The Washington times., 1914-10-11
SOME LEFT-OVERS FOR THE
THEATER OILERS
By GARDNER MACK.

4 is rather curious thing that IN
the extended consideration that has
been given the conservation of our
natural resources, nobody has seemed to
think IL worth while to call attention to
what We might call the psychonomic
waste Of blushins. There is every indi-
cation that during the period just now
passing, which has been so aptly termed
the "sex o'clock of drama in America,
those of US who go the thester have
learned more than We ever knew be-
iore as 10 when and how TO blush.
The American people have become
known throughout the world as he
rsadiest lot of bIushers-the most un-
accountable blushers. And now, it
seems. We are to realize that the power
10 blush, for which we have always
thanked our Stars, is. a power. that
should be used sparinslE and not out
rsgeousl- abused as it is said our Gus
tom has been.
The blush has been called a sort of
danger signal flashed by the inner con-
sciousness when something seemed to
be- lying athwart the moral right of
way. II has been referred to as the
monitor Of youth, We have prided our
selves on the ability OF our, Young
suggestion of some forbidden pic. And
our young people have calmly, acceDted'
our prideful attitude as proper tribute
10 their modesty and youth.
From this arose what we might call
the practice OF indiscriminase blushing,
which we encouraged. And then when
youth suddenly stepped over the bound
AIRY that separates bashful suspicion
from exact knowledge the power to
blush seemed TO be absolutely dissipated.
Perhaps that is the reason that the
recent changes in our point d view have
been rather unconscious. Whatever has
been the cause of our failure to realize
the change, the important fact is tnat
we seem to have changed. A few days
ago, I'm New York. the good Mr.. Com.
stock sought TO close up one. of the
leading theaters playing TO crowded
houses i'm q very pretty drama called
The Beautiful Adventure" lie de-
Clared that il was q menace TO public
morals in that the climax of the second
act rCvolved around a couple who were
not married and found themselves forced
INTO an embarrassing situation bv
dear old grandmother who was LABOR
ing under the impression that they were
bride and groom, and who caused the
wrath Of Mr.. Comstock to rise by be-
rating the young people soundly for
;heir lack OF devotion to each other when
they insisted upon separating themselves
iUr the night Mr.. Comstocks appealed
To the district Attorney, and the diHrict
attorney sent representatives Of his Of
Cce 30 make investigation. The result
Ess that the play was Siven clean
bin Of health and the manager OF the
o"lnDary now threatens Mr. Comstock
with a suit for SANDER. The legal guard
ian Of the people did not deny that the
situation in the play was exactly as de-
sCrIbeo by the shocked McComstock, but
what he did deny-and what is of great
slgniflCarCe TO our present discussion
~ that the situation was a menace to
public morals
Within the last two or three weeks
the IheatergOers Of Washington nave
mad opportunity 10 concur in the New
York officials estimate Of the resisting
powers Of our moral fabric. Pretty
Mrs. Smith" The Secret" and "Birds
Of Prey, to mention only a lew, each
contained situations or very frank ref
srences to situations upon which ~e
NecSld have blushed furiously il our
styles Of draping facts in 1914 we're sim
Ilar 10 the mode Of 1894. But they are
not.
Perhaps II is just as well u ey are not.
Perhaps IL has been a very good thing
FOR US to understand that We wasted a
great many bushes in the old days on
,hlngs that need not cause a blush. We
found ourselves incapable of doing So
Those cyniCs who would interpret this
as an indication that our cor
s~iences are becoming dulled and that
the world is becoming hardened to sin
and vice are not to be relied upon.
The world is getting better and better
every dsy-there is every indication that
inis Is SO. We don't blush so much be
cause We are rapidly learning how to
bush-we are saving our bushes for
those things that deserve them.
While the matter of youth is under
consideration II Is not unnatural that