Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-30
questions between the clergy and the

questions between the clergy and N,
laity.
1t would seem to an onlooker tina
the doctor has fallen into the commo,
error of reformerS which confuses tn.
thing with the practice. 1t would aIs,
seem that he had set his percentage.
of immortality too high, if we are to
judge by the ordinary criterions Of
! morality That so per cent of plays
and players are immoral will scarcel,
be accepted by those who know mos,
of the stage and theatrical productions
| There is much presented on the stage
which is not strengthening or highly
elevating but purely amusing but
which is not immoral or necessarily
of immoral tendencies There is also
much of the best and highest of life
in the mimicry of the theater which is
as essentially excellent in its influ-
ences as a good book or a noble ey-
ample.
| The plays most inclined to ''immor-
atty" are those analyses by masters
of playwriting of certain types and
tendencies which everyone knows and
sees in his own neighborhood, and of
whom the neighbors do not speak "be-
fore the children" To lay bare the ar
gument of putrid mind cozening it
self into justification for marital in
fidelity; to trace the course of men
and women from decency to defiance
of the moral law is to make vice fam
iliar and smut common. When it is
done by an artist 1t is simply case
of smothering carrion with perfume.
hiding corruption under rose leaves. 1t
is more dangerous from it's conceal
ment and more to be feared than vice
naked ,brazen and unashamed. Its in
class of plays which should suffice to
close playhousas, as pest house is
quarahtined. ButGt is hard to see why
the indictment against indecency should
hold against the clean and amusing
Neither will a majority agree that
the form nor an impressive style of
elocution displayed in the reading of
the marriage ceremony, will have seri-
Gus effect on the divorce courts. The
success or failure of marriage depends
more on the married than on the rituals
and vestments Justice of the peaces
or preacher, overalls or dress suits, cut
very little figure as to future success
and happiness. Failure and success de-
pend upon character.
The divorce courts and the wife de-
sertion law are chargeable to our atti-
tude. toward marriage. not to lack
of ceremony. Marriages are too often
made on the street, here and there, in
an apparent regardliness of future re-
sponsibility that would seem careless
in buying a horse. More time is taken
10 CONSIDERATION OIL tlle DTluG ) gown
than to the fitness of the COON. Par
entail authority and wish are mini
mixed. 1t is too easy to get married. 1t
isn't the form of the ceremony but
simply shortage of common sense,
most of it on the part of parents.
However, we are not going to the
dogs as fast as some sermons would
have us fear. This is a pretty decent
old world as yet and getting decenter
every day. Thousands of plays are
pure, clean. elevating. Most marriages
are successful or seem, to be. Only a
1sw Of US 30 materially wrong and but
asscanty reach the divorce
Courts. We naed more religion, more
thought better balance and it is rea
sonabe to hope and believe we shall |
acquire them. The tendency of the age
Is upward as have been the tendencies
Of all the ages. few fools, a few
snaves and a few vicious do not con-
stitute sphere.