Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-14

Iof tue pnaNtI OF urauia tuht y
- being furnished a. the theaters
onto the public. Some most Wig
A4B orous raps are being dealt the
stage Of today. none more energetic than
thet from Mr.. Charles Burnhsm. president
q the New York Theatrical MANAGERS -.
soeiation. Archbishop Farley has lately de-
livfred e scaihine arralgnment 81 the mod
crn drama. teferrine 20 II AZ being '1neN-
1ressibiy filthy" and Manager Bumham
Fggs he IL right. Five theaters are now
p33n In New York that would be closed ~
~ Burnham could have hts way, and his
ria for q censor IL urgent. What has
brought about this chsnge IN the attitude
Of the m~anaeers7 Have they suddenly be.
come affected by lngrowinE conscience3
Have their eyes been opened 20 what has
been patent 20 others for no long a timer
The Bee has no apologies 10 make for is
course towards the drama OF filth. Foi
yeers Il has battled with other prominent
papers IN favor Of q clean stage and
against the dirt" drama. II has listed
among the plays that ought not IN be pre-
scented In public a number that have been
uncommonly successful. and concerning
which much has been spoken IN praise by
the very managers who are now seeking
aiddsniy 10 reform the thsater. But This
Bee has not been prudish In the matter. IL
has paid the plays u has condemned what
ever wss due them as literary productions,
considered from a purely literary point, OF
ihat e~ndsavored 70 give them careful n
tinpreiudiced analysis. 40 that anything Of
psychological or sociological value they
lrbaeht contain would not be lost. yet II has
said they should not be permitted. For
example. take THE Devil" The produc-
tioh Of this play. IN itself almost tn
apotheosis Of modern cynlcism. The Bee
found much TO praise from its literary ana
dramatic viewpoint, while condemning II as
a play TO be produced In public. what 10
true Of THE Dsvii' IL true OF a host Of
other dramas OF modern times.
a IL difficult 70 believe that any general
breaking down OF the moral fiber Of the
people has taken place, that any dislntegra-
tion OF character p%ortends, even II the
charges against the theater OF today are
supported by a certain modicum Of truth.
We have not reached ths stage OF public
mental attitude that would permit the
comedies OF congreve and wycherly TO be
presented as they were under the reign OF
James II. OF Wycherly Macaulay says he
was the most licentious and hard-heaTted
writer OF q slngulariy iicentIous and hard
hearted school," or the English morality
nnder the reign OF Charles III, Macaulay
says:
While these changes were in progress
dhe restoration OF the monarchy after the
protectorate) a change still more important
took place ~ abe morals and manners OF
the community. Those passions and taste
which, under the rule Of the Puritans. had
been sterniy repressed. and, II g~ratified at
All has been gratified by, stealth, broke
forth with ungovernable violence AZ soon
as the check was Withdrawn. Men flew to
frivolous a~musements and TO criminal
pleasures with the greediness which long
end enforced abstinence naturally produces.
1ittle restraint was imposed by public
opinion. For the nation, nauseated with
cant suspiclors OF a., Pretensions to sane,
tyranny OF rulers austere In life and pow
efful In prayer, looked for a time with
oemP'aeenfY t 9n Tie 11sb sSS'e khan SDd g sayss y,ess,
we're deeply tainted by the prevailing licen-
tiousnets. l'oetr, stooped to be the pandar
putting guilt and error to the blush. turned
ana truth. -. The riSsidry OF Ether
s onas ana ab wy snssIay w sauc n the q, presence ,Ss Sssd sn o1
he church, publicly recited by female
lips. In female ears, while. the author OF
"Pylgrim's Progress languished in a dun
Gospel to the, poor.
and yet, for ali OF this, the English peo-
pie Of that time did not lack In strength OF
character nor f~ineness OF moral perception.
They succeeded in working out as far as
possible the greatest Of problems OF political
and religious reformation. and managed to
keep England not only from becoming the
vnssai OF Spain or France. but 80 far In
front OF the fest OF the world hat Europe
has not yet overtakcn Il. This Is not very
encouraging for the earnest supporter OF
the stage. who has persistently insisted
upon It's educational possibilities, but It
may afford : ray Of hope and q crumb Of
comfort for those who now pretend to see
signs OF moral dlslntegration in the things
that draw great throngs TO the seats in the
thseters.
o
One doesn't like TO contemplate some OF
the problems offered by the plays, One
that u meeting with much success In New
York just now, and may yet be sent on
the road to distribute it's sweetness and
light iu the provinces. is 1.-THE Easiest
Way" by Eugene Walter. who gave US
Paid In Full" In THE Easiest Way IL
shown the picture Of an actress who Ia