The Washington herald., 1912-08-05
GREEN ROOMJO|Ns
IN PLAY PURG|hG.
Miss ketta Jewell Approves Of At.
titude of Truth Society and
Washington Herald.
REV. MR.. MCDONNELL, FROM
PULPIT, TALKS ON THEME
Actors Protest Against Repeating
Certain Lines" Says Polls
Leading Woman.

In ringing utterances from pulpit and
green room. the crusade OF the Nloysius
Truth Society and The Vbshington
Herald against the staging Of lewd and
indecent plays was lauded yesterday. and
the influence of leading representatives
of the religious and theatrical worlds
was pledged to the cause.
The statements still further clarified
the theatrical situation, demonstrating
conclusively that, far from their being
the slightest clash of sentiment between
church and stage in Washington. both
forces have become cordially united in
the movement for the uplift. and will
work hand in hand during the coming
dramatic season.
Rev. Eugene Del. Mcdonnell. s. j..
president of Gonzaga College, speaking
yesterday In st. Aloysius' Church. said
in part:
When President Taft. year or two
ago. observed that a play he chanced to
be observing was not fit to be seen, he
promptly arose and left the theater. The
worthy head of the nation then taught
the American people lesson they should
take to heart-a lesson that at this time
is being strikingly emphasized in the
public morals crusade for pure plays.
Christians are bound to do their ut
most to help dhe representatives of the
church. the stage, and the press who are
seeking to obtain only pure plays for
exhibition in Washington. The move
ment is of national importance. for when
a ncentious drama is systematically cor
rupting the entire people. the death knell
of that country's greatness is already
sounding"
Miss JewelI's Statement.
Miss Izetta Jewel. leading woman Of
the Poll Players, said:
Not only do I believe that a rigid ban
should be placed on such plays as have
been specifically condemned by the Truth
Society. but / believe that many of our
greatest plays should go through a mod
flied process Of expurgation. A number
of these plays that possess real moral
value are unfortunately marred in some
certain places by a suggestive line or
a questionable scene, and these plays
would not suffer from the dramatic view
point by the elimination of the obtec-
tionable features, while, on the other
hand, they would greatly profit. from the
moral viewpoint, by such action.
Actors and actresses at times protest
against being compelled to re-
peat lines which they CONSIDER improper,
or to play in a scene which they 90 not
morally wholesome. Personally.
in my stage career. / have sometimes
chafed under the necessity of speaking
a word or sentence which / would have
given worlds to have eliminated from
my role.
III every resident manager would es-
tablish an ironcIad rule forbidding play
ers to present a line, word. or situation
that would not be acceptable in the draw
ing-room of a refined family. and IL they
would ban the irreverent use of Gods
name. as well as certain vulgar express
sions. 1t would be one of the greatest
would certainly be cordially welcomed by
can stage.
The Theater's influence.
The best and truest test Of pure So
ciety Is the esteem and reverence paid
to woman. and II is highly gratifying
to find in the resolutions adopted by the
District Holy Name Union a clause di-
rected against all plays that offend
against that high regard in which wom-
anhood is held by us This esteem and
reverence is not shown by the drama
depicting the life of the sinful woman.
II is the refining influence of a chaste
the exquisite and subtle en-
chantment of her look and manner, her
deep and all-absorbing love that always
has been and always will be the beacon
guiding and directing mankind to a
higher and better life.
AS l look nightly from the stage out
upon an audience composed largely of
the fair girlhood and young womanhood
OF Washington, and think of the great