form OF popular
recreation is possessed OF such wonderfully tsachzE
powers as the stage? 1t has two voices BY Ehica
it appeals to the human heart and Hfe-uasecy
and comedy. Through tragedy it exctss toward
the attainment OF the highest virtues whilst Z
warns against the spurious attractions 0f sEiL
The tendersst emotions are provoked. sympathy
stimulated and taught. the inner bracs1 -
to play noble part in the great drama Of svsry-
day life. Through comedy the folIiss and vices
OF a present age sTe held Up 10 rOicus and scof1-
the absurdities OF a panpered society exposed 70
contempt. and so warned against imitation
1t is no argument against what is. il Is own
essence, virtUOUs. the fact OF its having .bsco1s
vicious II may be surely admitted that these tEo
great literary and dramatic powers Of tragedy ana
comedy have been perverted IN q degrees ey ia
theatre. and yet not on that account Should ~
theatre be detained against moral and tnsfF
fore social evil An organ or other musical insIr--
neat. quite perfect in it's construction cannot GO
tcally be charged with that sWfGi disCOrd E1SI
the fingers OF utterly unuusiCal person IA
have caused Blame The Ignorance and -uns~~3-
titic touch OF tha player. but exOuerats the Ins.
ment Vice and bufToonsry, the children OF ) "
praved public taste, may disgrace dramatic a.
but not that account is the drama 70 De decllS-
There have been those amongst actors ana 81
who have exercised its beneficial powers aac -
its moral impression felt the heart Ihere y
those in the present day who honestly ssrfs'
obtain for the stage what the stage has, nf0-s-
its insinceritiss> been denied-ths Cha1e-
sympathy 1t Is easy but unfair 70 oi@ns
actor for the abuses OF his profession. Nnss
the Church done? Condemned. abused. 6env~-.s
the theatres IN councils. sermons tracts aHS - =,
form addresses. But what has sis done ~
its moral reformT And viii history Allow =.
be said that she has done nothing because $40 -
diligently and carefully inquired into tas -,
and that the drama Is IN its essence = -,
Even II history would allow this. cars -.
that on It's pages there is no reoord-Eo' arc n,
never will Do such q recOrd-Of IT'S pens So
Church's duty when brought face to fsce w., W.
TO leave that evil TO become evil even 70 - -
. would advocate on the part or he
toward the stage q sympathy which. "hi1 "h1.s
tender, shall be true There must De no q ~
By the Church OF her standard 10 tht- s.s,
world Where she recognizes 81 recreAu0n = = ~
Acial let her through her laymen adop' - -
chlldrens advantage. This work OF tasa~ 10
form Is one that will be found to rsS-...s.s
greatest prudence the incest taeL Ias ~,sas
discrimination. the employment OF al ~ ccs-ssas
or q true gentleman. the courage OF - s,usa
man-ons that must bs given Up eFANeS 80 %
impracticabls. but this work must no' = -. u,s
until . fair and an honest sndeayor h~s =, ,s.t q
that all that Is beautiful shall 1--we AAo AAo-,-.sN
base shall dia"-Addrsss BY the Eari -