The Washington herald., 1911-09-18

raise a voice of warning and protestG
They have examined this most complies
art from every standpoint, historically,
artistically, and ethically; they have
conned the masters of the art, traced its
growth through the ages from its birth
to its temporary death, seen 1t struggling
for life in the grasp of a corrupt
antiquity. and saw 1t die, only to be re-
born with renewed vigor; they have loved
II, defended II against enemy and against
friend, sorrowed over its fauls, and now
hope to help it rid itself of its defects
defects not its own by nature, but rather
engrafted on it by an unthinkIng worIdE
After all this, Mr.. Editor, it Is certainly
overwhelming to be relegated by the
stroke of pen to a FOOLS paradise OF
the unintelligent.
Still, the people of Washington need
not fear that the decisions of a COM
mission for the censorship of pIays will
be made in an unInteIlectual and arbrt-
trary manner, like the selection of sheen
for slaughter. The names of the movers
IN the agitation as we'll as the names OF
the members suggested for such a board
OF censors forbid our harbOring such out
law thoughts. These gentlemen, more
over, and whatever ladies may be named,
will always have the expert advice OF
experienced theatrical managers; the
principles of the most illustrious dramatic
critics from Aristotle to Ferdinand
Brunetiere, and Brander Matthews will
furnish the basis for the discussion OF
good and bad plays by the Aloysius
Truth Society. Hence, the critics upon
whose opinion your correspondent calls in
his letter will be frequently called upon
as judges, and Mr.. Allen Davenport. Of
Boston, and William Winter will be fire.
quently quoted in support of the COnten-
tions advanced for a clean stage The
last named famous critic may he termed
a living protest against an unclean stage,
as his recent conflict with the New York
Tribune well exemplifies. No more sturdy
and Outspoken critic has written during
the last quarter century.
In his diatribe against the intellects
that disapproved of The Easiest Way"
your correspondent seems to forget that
difference of opinion regarding a particu-
lar play furnishes matter for discus
sion. and is not proof of lack of intelli-
gence in things artistic. If some excel
lent critics have spoken favorably OF
this piece. it should not be forgotten that
excellent critics have disapproved so
strongly OF its character as to have it
forbidden in certain not unintelligent
cities. 1t should also be remembered.
Mr.. Editor, that in such matters there
is possible such a thing as a conspiracy
of silence as we'll as of falsehood. And
though, as your correspondent urges, no
thinking mother could leave the play
house after seeing The Easiest Way
without feeling more deeply her respon-
sibility for her daughters welfare'-what
of the daughter who leaves the theater
with her? Has she the same ideal OF
her girlhood? Perhaps, but it
has taught her the many pitfalls that
beset her in a great metropolis"
your correspondent is quick to reply. So
does a chamber reeking with the deadly
fumes from a broken jet or main teach
the danger of coal gas and sewer gas!
Is the public theater the place to teach
youths and modest maidens the solemn
secrets Of nature? If the matron Of
fifty years can understand and appre-
ciate the dangers pointed out, has she
not a home and fireplace where she can
teach her child what she herself may
KNOW! Is tne tnedter only lot the ma
ture minds that can grasp the true sig
nificance of the unsavory spectacle
called a problem .pIay?'' Is the stage
to be made what Zola and his school
made the French novel? Is his So
called Magma Charta of Poetry" which
he read to the French nation in Les
Orientalles'' of 1921, to be reread to
America in 1911?
Very respectfully,
THE ALOYSIUS TRUTH SOCIETY.