The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-17

bad way-not morally but artistically
And still never in it's history in this
country has the clean play based upon
some simple phase Of life or human
trait had a greater hold upon the pub
lic-witness The Man from Home"
referred to here the other day.
Nor yet those of symbolic intent.
yelling in their symbolism some great
tragic or benehcent truth, as The
Servant in the House." nor yet those
centering their interest on some figure
which embodies a principle or typi-
fes religious emotion. as ''Ben-Hur"
Ethics has nothing to do with art
Art for arts sake" is derided by
the moralist.
1t is. however. the most absolutely
moral state known to man
What the stage needs is public
which has some knowledge of and ap-
probation for dramatic art
Dramatic art. in its apogee. is the
greatest Of all the arts. for il is life
breathing, living. 1t is
the most evanescent but the most
powerfully appealing because it is a
little section of life as We know it, not
as conjured up by perusing the printed
page. or imagined as on canvas or in
marble.
And because ethics has nothing to
do with art. because art itself in it's
perfection performs an ethical end, in
that the contemplation of beauty is
ennobling, is just the reason that the
atrical censorship as it is known Is
anomalous and absurd.
AS to local conditions, Mr. Murray
has brought to the Gennett this season
as many of what is termed the lead
ing attractions" as was possible to a
town OF this size-and with what re-
suit?
AS referred to otherwhere yester-
day-With lack of patronage and loss
of money and, what is more to the
point. loss of civic prestige.
This column calls Mr.. Haywood's at
tention to three notable shows" at
the Gennett this season
BY using the word Shows" by the
way, the Ministerial Association lays
itself open to the charge of theatrical
cocknyism. Everything from grand OPP
era to burlesque is Jumped by the un-
cou' as show"
First. The Imperial Russian Bala-
1aika orchestra, one of the most uni
que and celebrated musical organiza-
tons in the world, under the patron
age of the Car and which was touring
this country until the first of the year
when it returned to Russia by order of
his Majesty. gave a concert in the Gen
nett to a few hundred people. Accom-
panying it were four singers from the
Russian grand opera houses who
sang the folk songs of their land in
native costume. The program of the
orchestra was made up of classics,
both ancient and modern, the entire
of players using the ma
tive Russian instrument in it's different
forms
This orchestra played in Carnegie
Hall. New York, to great audiences
and in the capitals of Europe.
Second. Alexander Heinemann, the
great German baritone, who. in his
own country, is regarded with the ado
ration accorded god, whose pupils
call him maestro" and kiss his hand
sang to about fifty people at the
Gennett.
Third. The Aborn Grand Opera Com
pany, which sang here Monday night,
one of the worlds classic
operas and which was referred to at
length otherwhere.
Now here were three events, which
and unsteady, in two in
stances, are without peer, all at the
Gennett this season. And did the local
public take advantage of this oppor-
tunity brought to it's door?
Assuredly not.
But it flocked to "The Girl from
Rector's" and THE Girl in the Taxi"
nasty plays, but the best on the
road"
And they laugh uproariously at vii p,
famous jokes about marriage perpe- !
trated at the vaudeville
Aside from these three events re-
ferred to in detail, there have been |
several admirable plays and musical
including Dear Old Billy" with Mr.. |
William Hawtrey, Thy Neighbours |
Wife," which embodied, if you care to |
look at it that way, pointed moral |
lesson" Get Rich Quick Walling- !
ford,' wholesome play of American !
life with a moral thrown over the !
footlights like football: THE Girl of
My Dreams charming little idyll in
the form of musical comedy, and sew
eral cher things that could not have
been objected to by the severest pur-
st.
The truth is the Ministerial Associa-
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