The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-26
BY Jessie Shirley

Stuueut vi tuS plulcp W SoiiSS
the erroneous impressions which
may have been made in the minds
of many who listened to his sermon
on "Amusements." Mr.. Sunday is
either densely ignorant or ma
liciiously untruthful, as almost ev-
cry statement he made regarding
the theater is false. With a reck-
less disregard of facts, he throws
his venom right and right, and re-
peatedly perjures himself as min
lister of the gospel, while his coarse
and offensive language (Which
would not be tolerated in a respect
able theater) arouses the disgust
of every true Christian and the
ridicule of the outsider who mere
ly looks on.
Probably he realizes that he can
reach his class of hearers more d.
rectly by the use of smut and
slang, for in every community
there is a type of ''low brows'
upon whom pure English would be
thrown away There is some
thing irresistably funny in being
called a "mut" and lobster" and
when you have heard a Christian
gentleman shrek at you This
whole town can go to hell you
have listened to the acme of elo-
quence.
So by all means, Mr.. Sunday,
fire the Calling gun of your keen
wit and delicate humor at your
heroes. Insult them as much as
you like-they will not resent it
for the world in general will ac-
cept almost anything labelled re
ligion." But for heavens sake let
us be long on truth, even though
we may be short on logic.
If you feel that you must at
tack the theater to hold your job
look up a few historical facts re-
garding the subject and don't be-
come the laughing stock of all well
informed theatrical people. You
state that not only the church but
the press condemns the theater.
What do you mean by "the press?'
Do you mean the Christian Advo-
cate and the War Cry or that
mighty power, the American news
paper in whose columns will daily
be found a review of the current
plays with usually an intelligent
criticism of the same? Or do you
refer to the enormous list of
monthly magazines that almost
without exception have an inter
esting dramatic department as one
of the leading features?
Nor does the church in general
condemn the stage. Not only the
Jews and the Catholics, but num-
Der of the Protestant sects are lib
eral patrons of the theater, and
there is today in America strong
organization known as the Actors
Church alliance, designed and or
ganized by few broadminded
clergymen with the object of
bringing the church and stage in
still closer touch.
The progressive Christian of to-
day realizes the immense influence
of the stage which, having the ad-
vantage of effective settings and
lifelike representations, can, and
does drive more sermons home
than is possible to the limited
scope of the pulpit Preach me
a sermon as strong, touching and
eloquent as Broadhurst's Holy
City" and l will listen to you, Mr.
Sunday.
Even in the most poorly con
structed melodrama virtue triumps
and vice is defeated In that re
respect ] regret to say that the
drama is not always true to life
for in real life we often see the
hypocrite and rascal prosperous
and secure while the honest man
goes under. Still the intention OF
the dramatist in melting out the
proper amount of punishment and
reward is a worthy one and to be
commended.
You say: Take the leg shows
off the stage and the thoaters
would not make their salt.
Wrong again, Mr., Sunday.
The life of the average musical
show Is but fleeing one and the
few that survive owe their longer
existence to the real merit of the
musical numbers and the wit OF
the text while the greatest money
makers have been found in the
stronger and deeper plays that live
for years and are always wei
coined by intelligent audiences.
! think l may be allowed Il
point In a modest way to the sue
cess of my own company which
has held the boards in Spokane
for nearly four consecutive years
and Is still prospecting. Durini
that time We have never pro
duced a leg show" as you arr
pleased to term II, but have givei
the public the best dramas Of thu
day You have had the hanpti