The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-07-05
WILLIAM WINTER WRITES on
THE DIoCADENT DRAMA"


one of the most caustic and
scorchiug arfaignmcnts of the pres
ont-day drama that has appeared in
the public press for long time is
TIE article by William Winter on
."Deoadont Drama" In the current
number of llarper's Weekly.
Mr.. Winter Is the dean OF dra-
matte critics in America. lie is n
sincere. earnest and apprcciative
.fdend Of the drama IN all its legiti-
mate phases. lie believes that III
the mission OF the dramatic art be
not 20 help mankind. 10 cheer, In
truct. Inspire and improve men and
women. making the soul pure, the
mind gentle and strong, and the
whole being spiritually finer" then
he dramatic art should not be- long
N encouraged or tolerated. lie does
rot approach his topic in the article
lot'cod. therefore as an enemy but
as q friend Of the drama; and. as a
natter ot fact. no man IN this coun-
~ can speak OF q from personal
nowledge with greater authority
han he.
Rank PLAYS" says Mr. Winter.
have long existed Degencracy in
he drama Is not a modern move
ncnt II is notable, however. that
rom the time when Pinero's play
The Second Mrs Taaqueray' was
luhched upon our stage the dramat-
current has been running steadily
nd with renewed force toward a
tcrai. brazen. shameless portrayal
depraved persons. Ubiquitous con
net and vile social conditions. Pjl-
10 o. dramatist OF brilliant ability
ls incursion into the social sewers
as attended by ample peouniary
uccess. other writers. American a.
oil as English. followed his exam
/ e.. The hst OF impure PLAYS that
ave seen the Light would be a Ions
me
"The stage has been disFraced b,
i he putresoent 'Supho.' the mon
trous Salome'-commI ngliug mani.
tn fouluess and the photographic
domination % The Easiest Way
lue Of the PLAYS presented In "a.
lew thcater-a house supposed 90 b.
edicatcd 10 the bos, Of the dram'
was "The Niger" which M
Winter chaacterizcs as "a crude
ointles, useless. tainted plav." tha
as for rs themc mlscegenatlon 70
pc fouthern states and depicts IN
oarscst and most vulgar features %
hat subject. even 90 the oNtout ~
tcrli struggle between the mig
er" aud the white woman--''one o.
ne mos revolving scenes" says Mr.
i Winter. that have been acted oI
ny stage or before any audience AZ
umed 20 b. composed OF wCll-brod
sif-respoei.ug pcraons."
Another play roasted" by M
sarlcss critic il Lawrence Irving
The Three Daughters of " Do
ont" Mr. living Is pronounced q
"a man OF fine and yarous tai
uts. q scholar. an actor Of authorit'
nd Of decisive ability. slgh ID
L rcstiEe OF the most illusfrious nam
1 4 an the long history Of the stage;
81 he has produced a play declare
| the critic TO BE- representative o
othlng except that which is sord'
l nj base 80 human nature and 81
l nestle life. and remarkable only TO
ne exceedingly disgusting scene,
tc.
/ or the numerous travestics o
/ larr.age on the stage Mr White
/ lys that AL plays that are DE-
| gned 10 implicate and disseminate
octfine az TO marriage are super
| luous: and many such PLAYS ar
/ rossly obnoxious. alike 10 goo'
| ldgmoos. good feeling and go0'
| lste. The tendency Of the theairi
| Al 'doctrlnalrcs' invariably is 20
| ward something that they call nat
/ rauEm.' their manifest desire De-
Il 80 a. A. nUNnn.u HFrlnrFr MI