The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-31
CENSORING PLAYS
IN GREAT BRITAIN

The question that mainly suggested
itself to me upon reading that Mr. Red
fern had honored Mr. Laurence Hous-
man, the playwright, with his veto on his
comedy, plays and Penalties" was
whether a dramatist OF the standing OF
Mr. Housman really deserved such an
honor. Mr. Redfern usually. as far as
Is known, reserves his censorship for i'm
M. us ike Ibsen, Maeterinck. Tostoy.
Bernard Shaw. and Sophoces. though,
curiously enough, not Shakespeare. one
OF the most conspicuous offenders against
mediocrity
The play at issue deals with King
George ~ and the unfortunate queen
Caroline. II there was an offense against
royalty. it surprises me If Mr.. Redfern
knows his Shakespeare. Henry VIII, for
instance. The official censor really ought
To read these plays. though they may be
too brilliant for the English stage
To suggest "a parallel between George
" and George Y, the present King-as
MIR. Redeem seems 10 do-is simply 70
Islander the re!gning monarch. The earl
Ter George not even was a direct ances-
tor Of the present King. What was Il
that Lord Shaftesbury wrote about George
"? The profigate George " passed
through a life OF selhshness and sin"
and by the way. Mr. Redeem. why not
read Thackeray or Lord Broughame
The reason for Mr.. Redferu-s act how
ever, may be found in the extraordinary
increase Of reverence FOR the dynasty
which has taken place I'm England during
the last half century. Or IL may lie in
official fears that certain silly and UNI
founded, though popular enough. story
OF the present day should be revived
George " was married 10 Mrs Fitzher-
bert by a priest Of her own church. the
Roman Catholic But the marriage.
though canonical was not regular. ac-
cording 10 English law. on account Of
the royal marriage act, then recently
passed 20 prevent the marriage OF princes
and subject ladies without the royal con
sent
Was the censor afraid that the public
should be reminded OF a recent leeenda
Mrs. FlJzheTberts case was a historical
fact. the latter incident which is al but
tOrgotten-aJ least. il should have been
forgotteH-was a mere invention ] add
all this 10 prove that some such terror
almost was necessary 10 account for the
edict against Mr. Housman's play. other
wise 7 should not have gone so far, even
into the merits OF that case
II Is even iuterdlcteI 20 hurIesqle a
statesman on TIE stage iu Britain. That
discovery was made by Sir ". s. Gilbert
in 1873. lie had written a comic opera
entitled THE Happy Land" .n which
three OF the leading politicians Of the
day.-GIadst0ue Ayrtou. and Lowe-Were
introduced. Al London foeked 20 see
the play an the Court Theater Then
. the censor iu-eryened. There were 20 be
no personalities. But the three politi-
clans easily were recognizable. even in
the disguise which had been ordered
Then there was III. n. s. Piuafore." hy
the sane author or course. it was BIT
ing But that was just what was i'm
tended 10 amelorate conditions in the
royal navy. Yet the jokes were harmless
enough-5ut telling. Tieu. again. o. was
hardly IN human nature that lords ~ the
admiralty should be expected 90 hear the
stiu4ing "couplets" and laugh az their
owu-Weu yes-isnorancc, Just listen 20
! this enusion.
When I vas Dad ! served a term
A. al Office l-g t1 al artrue'- frm-
] cleaned The windows and Z SWEPT tlr floor
Ard polished up the handle ~ CHE big front door
And polished up that hauce So c8-1tlIee
/ Iast lrf am The ulsr'ai fae queens nayeet
or, better stil. this advice. given by
the Admiral of the Navy % the assem-
b.age al q diplomatic function.
N0r. laHiIu all. whoever sou may o..
II sou web fa rise rE -ta iru II The tree
Gather round Ue r.r and be- rH fools
Aud try 20 b. guided Hr my golden rIIes-
SUCK close -1 -u.r desks ard never 60 % sea.
And son all may De- rulers oi The queens rsyte."
Bitiae, Excellent, But good. And IL
did the work. Though "Piuaforer for a
while, had been prohibited in Great Brit
ain, tho play created furore all over
/ the continent OF Europe and here in
America as well. incidentally. Gladstone
himself. who saw both PLAYS. was con-
yu.sed with laughter 7 wish there were
more Sir GiIberts. especially in this
country.