Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-07-31

the Grand is Miss Sarah Padden il
"Kindling," a play that appeals witt
particular force to the public.
The following letter by Rev. Thorn
as B. Thompson of Rockford, H..
gives review of the play from {
ministerial standpoint which is in
teresting:
April II, 1912.
First Congregations Church,
Rockford, Ill.
The United Play Company,
1903 Masonic Temple,
Chicago.
Gentlemen:-
My deep iItrest has been caught by
the recent presentation here of Kin
ding" Last Sunday evening | de.
voted my entire address to the play
The address was so generously re
ceived, and such deep interest was
manifested in the play when presen
ted, that l cannot help but feel thai
your company is serving the best in
terests of the box-office, and most
certainly of many communities, by
presenting it.
am urged to this suggestion by
the feeling that you have in Miss
Sarah Padden just the right star fol
Maggie ShultZ. Miss Padden ha.
commended herself to a large circle
of discriminating admirers by hel
excellent work in other roles requir
ing the same temperamental aptitude
vii OF 10
for the most effective playing o.
Maggie"
Should Rockford again be fortu
nate enough to secure a place in the
tour, you may rest assured that
will gladly cooperate in urging 6
generous attendance on the part o.
our community.
"Kindling" tells the story OF the
most certainly received an unusua
compliment in New York wnen 6
group of the foremost of American
playwrights after seeing some per
formances of the play, issued al
earnest appeal to the public to at
tend. They said: 1T is one of thu
greatest American plays in years. Be
yond the literary and dramatic quail
ity of the piece, it has the merit O
treating adequately a great and vita
social theme"
"Kindling" tells the story of The
| poor, their limitations, their aspira
tons, and the essential nobility o.
their ideals. They know what /!
right, and what is merely convention
ally good. There is difference, ant
with an absolute sincerity of straigh
thinking they see the difference. The
story is told in an artistic way. Ii
the tenements where Maggie and Hell
nienie Schultz live out their tragi,
stories, there is more really fine ma
terial for a fresh, intensely human
art than in those artificial and con
ventional upper circles where the
hero talks in perfect verse and thu
| heroine munches bonbons in perfec
style. Charles Kenyon raises tn,
yernacular of the tenement to equa
dignity with the classic language o
Henry James and Walter Pater.
AS a social document, "Kindling'
is indeed adequate. 1t is this get
ting to the bottom facts of poverty
this earnest digging up Of vital hui
manities and the noble heroism un
DERIVING the social structure, that is
of such promise to our American ant
democratic institutions.
Maggie and Heinie Schultz stand
for certain fundamental human pas
sions and rights. The normal enjoy
ments and self expressions are with
held from these people. Society de.
MES these rights, through social NAL
adjustments, at its own peril. TIC
read the story of Jean Vatican is tc
understand the French revolution
A greater than the French revolu-
ton lies concealed in social condi-
tions of which Maggie and Heilie
are symbols. Society needs to have
hammered home these facts. kin
ding" does it with impartial candor
Men in Rockford who have never
before manifested interest in the lar
ger problems of society were stirred
to the depths when they saw Kin
ding" on it's recent visit here. Their
anger blazed in just indignation. And
we must recognize the fact that it is
through the generous stirring up OF
indignation, through an appeal to
the emotions such as the stage is
best adapted to make, that reforms
must come.
cannot help but think that pull
pits all over the land will increasing
ly welcome the advent of such plays
as "Kindlng" This play ought to,
and il most assuredly will, make
mere effective the message of the
church. 1t win give that message its
fcme thrust. Here the stage certain
ly abets the best work of the mod
ern preacher.
BY all means give us Sarah Pad
den and "Kindling."
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) Thos. Barney Thompson,
Minister.
80 co,,+b THIRD Gfrppf