New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-17
THE UNCLEAN PLAY
It Is a Public Danger and Should b
Driven from the Stage.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: have not seen The Lure and
therefore could not criticise II from the
viewpoint OF an eyewitness. The play,
am told. is realistically unclean. II could
not then be otherwise than harmful to
public morality. The theatre placarding
such play upon its stage is more
powerful lure 10 life of shame and DIS
honor than any temptations that may
present themselves 10 any poor Girl IN her
workaday life, for the lights, the music,
the realism OF the stage, and. worse than
all the public approval Of crowded
house. will leave-must leave-a most IN
favorable impression upon the souls OF
weak women who I'm real life In the oIt
side would be actuated constantly by the
strong womanly instinct OF danger al
hand and OF the necessity OF exercising
prudence for self-preservation.
Such a play is as dangerous 10 tAe
morality OF our young men as II 8 10
that OF our Young women. To many OF
our young men-thank Heaven,-the IN
teriors OF dsorderly houses are as much
mystery I'm their young manhood as
they were in their boyhood. Why. then
should constituencies managers be a.
lowed TO open up 10 their clean eyes ths
revolving scenes that are enacted In dehs
OF vice, and thereby to endeavor 10 SET
loose In their souls passions that are
held in check by the practice OF Virtues
that are the result of good training, gocp
teaching and good home example!
are told that IL is the money-hunger oi
managers that is the cause OF the 10"
standard of our plays. This is partly true
but were they as hungry for money d
was Tantalus for food. they never wouio
have dared TO display their offensive
goods 10 the public II the condition OF
the times did not seem 10 warrant INV
display. There is with US to-day IN "uo'
lie a most obtrusvely offensive tigure "ho
has done her best TO lower the stanoaTu
OF womanhood The figure Is that Oh INC
suffragist, the masculinized woman ""o
purposely keeps herself In the pubic e'e,
mildly or wildly militant for right '"s'
the civilized world comedies only 10 HAD
and which the woman good and true uoe'
not desire. She Is responsible Tor INV
fashions that are shaping the divine ic'"
OF woman every day more distinctly ate'
ter OF dress She who loses her sea
loses with IL all the rights and high PRIV
lleges that civilized men of true staup
have recognized as hers and have oee"
only too willing TO accord TO her. H. IN
the stage OF our theatres. woman Is req
resented as weakling and her ho"'s
as a purchasable commodity, IL Is oeca"'s
off the stage. In real life, so many oil "1'
sisters are in carriage and dress-V"
rather. Understandable lures.
To-day. however. is the day OF the 49,
and prudent woman. as il Is that OIL Wy
weakling and imprudent woman, for "n"s
the latter Is endeavoring to lower u'e
high standard OF true womanhooo ""'
good woman Is battling bravely TOT Inv
maintenance Of her exalted positio"
the esteem OF all good men. Inc oo'"
nant sense Of our community makes iv
cleanliness, moral as well as ph!sN
and II the httest must survive the -
and cleanly must win out. II our 'ne'"
become hazardous to morality a" 49,.
good women will avoid them as "' ,r,,.,r
persons would avoid a pesthouse. n,v
the managers dream OF gold VIII oe 49,
a dream. and nothing more. such -
as The Lure" must be driven ''
stage by an outraged public .,or
JAMES b. CURRY No q
Church OF St James Rector
Oliver street. Sept. 10, lsi0'