New-York tribune., 1908-03-01
f8hIS A0TLS.
Lach, of Theatre Censorship Causes
Public Protest.

Paris. February Il.
When the censorship Of theatres was abolished
6 couple OF years ago there Was general belief
nrevaleut that public opinion. aided by the ef
forts Of the Paris police. would prevent anything
from being produced which would too grossly
s.,acJ, public morals This expectation has not
heen entirely fulfilled The big theatres. indeed
-ar7siu OF the same moral level rs formerly. for
-,e Paris middle class Is more prudishly IN
cli-a6 fhan is generally supposed by foreigners.
,bo jrdce Paris hy music han performances
which are II reality got up exclusively for the
s1ar-srion OF the cosmopolitan visitor. and have
ssl5o-77 a7y real Partisan vogue. or by a litera-
-,-e which finds its chief sale. as was the case
v4-h The late Emile Zola's novels, in Germany,
Belgium and Greece
Added 10 this there has been within recent
,,ss-s = marked tendency on the part OF the most
.7e--4d French playv-rights 70 compose their
,1o-s with an eye &c future adaptation in the
--,,red states and England They bear well in
80 that -Zaza." for instance. has brought in
,,-s- 100000 II authors rights in America, and
...- ss-6ou and other cunning masters OF TneIo-
5-s-,a-ic stzEecraft owe their Pecuniary success
a. ,,-,rh greater measure TO their popularity
--.r tbe transatlantic playgoer than 10 the ap-
-,.,,se of their own cOuntryTnen. No French
7--z--;rr+ u his senses would think nowadays
= --asen+ing play 10 French manager which
.o,-1s not be adapted without too much difficulty
4o- -,,a lucrative Anglo-Saxon market
IN, his new rule applies only TO the big the
-ee-ba classified houses" as they are called
.- certain Of the music halls and the theatres
..+s" or minor theatres, the widest license
rs beer introduced. owing 70 the absence OF all
o45ctsl censorship The scandal has assumed
--,cb --opor1ious that section OF the Partisan
rnr1ic has made Up its mind to protest and, in
+.s event OF its prorestation having no effect 10
-ske vigorous action The last straw. as It
re which has called forth this outburst Of
,1hI;c t-6ignation has been an announcement
ths- ore of these minor theatres is soon 70 pro-
5uce z realistic two-acI representation Of the
murder CT the little EIberding girl, for which
snIeiIland. who thus gave his name 70 par
-5c5.lzr kind Of sensual crime. was recently SEN
tenced 10 death
The screams OF the little girl are TO be faith
tlIIv reproduced IN the side scenes. and all the
hideous details preliminary 70 the crime are 70
be re-enacted- The P-efect Of Police, II. Lepine,
or being approached on the subject, pointed out
tha- since the abolition OF the censorship his
hands were completely tied All he could do
vas forbid the performance IN the event OF
its being OF such q character as to provoke a
public riot The proteste-s have therefore
made up their minds 10 be present in force at
the first night and 10 create such q scene OF
Kissing and wfistIing that the police VIII be
forced to intervene Il IS not unlikely that as
ne outcome Of & few incidents OF this kind the
government viii decide uoC indeed 70 re-estab-
Hsh The censorship its old lines, but TO create
z service OF official inspection Of the music halls
and minor theatres which viii prevent public
seoercv from being outraged while IN way
interfering with the artistic development OF
French drama